Class 200...

An early-morning session featuring stand-up techniques and a horrible choke from side control.

The stand-up techniques involved sparring and securing a takedown from a wrestlers tie-up. I tried a few judo-style throws here and a single leg. I got paired with one much lighter guy who I was fine with, but I struggled against two much stronger, heavier guys, both of who felt like they had wrestling experience. My takedowns and throws are generally OK, but I need to road-test my joint and wrist locks in these situations much more. 

We then worked a choke from a takedown than ended up in side control. This went something like this: 
i) Take down opponent via side trip and fall into side control. 
ii) From side control, switch to scarf hold and isolate opponent's nearest arm.
iii) Bring knees to opponent's body and use right arm to sweep under opponent and secure collar control at back of neck.
iv) Grab collar on furthest-away side with left hand with thumb facing down.
v) Secure opponent to floor with right hand, tighten grip with left and drive forearm into opponent's neck, sprawl out on toes to drive more pressure through the forearm. 

Sparring was fine and I did OK against a couple of senior belts and a couple of white belts. I got full guard against all of them and attacked from there. 

Things to remember: level change when taking opponents down and defending takedowns; choke from side control.

Class 199...

Today, a lunchtime class with some specific techniques, followed by sparring.

The techniques all employed arm drags and pretty much went as follows:

Arm drag to back sweep: you are standing facing an opponent in a clinch position with collar (right hand) and sleeve control (left hand); close the distance by using the collar control; place the left foot above the right knee of the opponent like it’s a sort of pulling guard move, then stuff the opponent’s right arm with the sleeve control so it continues the off-balancing process started with the leg attack; keep the distance closed at the head using the collar control and drop back dragging the opponent on top of you; as he falls, insert your right hook and spin him over then follow him into side control.

Arm drag from closed guard to back attack: attack for armbar but shrimp out to side and stuff arm so you can attack the back; insert hook and move round.

Sparring was OK and I pretty much rolled with white belts and I didn’t get murdered. I’m doing better from guard at the moment and my half-guard is OK-ish. The other key thing I’m getting into a better habit at is using my frame to fend off attacking opponents.

Things to remember: Attack for the armbar and attack the back from closed guard.

Class 198...

A day off so I ventured to a lunchtime class and it was all about attacking  grips and breaking grips, and  attacking from seated guard and passing a man in seated guard. I was mainly paired with senior belts for most of the time on these drills and I got pretty comprehensively ruined. Everyone was too slick and too fast for me. The couple of rounds I had with other white belts were decent enough, though. 

I felt pretty decent in sparring and I did OK, although I again got dismantled by senior belts. The couple of times I got aggressive, however, I nearly passed and even threatened a couple of submissions of sorts.

It was a very tough class and I was please to realise I wasn't the only one utterly exhausted at the end of it.

Things to remember: Continually apply pressure when trying to pass.

Class 197...

The first class of the new year and an early morning one to boot. And my body was not as wrecked as I feared it might be after drinking craft brewery stout and stuffing my face with Christmas cake. 

No gruelling warm-up today and straight into work on the single leg takedown from a collar and sleeve grip on a standing opponent. The details went something like this: 
i) Confirm the collar and sleeve grip on opponent's gi jacket. The right hand on the collar stays in place until the takedown and guard pass is complete.
ii) Using the sleeve grip, stuff the opponent's arm and move 90 degrees so your back leg is behind the leg of the opponent and your front leg is in front. The back leg is standing while the front leg is kneeling. Use the collar grip to break the posture of the opponent and drive your head in for both protection and off-balancing the opponent.
iii) Once down, grab the opponent's leg with your free arm and pick it up and trap it between your legs by pinching your legs together.
iv) Once this is secured, step out the back leg and transfer the weight of the leg. As this happens, pull the opponent down using the collar control and take him down to the floor. 
v) Once on the floor, pass into side control and use the collar grip to threaten a choke. This distracts the opponent and helps give you time to pass to side control.

We also worked on a couple of variations of this takedown.

Version one happens if an an opponent is stiff-arming: shorthand for the technique if to look at your watch. 

Version two happens if an an opponent is stiff-arming: this involves securing the same side collar and sleeve grip, and involves a push/pull to off-balance the opponent.

Sparring was OK. I did OK against my fellow white belts and got ruined by a blue belt. It was good to be back, though. 

Things to remember: Attack on the takedowns.