Class 322...

Another no-gi class and some work on the kimura and the hip bump sweep and chaining them together. The takehome from this was to hit a weak hip bump sweep so the opponent posts out his rear hand to support himself, then attack for the kimura. 

There was also a defence that when the opponent comes up hip bump, the man in guard drives him down flat, then grabs his supporting arm with one hand outside and one hand inside and traps it under him. You then use your free arm to pin his knee and pass into side control. 

Another sequence involved a guard attack where you clamp the opponent's arms together, then pull him down, then secure an overhook on one side and shrimp mount to that side. From here, there is a open guard overhook clamping position involving the foot kicking down on the back of the opponent's neck. This is a key detail. You can then attack for triangles, omoplatas and straight armbars.

Sparring was OK. I got tapped by better people and played with my new sweep from bottom half guard with newer people. This is pretty good and I will be refining it and using it a lot more. 

I also started experimenting with Williams guard and, based on early success, I am going to be using this a lot. It’s basically a shoulder pin guard where the opponent underhooks, then you connect your arm and leg by underhooking your own knee to pin his shoulder. You then gable grip your hands at a right angle in front of the opponent’s face and there are triangle and omoplata options from there.

My coach also gave me a really good piece of advice. I often get to half guard knee shield and end up getting passed. He suggested using my vertical leg to hook one f the opponent’s feet. This sows down his guard pass and gives me space and a bit of time to recover and lock in half guard. 

Things to remember: Chopping foot into back of opponent’s neck detail from open overhook guard; hook detail and moving into half guard when getting passed from knee shield half guard; Williams guard.

Class 321...

An open mat no-gi class with just a few of us, so a welcome chance to do some light rolling and some drilling. This was fun.

I also sought some advice on a couple of new techniques. The first was a submission chain linking a kimura and a guillotine. This relies on using the elevated shoulder from a kimura attack and switching the position to a wraparound under the armpit guillotine attack.

The other was an escape from bottom side control. This went something like this:
i) Bottom man secure grips as normal to defend side mount pass from man on top.
ii) Shrimp out a bit, push head away and clamp it in position, secure tight overbook using hand blocking hip.
iii) Bridge up and keeping the opponent clamped, roll over at a 90 degrees angle and end up in side control.

A senior belt told me this was a reliable escape, so I will be using it.

Class 320...

A no gi class on butterfly guard, which included a couple of sweeps and a guard pass. These went something like this: 

Butterfly sweep with double underhooks: opponent is on his knees and and you secure both butterfly hooks inside the opponent's legs; then secure both underhooks under opponent's arms; close distance and stay attached; shrimp backside out slightly but stay attached to opponent at the top of his body; then drop backwards and elevate the opponent using the butterfly hooks; pick a side and sweep the opponent to that side and end up in mount.

Butterfly sweep with single underhook and single overhook: opponent is on his knees and and you secure both butterfly hooks inside the opponent's legs; then secure one underhook under one side of opponent's arms; then an overhook over one side of opponent's arms; leg that is the same side as overtook flattens to floor; the other leg stays hooked; top body stays attached to opponent at the top of his body; then drop sideways onto your ear and elevate the opponent using the single butterfly hook; sweep the opponent and end up in half guard and pass to side control. 

Butterfly sweep defence using ankle grab: opponent on knees closes space and cages hips to stop leg extension; elbows help to cage hips on either side of opponent with arms forming frame alongside opponent's rib cage; head stays attached to body of opponent with head facing to side; one arms reaches back to grab ankle of opponent and secure it in place; then step over that side pass into side control. 

Butterfly sweep defence using hop over: opponent on knees closes space and cages hips to stop leg extension; elbows help to cage hips on either side of opponent with arms forming frame alongside opponent's rib cage; head stays attached to body of opponent with head facing to side; one arms reaches back to grab ankle of opponent and secure it in place; then position opposite arm and head to one side of opponent; using head and hands as points of base, hop over into side control. 

In sparring, we played king of the guard, which is a guard retention game where the seated man has to sweep using butterfly guard and the attacking man has to escape hooks and pass to side control. I was OK at this. 

Sparring was also OK. I rolled with mainly lower belts, which was good because I got to play with butterfly guard and drill some triangle and omoplata submissions. The one senior belt I rolled with utterly smashed me. He was very slick and moved ridiculously easy. The latter is very good at securing foot hooks so I need to be better at pummelling against foot hooks. He also is very good at securing underhooks. 

