Classes 383-384...

First up was a No Gi class in which we worked on triangle set-ups from full guard. The sequence went something like this: 

Leg Triangle set-up as man in full guard gets sleeve control and stuffs one arm to set up attack.

Opponent defends his arm by hiding it once Leg Triangle is on.

One possible answer is to bring hips up and drag arm of opponent back across to attack.

Other possible answer is Teepee.

Other possible answer is to switch triangle by holding head of opponent to prevent his escape, then swap legs, then attacking for straight arm bar, kimura or wrist lock

We also then worked on attacking Leg Triangle from a threatened Hip Bump Sweep into a Guillotine into a Leg Triangle. We also attacked a Leg Triangle from Mount. 

A good class working on essential basics.

Next up was Gi class on Transitional Guards. The real revelation here was the shin-on-shin guard and how to employ this guards at the point when you opponent puts his foot inside your guard to attack for a pass.

Shin on Shin Guard: opponent foot pummels with one leg in your open guard, underhook leg of standing opponent, bring outside leg back in and go shin to shin, in gi grab lapel and pass to hand underhooking leg. In No Gi, try to establish wrist control.

Sweeping options from here involve rolling back and elevating leg. 

De la Riva: if open guard is getting passed, secure ankle control on one side, insert De la Riva hook, secure a cross grip on the sleeve of the opponent and extend with other leg to topple opponent. 

Options from here: come up into base and start to pass,

We also did one work on Single X and X Guard.

Shin-on-shin Guard is something I will definitely incorporate as it is the phase I often lose opponents in if they pass my open guard. 

Classes 381-382...

First up, a No Gi class in which we worked on our favoured guillotine routine from an arm and collar tie-up. This went something like this:

Ten-finger Choke from Arm and Collar Tie: Bring own outside arm on opponent’s arm in, push opponent’s head down and cover back of opponent's head with chest; cup hands together under neck of opponent, close blades of wrists around head of opponent to limit his escape opportunities; do arm curl to raise finger guillotine on neck of opponent, then push down chest. 

High Arm Guillotine From Arm and Collar Tie: Bring own outside arm on opponent’s arm in, push head of opponent under your armpit, slide opposite arm under neck of opponent, connect hands and throw the other arm over shoulder of opponent. 

Hand in Guillotine From Arm and Collar Tie: Bring own outside arm on opponent’s arm in, push head of opponent under your armpit, slide opposite arm under neck of opponent, connect hands and throw other arm over shoulder of opponent. If this does not work, swim arm under armpit of opponent, then sprawl and drop down, then attack for Darce Choke.

Darce Choke from Top Position on Turtled Opponent following Arm in Guillotine: Move to side and keep body weight pressure on opponent; shoot arm under armpit of opponent through to opposite side so it waves at you; gable grip own hands together so knife blade of your top arm applies pressure to the back of the opponent’s neck; use this grip to then come to top side; shoot arm through under opponent and swap positions; grab own bicep and rest hand on back of opponent to aid control; squeeze for tap. 

I’m still quite rusty on Darce Chokes but I am starting to under stand them a bit more. I am trying to hit them a little bit now, too! 

We then did some work on setting up a Guillotine from Full Guard but baiting a Hip Bump Sweep, then using the armpit over shoulder position to attack for a guillotine. 

Sparring was OK but I am ore playing than properly sparring at the moment. I seem to have lost my confidence and fearlessness a bit. I got ruined by a senior belt, but I hit a lockdown position. I am also still persevering with Half Guard Knee Shield. 

The second class was BJJ Gi affair and we worked on some basic Armbar, Omoplata and Leg Triangle attacks from Full Guard.

The real revelation at this class was attacking for the leg over the neck of the opponent and arm trap control position. For future notes I will call this the Ovrehook Kick Neck Position. This is a good position from me as it comes from an overhook position and this is one of my go-to positions. 

To attack for this position from Full Guard is simple. Body hug the opponent and pull him backwards, when he uses his arms to base back up, chicken wing his arms and secure an overhook and hip out to the side. This gives options for an Omoplata attack but it also allows you to send your bely button to the floor as you swing you top leg over the back of the opponent and place it in the small of his neck at the side. From here,  there are options for kimuras, straight armbars inverted armbars and wristlocks. 

The same mechanics also work from Bottom Side Control and Butterfly Guard. 

I have to get with this system as it gives me attacking options from one of my favoured positions and it is an excellent way to develop my side control game and my butterfly game. 

Class 380...

Another class in quick succession. Today was a BJJ Gi dinnertime class in which we focused on the leg drag pass from one of the previous No Gi classes.

