Class 224...

A sparring class when I hadn't trained for a week and a half, and I was too slow to react to everything. I got pretty comprehensively pumped, although I did secure a few strong positions and a few submissions against decent opponents.

I was too slow and not sharp enough today. But that will come back in a few weeks. I hope so as I'm competing in just over two weeks!

Classes 221, 222 & 223...

Three early morning classes all focusing on slightly different things, but all looking at escaping guard and passing to control an opponent on the ground. 

The toreador pass, plus attacking one side then spinning to the other side were all worked on. There was also old school shoulder pressure applied, too.

We also did a lot of sparring and I did OK. I feel like I'm making progress attacking from strong positions. And this is good. 

Things to remember: Establish strong position, then attack from it.

Classes 219 & 220…

Two early-morning classes focusing on guard passing, involving one man positioned on his hip in open half guard with one hook in and the other using a smashing pass to escape. This was hard work as the man on the bottom was not allowed to close guard at any point to retain the position so it was a lot of grip fighting and trying to retain hooks for him.

The man on top had to escape the initial hook and knee slide then pressure pass into side control.

There were a few variations, one including the man on the bottom monkey gripping the free arm to prevent head control, plus a variation where the man on the bottom also grabbed the ankle of the opponent and the sleeve or collar, then moved into a sweeping position.

The takehome from these lessons, though, was for the man on top to apply pressure and close the space down when attacking and ensure the opponent’s hip movement is blocked, while the man on the bottom used frame and posture to defend the position and eventually turn in it into an attacking or sweeping option. 

Sparring was OK and I did fine against my fellow white belts and I defended well against a decent and much bigger blue belt. At one point, I got stuck in side control and drew a total blank trying to remember my side control escapes, so I spent some time drilling them after the classes. I’m confident these will eventually bear fruit, though. 

Things to remember: Use frame when defending and close down space when attacking.