Class 355...

A no-gi class and some drills to defend the single leg takedown. These went as follows:

Guillotine From Single Leg Attack:

Push opponent's head to outside, nearest hand under throat, other hand gable grips and pulls high to finish choke.

Kimura From Single Leg Attack:

Push opponent's head to outside, nearest hand grabs opponent's opposite hand, connect hands and pull out and up. 

Options from here include hooking with trapped leg and sweeping opponent over head using hook and kimura grip.

Ten Finger Choke from Single Leg Attack:

Push opponent's head down to centre, connect hands by flat cupping them together, apply pressure down by dropping your chest on his head and back, lift blade edge of cupped hands to throat. 

Darce from Turtle on Top:

Nearest hand under armpit to come out near opposite side of opponent's ear, gable grip hands and slice top hand down on back of opponent's neck, drive in to flip him over, punch hand further through, then grab own bicep an place hand on back of opponent and squeeze.

Sparring was fine. I am experimenting with guard passing and struggling a bit with no-gi.

Class 354...

Another gi class, which involved a couple of defences from the single leg takedown. These went as follows:

Guillotine Defence Against Single Leg: Opponent attacks for a single leg and secures it with his head inside; you immediately balance on one leg and move his head to the other side; swim your outside arm under his neck; connect hands and pull up for guillotine.

Kimura Defence Against Single Leg: Opponent attacks for a single leg and secures it with his head inside; you immediately balance on one leg and move his head to the other side; use your nearest hand to secure his outside arm; then swim your other arm over to connect up the kimura.

Options from here are: 

Secure the kimura and tap. 

Or insert the hook of the trapped leg behind the thigh of the opponent and fall back and flip opponent over.

Options from flipped opponent are: 

Secure reverse triangle

Wait for opponent to come on top, then keep kimura lock and move backwards on back until you are spooning opponent;  then attack back.

Kimura from Half Guard Bottom: use knee shield to manage distance between you opponent; kick knee shield through to collapse opponent: secure kimura grip and scoot further under opponent to attack for submission.

Options from here are: open half guard and kick out, then use kimura lock to sweep around on back and slide knee in so you are sort of spooning; then sweep opponent over.

Sparring was OK. I am trying to hit more triangles and use more sweeps.

Things to remember: kimura lock and using kimura to control opponent.

Class 353...

My first no-gi class for a while. It was hard work with a 90-minute class then followed by an hour of sparring. It was, however, fun...

Side Control Escape to Granby Roll: Man on bottom creates frame, then brings his trapped hand through; switch base by switching legs to come to knees; then Granby roll to recover guard. 

Attacking man uses arm to prevent roll by pinning hips of opponent; then secures seat belt, then slides bottom hook in for back half; then uses back half to stretch opponent and insert second hook; then attacks for rear chokes

Kimura Sweep: Man on bottom attacks for kimura; man on top defends by hiding arm and creating himself into a unit; man on bottom kicks legs out and walks to other side with back on floor; uses kimura to sweep and come into mount.

We then worked on a series of overhook guard attacks.

Full Guard Overhook Attack: From full guard, sit up and connect own hands together behind back of opponent; fall back to bring opponent to floor; secure overhook on one arm and put opposite foot on hip of opponent; take out arm as you turn yourself to the side and bring your leg so it rests on his shoulder near the side of his neck and chops his head down. This leaves arm locked for kimuras, arm bars, wrist locks and inverted armbars.

Half Guard Overhook Attack from Bottom: Secure overhook, use opposite leg to push opponent away, then do same as before; take out arm as you turn yourself to the side and bring your leg so it rests on his shoulder near the side of his neck and chops his head down. This leaves arm locked for kimuras, arm bars, wrist locks and inverted armbars.

Side Control Overhook Attack from Bottom: Secure overhook, use opposite hand on hip to create space and frame out, then sling leg over as before; take out arm as you turn yourself to the side and bring your leg so it rests on his shoulder near the side of his neck and chops his head down. This leaves arm locked for kimuras, arm bars, wrist locks and inverted armbars.

  

Sparring was 10 five-minute rounds. I did OK. I got a nice hip throw. I am also trying to pass guard more and hit triangles

Things to remember: overhook and foot on hip guard and attacks, look up guard passing in no gi. 

Class 352...

An advanced gi class. Here’s what I picked up...

Knee on Belly Switches: start in side control and secure collar grab and hand on belt; sit up on haunches and go to knee on belly with other leg basing out; use knee on belly to pin opponent, then swap knee position; former knee on belly then bases out; hand positions swap. Drill repeats and you move from side to side. 

Kimura from North/South: pin one side of opponent with chest to chest, with one leg straight and outside leg basing out; on pressure side, scoop outside arm under arm of opponent with palm face up; move to knees and bring opponent's arm up so he is on his side; then connect hands for kimura grip and finish kimura. 

Option: If opponent defends by linking hands, then step over and drop into armbar.

Other option: Switch kimura grip by holding both own biceps to create a unit, then stepping over head of opponent and wrenching it out. 

Sparring was fine. I played with omoplata and triangles. I also found it is easier to connect hands for Ezekiel if done in wrong order.

Classes 350-351...

