Class 361...

A No Gi class and it was all sparring. I did OK, but I am trying to develop a half guard game and I'm struggling. 

I am aware I'm falling for kimura attacks when on top. This is because I am not hiding my arm when attacking for hug passes. I am, however, trying to rectify this. 

The other big issue I am aware of is that I am getting smashed a lot in half guard on bottom. This is because I am using it as a resting position and I am waiting to see what my opponent does. 

I can't afford to do this as my opponents hug pass and get into side control, which is even worse. So I need to use half guard bottom as an attacking base and secure tension between my knee shield and my grip. I also need to immediately use half guard to launch attacks, so I need to be either going for back control, a kimura or an adapted sweep.

I will keep working on these positions...

Class 360...

Some work in preparation for the tournament that it seems most people in the club have entered. Which is ace. This went something like this:

Nine Point Takedown Sequence: Cross collar grip and stiff arm opponent when standing; drop down and slide legs around outside leg of opponent's right leg and monkey grip behind the other leg to set up a sort of tripod sweep; come up to take them down and end up in half guard on top; wrap legs of opponent with right arm to hug pass half guard by sprawling; watch elbow is tight to prevent threat of kimura; pull opponent in and drive him onto his back to secure side control; then lace legs and let him move to slide knee over for mount; then secure hooks if he turns and attack for back mount.

Half Guard Knee Shield Kimura Attack Sequence from Bottom: collapse knee shield for kimura, attack for straight arm bar, insert hook for sweep. 

Sparring was woeful. I was too tired and waiting to be smashed in half guard rather than using it as an attacking base. I need to forget that half guard is not a resting position but a transitionary position.

Class 358-359...

A technique class followed by a class from the visiting head of the school. The technique class focused on half guard knee shield and focused on the following techniques:

Half Guard Knee Shield Recovery from Smashed Guard: Man on bottom who has had his half guard smashed places hand under throat of opponent and hand on hip of opponent to frame, then hip escapes and reguards.

Half Guard Knee Shield Collapse Kimura Set-up: Keep tension in knee shield and grip, then collapse so opponent falls forward. Grab his arm as he falls forward, then securing kinda grip. If he defends, then pull his arm out and position it over his shoulder. Attack for tap. 

Half Guard Knee Shield Collapse and Back Take: Keep tension in knee shield and grip, then kick off so opponent falls backwards. Secure an undertook on his arm and pass to attack his back. Note: One how is already in place. 

Half Guard Knee Shield Smashed and Insert Hook Sweep: Frame on opponent after he has collapsed your knee shield. Hip escape and insert hook under his thigh, then pulls his head and arms in as you elevate his leg using the hook and turn him over. 

Half Guard Knee Shield Secure Underhook and Opponent Gets Whizzer:  Grab the hand of the opponent and roll over sweep as he has no base because of your half guard and control of his hand.

In sparring, I was a bit off the pace but my defending was OK. I am aware I need to pull the trigger on attacks much more quickly. 

The class with the visiting head of the school focused on a sequence designed to score in competition if you end up in the guard of the opponent. This went something like this: 

Break guard by holding onto hips and extending backwards.
Pin knee of opponent down and pass one leg over into half guard. 
From half guard, drive your passed knee into the armpit of the opponent. 

Swim arms over and trap his arms so you are 90 degrees to your opponent in half guard.

Switch hips to reverse scissors. 

Walk trapped leg up and free from half guard. 

Secure side control. 

Underhook his bottom leg with your leg.

Smash both his legs together with your legs/

Pass to mount.

Climb to pin opponent. 

Half circle with elbow to get arm triangle.

We were also showed a choke from North/South. This went something like this: 
North/South Choke No.1: drop opponent's head on one side and pin him down on on other side; flatten out to hold him in position; bring knees up; attack by driving arm under neck on open side; then bring arm under armpit on closed side; place hands up and crossed at wrists under opponent; then drop back and drop back, and squeeze for choke.

North/South Choke No.2: Other option is to underhook arm on closed side of opponent and grab collar of his gi; use this and shoulder pressure to pin opponent; then move to side control and insert right hand under collar of opponent; then twist to expose blade of arm and compress for choke.

I didn't do much sparring as I had a spannered knee. But an ace class!

Classes 356-357...

Two gi classes. The first focused on passing opponents who adopt two different guards. The take-home from these went something like this:

Knee Shield Guard Pass Single Leg Hug with Collar Drag: Use chest to collapse the knee shield; outside arm wraps around knees of opponent and clasps bottom knee; other arm grabs collar of opponent's gi and pull your elbow into your own ribcage; escape trapped leg; pass into side control.

Knee Shield Guard Pass Double Leg Hug with Collar Drag: Use chest to collapse the knee shield; outside arm wraps around knees of opponent and clasps bottom knee; other arm wraps around knees to kill movement; hide hand to prevent kimura attacks; grab collar of opponent's gi and pull your elbow into your own ribcage; escape trapped leg; pass into side control.

Butterfly Guard Leaping Pass: Compact opponent and keep arms and elbows in to prevent kimura; hand grabs one of opponent's feet; head and hand post to opposite side; jump up using posts to base; get airborne and pass to side.

Butterfly Guard Knee Push Pass: Compact opponent and keep arms and elbows in to prevent kimura; bring one of your knees inside; push nearest knee of opponent down with hand or knee to pass; then either pass or wait for opponent to move and take mount. 

Sparring was OK. I was a bit off the pace. I am continuing to hunting for leg triangles. I also stuck around for an MMA class. In this, we did ground and pound drills. We also mixed striking attacks with takedowns, and then striking and escaping.

The second class focused on the fundamentals of surviving in the guard. The takehome from this class were:

Posture and Frame: Sit up straight in posture and use arms to create frame with palms driving into bottom of opponent's rib cage and elbows tucked in; if collapsed, drive hands into armpits of opponent with palms facing ribs of opponent and thumbs up, with elbows tucked in; push back to keep distance, then uses ace to sit back up in posture.

Strip Grips: always strip grips using either the turn and twist to break the grip; or use the two against one in the diamond shape and break away to the side not in the straight.

Cage the Hips: follow the opponent's hips with your hips and ensure you keep close to prevent his hip movement and his attacks; clamp your arms on the outside of each of his hips; if you are in a low posture, use your head to drive into his sternum and prevent him from moving even further.

Guard Breaks: Use your frame to extend your hips to break guard; then sit up in combat stance to ensure your opponent cannot regard. 

Standing Guard Break and Pass: Trap one of your opponent's arms and cross grip it and stuff it across the body of the opponent; stand on that side with that side leg first; then stand with your other leg; stand fully up and bring the trapped arm of your opponent with you; shake his leg off and come into combat base to start pass.

Standing Guard Break, Create Seat and Pass: Trap one of your opponent's arms and cross grip it and stuff it across the body of the opponent; stand on that side with that side leg first; then stand with your other leg; move knees under bum of opponent so you create a seat; opponent seats on your leg; leg the opponent get comfortable then collapse the seat and let the opponent slide down; shake his legs off and come into combat base to start pass.

We did some kid of the guard drill from these positions. I then stayed to drill some kimura set-ups with the hip bump sweep; plus the armbar, omoplata and leg triangle drill.