Classes 153 & 154...

Two open mat sessions and I got pretty comprehensively ruined at sparring in both. 

In the first class, I did some drilling and I added a collar choke in front of the armbar, triangle and omaplata drill I'm working on. I also showed a friend how to pull guard from standing and we did some work on this.

On a not-so-good note, an opponent got injured during sparring. I was pulling his legs straight to pass his guard and something went in his knee. There was nothing malicious in it, but it was a salient reminder that injuries can happen even in quite controlled sparring. 

In the second class, I managed to do some drilling and work on the kimura, too. I'm also spending more time in guard and working from this position a lot more.

I also entered the in-house club tournament, which means I now have to get back down to fighting weight and lose about 10 pounds. I should be able to do this.

Things to remember: pulling guard, adding collar choke to three-movement drill.

Class 152...

Today was an early morning class with some technique drilling, followed by some work on half guard.

We drilled the arm bar, kimura and omaplata from closed guard before starting work on a half-guard technique. This was:

Half guard escape from underneath opponent: secure an underhook, then hip escape onto side with knee under armpit of opponent, then hands pushing the hands of the opponent to stretch him out, eventually attack back with hooks in. 

Half guard escape from underneath opponent: secure an underhook, then hip escape onto side with knee under armpit of opponent, then hands pushing the hands of the opponent to stretch him out, drop down to his belly and follow him up, then switch base, remove posts and drive in and collapse him.

In sparring, I did OK and defended myself against much bigger and stronger opponents. I also threatened a sleeve choke at one point.

Things to remember: Bury head and get underhook in half guard, also switch base to come to knees

Class 151...

An early morning class with one of several world champions who trains and teaches at the gym.

The class focused on the standing man passing the guard of a seated opponent using spider guard. The fundamentals of this were as follows:
i) Break the sleeve control and secure the gi trousers of the opponent with one hand.
ii) Change the plain of motion of the bicep being controlled by the opponent's other leg and secure the gi trousers.
iii) Step to the side to break the leg tension and use the gi trouser grips to control the legs of the opponent, then pass to the side.
iv) Once in side control, use the kimura control to either secure position or submit.

Things to remember: Secure the gi trousers to control the legs; use kimura control.

Private Class No.4...

A private class and more time on some submission basics from close guard, namely the armlock, the omaplata, the leg triangle and the palm up/shoulder grab choke.

The mechanics of these seemed to be sort of OK, but there were a few tweaks to make.

Armbar: hand position is now better but ensure the leg on the back chops down to keep the opponent out of posture.

Omaplata: one hand on the collar and one hand securing wrist control, drag the hand back as the leg goes over to help collapse the opponent.

Leg triangle: On entry from an overhook, grab the gi collar of the opponent to keep him collapsed. Also don't prop up on an elbow but use the shoulder so the arm.has more reach to control the opponent's arm. Angle off more to tighten the choke, then keep the toes pointing up.

Palm up/shoulder grab choke: first hand goes deep, shoulder grab hand grabs gi and keeps active.

We did a flow drill between the armlock, leg triangle and omaplata, too.

Things to remember: thumb in and fingers out when opening up gi collar of opponent.

Private Class No.3...

My third private class and some work on tightening up my basic submissions.

Armbar from bottom in closed guard: left hand grabs opponent's right hand on sleeve while right hand goes thumb down and grabs back to opponent's tricep then pulls the arm across and secures the position; leg active on back of opponent; leg kicks over opponent's head and presses down to separate head and arm as hips rise and you pull arm in; knees nip together.

Triangle from bottom in closed guard: set-up using posture collapse and overhook to secure arm; angle off and tighten and secure position; then bring opponent's arm in front and secure; then pull head down with both hands; note that toes point up; also note that flare vertical foot out to tighten ligaments.

Omaplata from bottom in closed guard: right hand reaches across to grab opponent's right hand at sleeve; left hand grabs bottom of opponent's gi trousers; closed guard opens and right leg goes onto hip of opponent or on floor; left leg swoops over; keep opponent's arm secure' then sit up and hand wraps opponent's waist to prevent him rolling free; then legs move to alter base; apply pressure down onto arm; then swoop forward to whisper into opponent's far ear to apply pressure.

Hand in/hand over choke from closed guard: left hand opens collar of opponent and right hand goes across deep with palm up; guard opens and you angle off; left hand goes over shoulder of opponent and confirms grip on shoulder and grabs material; pull elbows to shoulders; then turn right wrist to drive wrist bone into carotid.

Things to remember: Angle off correctly on arm bar, triangle and choke; toes up on triangle; posture, position and, then, submission.

Class 151...

The quest to return to competition begins this week with a few events ear-marked in June later this year. So I'm trying to increase my training. 

Today was an early morning mixed class working on passing the spider guard. The keys to this were:
i) Control the opponent's gi trousers at the knee with firm hand grips
ii) Maintain good posture and keep a safe distance from the opponent. 
iii) Get rid of the legs by stepping to the side to break the leg control and pass the other over the leg to escape bicep control.
iv) Pass and go into kimura control from the side then work the kimura from side control. Step over the head of the opponent if needed. 

Sparring was OK and a two-week lay-off wasn't as debilitating as I feared it might be. 

Things to remember: Secure the control grips to control the opponent's legs; use the kimura control.