Another two classes in quick-ish succession. Here’s what I learnt! Or tried to… 

First up was a gi class where we returned to some familiar and not-so familiar basics. These included: 

Hip Escape Following Leg Drag by Standing Man: this was a drill that went as follows. The standing man steps in and leg drags your leg; you then hip escape by posting hands on leg and pushing off; outside leg then goes onto onto standing opponent's stomach; square up hips. 

Then sweep options are:

Idiot Sweep: grab legs of opponent, place feet under hips, then lifting opponent up and following him into mount. 

Single Hook Sweep: reach hand to secure ankle of opponent, keep foot on same side hip, then hook back of knee with other leg, pull in hook and extend foot in hip to topple opponent over.

Sweeping Leg Sweep: grab one leg of opponent, outside leg on stomach, inside leg sweeps along ground and sweeps standing leg of opponent. 

Sparring was OK. Got a stripe! 

The next class was also a gi class and we worked on the following single leg drills: 

Push Opponent Back Single Leg Option 1: Push opponent back so he steps back and puts his weight on his back leg; grab his front leg and secure leg of opponent between your legs; place your head inside leg of opponent and turn the corner.

Push Opponent Back Single Leg Option 2: Push opponent back so he steps back and puts his weight on his back leg; grab his front leg and secure leg of opponent between your legs; place your head outside; grab foot and angle knee so you can collapse opponent forwards. 

Push Opponent Back Single Leg Option 3: Push opponent back so he steps back and puts his weight on his back leg; grab his front leg and secure leg of opponent between your legs; place your head inside; he defends by pushing your head away and moving leg outside; move head outside and underhook his leg; clasp under your nearest arm behind his back and pull him down. 

Half Guard Bottom Belt Grab: A nifty technique when you are on the bottom in half guard. Grab his lapels or belt with your inside hand and pass it under the opponent’s trapped leg to your other hand. When he moves, you have options to take a single leg as the grabbed material traps his leg and prevents him passing. 

De La Riva Ball and Chain Sweep: Nearest hand secures ankle of opponent; DLR hook with nearest leg and other leg pushes opponent on hip to cause off-balancing; spare hand secures sleeve or outside hand of opponent; sit up and use hip foot to stretch opponent out; then pass opponent’s sleeve to hand securing ankle; grab collar and face plant opponent and come up into top position. 

De La Riva Back Take: Nearest De La Riva leg forces opponent to step out so his back is open; spin out using connected leg; connected leg goes to other leg of opponent; leg on hip moves under other leg of opponent; grab belt then lift him using your leg hooks and take the back and sink hooks and seatbelt in. 

We then did a sequence that went from:

De La Riva to Single X to X Guard to X Guard Sweep: DLR hook leg comes inside clamps on and other leg hooks under knee of opponent's other leg for Single X; for X Guard, the Single X leg moves over and extends the leg, opponent's trapped leg goes not your shoulder. Options: sweep and come to base or move head inside, then insert hooks and grab belt and pull him down.

Sparring was OK. I got tapped quite a few times, but I am trying to get better at passing guard and not using my usual positions. So this is going to get worse before it gets better.

Classes 348-349...

Two classes in quick-ish succession. Here’s what I learnt! Or tried to…

First up was a gi class in which we did some familiar and not-so familiar basics. 

The Beach Towel Pass: Step in low on seated opponent and grab the same side sleeve and pants with your hands; then step up and move him 90 degrees; secure knee on belly. 

Darce Choke: Opponent is in turtle position and you are at side/front and keeping your weight on him; your back arm goes under his armpit and comes out at the other side of his neck with your palm facing out and thumb up; either gable grip or slide your arm in and hold your own bicep using your other arm; squeeze and close space down for tap. If that fails, you can turn the opponent over and trap his feet using yours to finish the choke. 

Side Control Escape into Granby Roll Triangle: Frame underneath your opponent, create space to come to knees, roll over into turtle, then Granby roll to come into guard.

The coach also talked about the importance of leg pummelling when trying to pass guard and he talked about how the man with the legs inside always has the advantage.

Second up was another gi class in which the head of the academy did guard-passing techniques. These included the Toreador to Knee on Belly and the Double Unders Pass. He also showed a pass I have never seen before. This was:

Handstand Pass: Break opponent’s guard and secure knee control using gi pants and stay in combat base; then put your head on the belly of the opponent and look at your own belly; use head and hands on knees to form base so you can handstand over and land in a backwards crab; then wait for opponent to move and secure side control.

Double Unders Pass: In guard of opponent, hands on hips and sprawl back to create space and break opponent’s guard; ensure both elbows are tight on your own body; move both hands under thighs of opponent and connect in front of opponent; close space and pull up opponent; then pick a side move opponent’s legs; sprawl on opponent and smash him down; secure side control.

Flying Armbar from Collar Grab: Standing man is trying to pass guard and opponent in seated position tries to grab collar; secure sleeve with both hands and side step; secure shoulder control with one hand; then leap into flying armbar.

Sparring was OK. I caused a few people some problems with De la Riva Ball and Chain Sweep. But I struggled to escape the guard of a strong white belt or finish an arm-in guillotine. I should have used a Darce Choke. D’oh!

Things to remember: Handstand pass and the side control escape and Granby roll.