I need to start being more disciplined about not giving any form of hooks up so easily. I maybe need to use a combat base when entering the guards of better opponents. as this gives me a platform to at least try and pass.

Things to remember: The butterfly sweeps, the butterfly defences and passes, and fighting any opponent when they try to secure underhooks or butterfly hooks. 

Class 319…

A gi class and some work on scissor sweeps with an emphasis on grips and leaning back to create tension to stretch the opponent out. 

A couple of new details on this technique included: 

i) Securing sleeve and collar control then placing both feet on hips, then shrimp out to extend opponent and create tension. Then move left knee inside against opponent’s shoulder  an pushing knee into shoulder and pulling collar to cause discomfort. Opponent then pushes knee and you use this as a trigger to attack for the sweep. Also use non-griping hand to base out at end of sweep so you cannot be counter-swept. 

We then worked this into a set-up for a triangle. The only difference was moving the vertical knee left to the outside to attack the opponent’s hand gripping your gi. Apply pressure down, forcing opponent out move arm out so you can close the triangle.

Sparring was against lower belts so I played with butterfly hooks and omoplata attacks. I am now getting more confident about attacking for leg locks. 

On a side note, the very good wrestler there hit a couple of wrist locks during the pummelling and stand-up fighting drill we did at the opening of the class. I will steal those techniques. 

Things to remember: Shrimping and extending opponent out to create tension on scissor sweep; using scissor sweep position to attack for triangle.

Classes 317 & 318...

The first of two no-gi classes and a drill for takedowns. The sequence went like this: 

i) You shoot for a double-leg takedown. To do this, you face your opponent in front stance, ensure you can cross touch his shoulder to check you are in range, then drop your level in a crouched stance, drop forward on your front knee and hands grab around the back of the opponent’s legs. Head must be upright and tight to opponent’s body to avoid guillotine. The opponent backs away by pushing your head and sprawling. You both return to combat stance. 

ii) You then shoot for a single leg by aiming to grab the head of the opponent, which forces him to raise his posture, then moving to a 90-degree angle and underhooking his leg and dropping your stance. Your head is up and pinned to the opponent’s chest to avoid guillotines, and you trap his leg between your legs.

iii) You move to back control, then attack his other leg. 

The takehome from this is to keep yourself attached to the opponent to limit his space and movement options. Also inch in elbows to close space and lock around his body. 

We did some work on foot pummelling, too, which is a new concept. The idea is that an opponent who has his hooks inside your legs when he is on the floor and you are standing is in a better position to launch attacks to destabilise your base. The defence against this involved removing the hooks, then controlling the opponent’s knee, turn your foot so your feet are shoelace to shoelace with the opponent, then step inside and repeat on the other leg. We did drills to train this foot pummelling and the good news is that I am improving at keeping my hooks active when attacking.

We then did an achilles lock set-up from open guard with both opponents seated. The attacking man has his outside foot on hip and his inside foot tucked under the bum of the opponent and clamping the leg of the opponent. Your hands are securing the leg that is about to be attacked. The knee needs to be tight on the leg under attack. This secures the position. The attacking man shrimps backwards to ensure the opponent’s foot is extended, then he guillotines the Achilles by dropping onto his inside elbow, turning away and lifting his hands to cut into the ligament. 

The key note here was that the hands are attached to the body and everything acts as the attacking lever and not just the hands.

In open sparring, I got utterly smashed by pretty much everyone. One very good wrestler hit me with about three successive knee bars when I tried to use a sort of knee shield half guard. I did manage to roll for about two and a half hours, though. So my stamina is getting better. 

In the second no-gi class, we worked on a flow sequence that involved attacking and defending takedowns. This went like this: 

i) Start with opponent in back control with both hands around opponent’s waist and connecting with a gable grip. Opponent defends by slightly basing out to create distance and using both hands to push down and break gable grip to escape. He then turns to face the opponent. 

ii) Attacker moves in and secures front body lock with gable grip connecting hands behind opponent. Opponent defends by connecting his hands around the arms of the opponent and squeezing to force grip apart. 

iii) Attacker then shoots for a single leg and secures the leg of the opponent between his legs. The defending man moves the trapped leg onto the outside then pushes the opponent off using his head and breaks free. He returns to combat stance to face the opponent. 

iv) The attacker then ensures he is in touching distance by touching the opponent’s opposite shoulder with his hand, he then changes levels and drops forward on his front knee and grabs both the legs of the opponent. His head is firåmly attached to the inside ribs of the opponent to avoid a guillotine. The opponent defends by sprawling. 

v) The attacking man defends by going to turtle and the defending/sprawling man tries to take control at the side. The attacking/turtle man then granby rolls into guard.

vi) The man in guard then does a knee cut pass and the man who has guard tries to granby roll again, but an arm around the waist prevents this. The bottom knee is also inserted into the space created by the granby roll attempt. 

vii) The man in guard then secures a seatbelt and half guard to attack the back. The opponent is then stretched out and the other hook is inserted. Then it’s attack the neck for chokes. The choking hand is always on the bottom so when the defending man strips the top hand away, the other hand moves to choke. The choking sequence is arm choke, gable grip choke and rear naked choke.

