Classes 253 & 254...

More work on the same side collar and sleeve control from open and full guard.

The key ideas from both classes involved stuffing the arm with wrist control and hip escaping to the side, then attacking the back to apply neck pressure and a choke.

Maintaining grip tension to collapse the opponent's frame was a key concept. Keeping mobile hips is also important to connect this position to the omoplata.

I got battered in sparring by senior belts, but I at least offered some resistance and the threat of wrist locks from unlikely positions is giving opponents something to consider. Unless I can hit a fast sniper wrist lock, I probably need to focus on fighting for and retaining position.

But I'm still playing with things at the moment and trying to introduce butterfly guard attacks and wrist locks so there will be mistakes and a learning curve along the way.

Things to remember: Always position before submission; drill wrist locks if you are going to use them.

Class 252...

Some work from open guard. This involved using a same side collar grip on the gi jacket and securing a same side grip on the sleeve. 

The takehome was retaining tension on both grips to off-balance the opponent to set up sweeps. Another key idea was to stuff the arm and attack the back.

In sparring, I got ruined by a bigger and better blue belt and a very fluid purple belt. I also struggled to escape side control against a good white belt.

Things to remember: Stuffing the arm and attacking the back; drill side control escapes.

Class 250...

A class continuing work on securing the collar grip on the opponent, then shooting for either a single leg or pulling guard.

I am sort of OK at pulling guard, but I suck at single and double legs and I need to drill these, particularly as I have my first tournament as a blue belt coming up.

Sparring was fine and I hit a nice kimura and threatened attacks from overhook. I also hit a nice wristlock from an unusual position transitioning to side control. I am not hitting lots of these but the threat of them sometimes keeps my opponent busy.

Things to remember: Drill single and double legs.