Private Class No.14...

A private class working on wrist locks for BJJ. 

We worked on a few gooseneck compression locks from side mount, triangle and mount. The key dynamics were backstop opponent's elbow, turn wrist at an angle, then compress.

My favourite, however, and the lock I intend to use right away is the compression lock from a gi collar grab. The mechanics of this are:
Opponent grabs same side gi collar; use both hands to lock opponent's arm in place above bicep with elbows in tight; move in with head on opponent's shoulder facing away from him; move opponent's arm towards his rib cage and roll shoulder in to attack integrity of straight wrist; pull opponent's arm in and retain shoulder roll to close space and get tap.

This is an attack that can be used from both standing and kneeling to either force a submission or take an opponent down.

I also talked to my teacher about how I was using the overhook to link full guard and half guard; and how I was also starting to use butterfly guard. He suggested I also use the overhook attack to link all three guards. 

This is going to take silly amounts of time but my mind is now officially blown by new possibilities!

Classes 247 & 248...

My first class as a blue belt and we worked on a sweep from half guard for the man on the bottom. This went something like this:

Man on bottom is up on one hip in half guard with cross grip on opposite side of opponent's collar; other hand has wrist control of opponent's opposite hand; knee is up in frame under opponent's armpit; stuff arm of opponent then rock back onto own back and pull him in so centres are aligned; then use your knee in frame as a lever and turn into a back somersault to sweep and land on top.

We also worked on a choke using a similar start point and entry, but I missed some of the details.

In the second class, we worked on grip fighting drills.

In sparring, I did ok. I won some and got smashed by some. I am experimenting with seated butterfly guard at the moment and mixing and matching with half and full guard, plus the overhook attacks.

I also started trying to incorporate wrist locks into my attacks. I had some success, but it will take a while to adapt this element of my hapkido into my BJJ. I also need to ensure I don't stop working on the BJJ stuff that got me here, too.

Things to remember: Sweep from half guard.

Grading...

 

The past weekend saw the annual grading at London Fight Factory and I got my blue belt.

I was equal amounts thrilled, daunted and humbled. The good news is that this now opens up wristlocks. The bad news is I now have to be better and rise to the challenge.

These are daunting but exciting times.

Class 246...

A Friday morning class and an hour of sparring. It was exhausting and intense, but I did OK and threw in some half-decent submissions.

The takehome was retaining frame. This saved me on the many, many occasions I started to gas.

Class 245...

I've had a two-week lay-off due to an ongoing knee injury, but today I tentatively ventured back onto the mats and it was OK. 

We were working on half guard positions and the take-home was:
Man on the bottom has to avoid getting his head controlled and keep his trapping legs active; frame also has to be in place and the high and long frame sets up attacks. 
Man on the top has to escape his trapped leg; establishing head control also helps to drive forward and flatten opponent out if you are not guard passing. 

I did OK in sparring and felt surprisingly OK after two weeks off. The butterfly guard knee kick and guillotine attack is paying dividends. I'm also using the overhook guard from both full and half to threaten attacks or set up back takes, too. 

Things to remember: Keep attacking. It's the best form of defence.

Classes 243 & 244...

A two-week break thanks to a fabulous holiday in Greece and now straight back to class with two early morning sessions. 

In the first class, we worked on an attack from half-guard on the bottom, where you grab one of the opponent's legs and bring it to you neck, then clamp down with your top leg to retain the other leg of the opponent. You then swim under his free leg with your free arm and start to off-balance him before driving forward to sweep him and secure top position.

In the second class, it was four rounds of ten-minute sparring. This was tough, but I felt OK, even though I was heavily passed, wrapped and tapped by a good purple belt and a high blue belt. 

Things to remember: I continue to experiment with using the overhook clamp and attack from closed guard, and the butterfly guard. I'm having some success with the goodbye choke from the overhook and the guillotine choke attack from a seated guard.

Classes 241 & 242...

Two early morning classes and some ideas of how to attack when on top with the man in the bottom in high half guard. 

Man on top gets up on one knee with a foot out away from the opponent; grabs the pants of the opponent at the ankle; pull the leg straight and attack for head control; then grab the opponent's gi with your free hand and pass it to the hand securing head control; grab the hip of the opponent and pull him in; kick out the trapped leg and base out to secure side control. 

The follow-up choke from here relies on passing the gi to the other hand so its like a collar choke; then bring the other hand over like a collar choke and choke. 

If the opponent tries to defend the choke by pushing the hands off, stuff the arm to the side and compact him and squeeze for the Brabo choke, which is a sort of arm triangle. 

Sparring was fine and I continue to experiment with overhooks and butterfly attacks.