Sparring was OK. I hit a few submissions on submissions on lower belts and tried to play with kimura, americanan and omoplata attacks. I am slightly better at attacking for leg locks and I even defended a couple, too 

Things to remember: foot pummelling drills, details on Achilles locks, hand place details on chokes.

Class 316...

An open mat session and a chance to do some light rolling, which was massively enjoyable. 

I'm still badly off the pace at no-gi, but I feel I'm making less stupid mistakes. I am also (badly) persevering with butterfly guard and I am having some success keeping my hooks active when attacking standing opponents.

I hit a couple of wrist locks when rolling from turtle and I nearly hit a triangle from an escape from side control. I am also remembering to use frames much more as well. 

It's not exactly getting better, but it getting a bit less worse.

Things to do: work on butterfly guard and side control attacks; revise attacks from overlooks full guard as I am securing the position but not getting the finishes.

Class 315...

A return to gi this week and a class on single and double leg takedown and killing the butterfly hooks. 

We kicked off with some single and double leg takedown drills, which then chained together. 

We then did some work on killing butterfly hooks: push opponent attacking with butterfly hooks back, shuffle forward to trap opponent's feet, go low and spread his legs, then gable grip around the legs to lock them in place, apply pressure to pin his movement, kick leg up and step hips back and go stomach up, then bring leg and hip back with stomach down, move into side control, secure position.

Other butterfly kill set-up, push opponent back, move in, grab around knee, then reach around other leg to grab ankle and ruin his hooks, then step out pass as before.

Sparring was OK. I did OK against white belts and secured a couple of good positions and scissor sweeps. I also got ruined by a young, long, slick blue belt. It wasn't a great return but I wasn't out of my depth either.

Things to remember: butterfly kick out to guillotine works, overhook guard works but more offence from it is needed.

Classes 313-314...

Another two no-gi sessions and four hours well spent getting to grips with new and sort-of-new stuff.

In the opening class, we spent time learning the dark arts of leg locks and heel hooks. We worked on several techniques and entries and these included:

Heel hook entries from single x: from takedown, grip foot under armpit, same side leg hooks under top knee of opponent, pinch knees together so bottom knee is under opponent's knee and apply pressure, roll onto heel hook side, swim arm out and clamp on heel, gable gårip and attach hands to chest, stretch out and turn into opponent.

To defend, hold onto top knee to close distance, put boot on, pass over opponent's bottom leg and attack for top position.

Other entries: guard opening, knee slide, move back catch other leg with hands and drop back to heel hook attack positions, same side leg underhooks leg of opponent.

Straight foot lock from single x.

In the second class, we did some work on takedowns and a defence-attack chain. These went something like this:

Single leg takedown: step back leg into position so you are 90 degrees from opponent when you underhook the leg, pull leg tight to chest using gable grip and close elbows to shut down space, head tight in to avoid guillotine. 

Single leg defence: move trapped leg to outside of opponent's leg, push off with your hands on head of opponent, then release leg. 

Counter to leg defence: before trapped leg disappears, attack back and gable grip hands around opponent, head on opposite side, close down all space, ensure low leg is inbetween opponent's leg and you have a solid base. 

Defence against counter: create frame with hands and push down against gable grip to break lock and escape. 

Sweep from back attack to counter: keep hold of gable grip, then base outside leg outside and place inside leg close to opponent's leg, push him forward so he pushes back, then use that momentum to trip him and take him to side control.

From there, step over and pass his leg under you arm, then go to knee slice and secure head and arm control, then pass to mount and set up armbar. 

Sparring felt better in both sessions. I am still a long way off the pace and I am getting ruined by the better people there. But I am slowly getting better at defending and understanding positions and holding guard when I can find it. It will all take a while, though. I'm better with a gi because I've done more in a gi, but I will eventually learn to control an opponent without gi handles. 

Things to remember: attach hands to body, create a unit, then attack.