Classes 248 & 249...

A couple of classes working on grip fighting, pulling guard and shooting for the single leg from an opposite collar grab. 

I am sometimes sort of OK at pulling guard and I get how securing the grip on a collar or a sleeve is the trigger to pull guard and put a foot on the hip of the opponent, then pull him from the top while falling backwards. I still, however, totally suck as defending single and double legs against decent wrestlers. I need to work on this and my defensive sprawl big time. 

The single leg from standing relies on establishing the opposite collar grip and using that to collapse the frame of the opponent, then stepping to the side to scoop the opposite leg, then continue the turning and collapsing momentum to ground the opponent. Once he is collapsed, continue with a guard pass and establish side control.

In sparring, I did OK. It was a tough couple of classes and I struggled to contain a couple of dynamic white belts, but I wasn't disgraced by higher belts. Tough and determined is sometimes OK when skill levels fail. I also caught a nice collar choke at one point.

I am also experimenting with wrist locks from unlikely positions. I sometimes get close to hitting these, but even if I can't get them I can use the threat of getting them to move to a better position if escaping a bad one. 

I also asked one of my two coaches about using a certain type of z wrist lock. He said it's totally legal but also suggested I was unlikely to catch anyone good with it. He then showed me the crunching wrist lock from standing I'd been working on, plus a very sneaky one where you use the flap on your gi and bring it inside then over the wrist of the opponent to trap the wrist before applying pressure. That's getting worked on and used!

Things to remember: Be first to the grip when pulling guard.

Private Class No.14...

A private class working on wrist locks for BJJ. 

We worked on a few gooseneck compression locks from side mount, triangle and mount. The key dynamics were backstop opponent's elbow, turn wrist at an angle, then compress.

My favourite, however, and the lock I intend to use right away is the compression lock from a gi collar grab. The mechanics of this are:
Opponent grabs same side gi collar; use both hands to lock opponent's arm in place above bicep with elbows in tight; move in with head on opponent's shoulder facing away from him; move opponent's arm towards his rib cage and roll shoulder in to attack integrity of straight wrist; pull opponent's arm in and retain shoulder roll to close space and get tap.

This is an attack that can be used from both standing and kneeling to either force a submission or take an opponent down.

I also talked to my teacher about how I was using the overhook to link full guard and half guard; and how I was also starting to use butterfly guard. He suggested I also use the overhook attack to link all three guards. 

This is going to take silly amounts of time but my mind is now officially blown by new possibilities!

Classes 247 & 248...

My first class as a blue belt and we worked on a sweep from half guard for the man on the bottom. This went something like this:

Man on bottom is up on one hip in half guard with cross grip on opposite side of opponent's collar; other hand has wrist control of opponent's opposite hand; knee is up in frame under opponent's armpit; stuff arm of opponent then rock back onto own back and pull him in so centres are aligned; then use your knee in frame as a lever and turn into a back somersault to sweep and land on top.

We also worked on a choke using a similar start point and entry, but I missed some of the details.

In the second class, we worked on grip fighting drills.

In sparring, I did ok. I won some and got smashed by some. I am experimenting with seated butterfly guard at the moment and mixing and matching with half and full guard, plus the overhook attacks.

I also started trying to incorporate wrist locks into my attacks. I had some success, but it will take a while to adapt this element of my hapkido into my BJJ. I also need to ensure I don't stop working on the BJJ stuff that got me here, too.

Things to remember: Sweep from half guard.

Grading...

 

The past weekend saw the annual grading at London Fight Factory and I got my blue belt.

I was equal amounts thrilled, daunted and humbled. The good news is that this now opens up wristlocks. The bad news is I now have to be better and rise to the challenge.

These are daunting but exciting times.

Class 246...

A Friday morning class and an hour of sparring. It was exhausting and intense, but I did OK and threw in some half-decent submissions.

The takehome was retaining frame. This saved me on the many, many occasions I started to gas.

Class 245...

I've had a two-week lay-off due to an ongoing knee injury, but today I tentatively ventured back onto the mats and it was OK. 

We were working on half guard positions and the take-home was:
Man on the bottom has to avoid getting his head controlled and keep his trapping legs active; frame also has to be in place and the high and long frame sets up attacks. 
Man on the top has to escape his trapped leg; establishing head control also helps to drive forward and flatten opponent out if you are not guard passing. 

I did OK in sparring and felt surprisingly OK after two weeks off. The butterfly guard knee kick and guillotine attack is paying dividends. I'm also using the overhook guard from both full and half to threaten attacks or set up back takes, too. 

Things to remember: Keep attacking. It's the best form of defence.