All Change...

I've just been promoted to purple belt. This was quite a surprise. About seven or eight months ago when the world was re-opened, I felt like I was getting back some quality and game plan. Then we went into another lockdown and I was mainly doing online MMA classes. 

I felt I was massively off the pace after such a long lay-off. On top of this, I was also feeling my age with a couple of constantly nagging injuries. 

Then the end of the class came and two very good white belts were promoted to blue. Then I was called out and told I was being promoted. 

The belts in BJJ are so deep that I expected to remain a blue belt for a while longer. There were things I wanted to add into my game to expand my repertoire and I wanted to be more solid in what I did. For example, I'm confident with my standing and throwing game, my guard pulling and anything once I'm in full guard, particularly if I have an overhook. Wristlocks are obviously a key thing for me, too.

I've been trying to add in a more solid half-guard game and some open guard and x guard stuff, plus some Williams Guard techniques. I'm pretty sure this a path I'll continue down. The battleplan going forward is to assess what my game actually is and develop it, iron out the obvious weaknesses elsewhere, and add related techniques in. 

The thing I already know is that I want simple and functional game that will work in gi and no gi and for self-defence. I also need to learn to wear the belt, focus better on what I am doing and not worry about the colour.

Classes 428-431...

First up, a Gi class.
The techniques we focused on were:
Guard passes against a seated opponent who is using legs on hips: Leg drag to right side by holding leg then passing it on, knee cut to drop down, apply shoulder pressure, then pass. Hand down to block hips to help secure position.

Next up, a No Gi class.
The techniques we focused on were:
Positional escapes
Side control escape: bridge, frame against chin of opponent, fight for underhook, come to knees, kneetap.
Side control escape: Bridge, frame against chin of opponent, hand under stomach of opponent, bridge and spin out.
Mount escape: Bridge and roll.

Next up, a Gi class.
The techniques we focused on were:
Positional escapes from half guard: Secure underhook, clasp hands together behind opponent's head and arm, flatten out opponent, apply shoulder pressure, move head to other side of opponent, tripod up, free trapped leg, slip to side control or mount, knee to head

Take homes: drop weight and apply shoulder pressure.
Tighter and higher side control, Americana, straight arm bar, kimura attack. Wrist locks off this, too.

Next up, a No Gi class.
The techniques we focused on were:
Arm drags: Arm drag from standing, butterfly, half guard and full guard.
Reverse kimura: Same side grab from guard, butterfly or half guard to pull opponent in, other arm over shoulder of opponent, connect with arms hugging, lean back and apply.

Classes 424-427...

First up, a No Gi class. The techniques we focused on were:

Choke combination from rear mount: 

Hooks in and seatbelt with choking hand hidden by non choking hand under armpit of opponent. Sequence follows:

Grab hand and use one armed choke

Let arm and gable grip own hands to choke

Slide hand in for rear naked choke.

Sparring was a bit of a non-event as I was operating with one working arm.

Next up, a Gi class. The techniques we focused on were:

Choke combination from rear mount: 

Rear mount with hooks and seatbelt and choking hand grabbing collar.

Rear mount collar grip two handed choke.

Rear mount single collar grip with own arm attaching to bicep choke.

Rear mount baby choke.

In sparring, I spent time escaping side control and trying to attack using single x.

Next up, a No Gi class. The techniques we focused on were:

Armbar basics:

Armbar from side.

Opponent uses spider web defence.

Push off.

Leg in gap and kick.

Choke distraction.

Spider web arm pushing leg and come to knees defence and stacking defence.Sparring was OK as I was focusing on closed guard.

Next up, another No Gi class. The techniques we focused on were:

Positional escapes:

Mount escape grab arm and bridge and roll.

Rear mount and hold choking hand, move it onto other side of own head the turn, remove hooks and come to side.

Bottom turtle and granby roll to guard or triangle.

Bottom turtle and grab inside hand, angle hips out and put other hand under leg of opponent, then roll over and come to side.

In sparring: there were lots of white belts, so I played with hip bump sweep from full guard and hook sweeps from half guard. I tried to be technical and half-succeeded at this.