This went something like this: 

Opponent is seated with his feet on your hips as you stand: leg drag pass, drop down and pin opponent’s knee to floor; secure head control and drop down into passing position

From here, the options are:

In side control, place your hand inside the opponent’s hip to prevent him Turtling then Granby Rolling to recover guard; this buys you time to insert a hook as he rolls and attack for back control. 

From Turtle position with hook inserted, you angle out and rest your upper body on the back of your opponent; you hold the other foot of the opponent, and place your foot on the floor near the grasped foot; then roll back and kick own foot against other foot to attack for calf slicer. 

Or roll back for back attack. This position is called The Truck and is part of the Eighth Planet System.  

We also did an escape from rear mount in which we defended the hooks and hipped out and turned back in to face the opponent. 

Sparring was OK but I was still well off the pace. I am getting some semblance of positional defence back, though. 

Classes 378-379...

A No Gi BJJ class in which we focused on using a wresting sequence to secure top control in both No Gi and MMA. This went something like this: 

Top Control Position: 

Opponent is on his back and has his feet on your hips; choose one of the opponent’s legs and leg drag to the opposite side of your body, keeping your nearest hand on his foot and your furthest hand on the inside of his knee; drop down and use knee slice position to pin his non-dragged leg to the floor; secure head control and apply shoulder pressure. 

Then options are:

Passing into side control

Moving one knee over and then the other knee to secure mount

Moving to rear mount

Placing elbow in hip of opponent and allowing opponent to turtle and inserting hook and attacking for back control with seatbelt

Next up was a BJJ Gi Beginners Class and we did a sequence involving a Hip Bump Sweep from Full Guard and A Bride and Roll Escape. We then did another sequence involving attacking for an Armbar from full guard, then the opponent defending the amrbar by pulling his arm out and attacking for a Leg Triangle. 

Sparring was OK. I still felt massively off the pace and I got caught a couple of times by a decent white belt. But I also hit a couple of Leg Triangles, Omoplatas, Scissor Sweeps and Chokes. 

Classes 376-377...

First up was a Wrestling Class working on Single Leg Takedowns. 

I remain pretty poor at these, but I am starting to get better at the step sequence, which goes as follows: 

Touch opposite shoulder of opponent

Drop down to change level 

Step to side of opponent and underhook leg and connect hands together 

Trap leg of opponent between your legs 

Posture up and ensure head is against side of opponent to avoid guillotine 

Move round and drag leg and use head to batter opponent down 

Secure control position

We then added a back take and a backwards lateral drop into this sequence. My sparring was OK but not brilliant. I am way off the pace at the moment. 

Next up was a No Gi BJJ Class in which we worked on escapes bottom side control. 

Escape from Bottom Side Control: Man on bottom secures underhook on neck block side; come to knees to face opponent; knee tap opponent to push him over; secure side control with arm under head of opponent. 

We then worked on a finish from this position. 

Head and Arm Choke from Top Side: arm under head pins across throat of opponent, then swoops round and catches arm and swoops under and traps arm of opponent, then sets up arm triangle. 

We then did some King of the Guard. I am still relying on Closed Guard too much but I had some success with operating from Half Guard with back takes using an underhook. 

I continue to be off the pace at sparring, but I hit a couple of decent throws from standing. 

Classes 374-375...

My first BJJ classes back after a two-week holiday and a three-week lay off due to new job, and we did some work on Butterfly Guard. 

This went something like this: 

Defence Against Butterfly Guard: Opponent has butterfly guard, so body lock the opponent with double underhooks and push him backwards; keep body lock tight and head driving into opponent; underhook head of opponent; step over butterfly guard to move into side control; connect hands together and keep pressure on opponent. 

If the opponent gives his back up, drop hooks in and get seat belt control. 

If the opponent turns away and gets up on his elbow, secure the Khabib grip and flatten opponent out. 

We then played King of the Guard for a while and I did OK defending the position and OK attacking open guard, too. 

Sparring was fine but I was a bit off the pace. I am starting to use omoplatas and head and arm chokes more, too. 

Next up was a beginners BJJ Gi class in which we did some basic techniques, kicking off with a quite cool movement drill to aid re-guarding. 

Up first was a class on setting up armbars from closed guard, with particular emphasis  on the initial two-on-one grip and cross grip to pin the arm of the opponent that is being attacked. We then added the pull the arm out defence and the move to omoplata and the leg triangle drill.

We then did a sequence on the Kimura from Half Guard on Top: Attack for kimura from top; if opponent stops kimura by grabbing belt, swap hands, then switch hips to full guard; push your elbow to your knee to break grip of opponent, then pull his arm out and attack kimura.

Specific sparring was OK. I am starting to place myself in guard to practice escaping the position. I also need to add Scissor Sweep and Hip Bump Sweep to my offensive arsenal.