That's right boys and girls yours truly was promoted to the rank on Blue Belt on Dec. 16, 2005.
To be honest I was a little surprised that Cassio decided to promote me before his trip back to Brazil from the holidays.
Overall I'm flattered but not 100% sure that I truly deserve it. While I can see some definate progress there are still some pretty big holes in my game but I have been trying to increase my mat time(4 times a week for the last 3 weeks) focusing on conditioning and postioning.
The major areas I am working to improve are:
1.) Conditioning-Although it's alot better than before I still need some serious work. Much respect to crossfit.com for all of the help so far.
2.) Positioning-Specifically when dealing with guys who come from wrestling background. I'm still having trouble getting position at the start of a roll and wasting a lot of energy defending and escaping instead of attacking.
3.) Sweeps-I have picked up some guard and half-guard sweeps, now I am trying to adapt them to be body type for maximum effectiveness.
The thing about the promotion is now it forces me to step my game up which is a good thing overall. However I do not ever want to become so afraid to get beat that I stop attempting techinques.
This BJJ thing is a marathon and not a sprint.
"forca a horna"
TMG
After 2 months of sporatic attendance to class I'm finally starting to get back to my 2-3 times a week routine. It's been tough because I been getting it handed to me for like the past 2 weeks.
Anyway I have been reading the BJJ MasterText which I highly recommend to anyone starting out in BJJ and I thought I'd record a few notes on double attacks from the:
1.) Hip Heist sweep to Kimura - This a damn good idea and I'm surprised I haven't thought of it.
2.) Key Lock to Arm bar from side control
3.) Cross choke to Arm bar from the mount
This little gem is courtesy of the Cesar Gracie Jui-Jitsu Advanced Disc 3
Arm and Leg choke from side control
Setup: Top with opponent in side control
Grip: Near arm under head on lapel, off arm trapping opponent's off arm,
Important points:
1.) From good side control run near arm under opponent's head and get lapel grip(thumb in and four fingers out).
2.) Off arm over opponent's off arm trapping... if possible!
3.) Switch base with bottom leg forward and top leg back.
4.) Lean forward..a little and pass top leg over to other side of opponent's head.
5.) Hook head and pull arm thru to finish submission.
Transition to Side choke
Note: Used if during the previous choke you opponent's off arm is freed and he pushing hooking leg off of head.
Steps 1-3 are the same
4.) Swing head in under opponent's off arm(the arm that is pushing the hook leg off) while bring ing the hand hold lapel around neck to opponent's off side.
5.) Switch base and bring bottom knee in and across opponent's off side.
6.) Finish the submission.
Instructor: Cassio
These are techinques that I really need to get down cold.
==== Wednesday class (9-07-2005) ====
Underarm(near arm) hip out
Setup: Bottom in opponent's side control(Side headlock).
Grip: N/A
Important points:
1.) Drive arm inside
2.) Hip out and scissor
3.) Drive weight toward opponent's outside knee.
4.) Grab outside knee and driving opponent into side control.
Underarm(outside arm) w/ choke
Setup: Bottom in opponent's side control(Side headlock).
Grip: N/A
Note: Cannot get arm thru to do previous escape.
Important points:
1.) Drive arm under opponent's body(across belly).
2.) Scissor inside
3.) Continue around to north-south and reach arm inside to start choke.
4.) thread non-choking arm thru under arm and around behind head.
5.) Duck head and roll
-- Rolling Results --
Negatives(s):
a.) Giving up back way too often.
b.) Playing too defensive.
Positive(s):
a.) Decent hip movement early on in maintaing guard
b.) Used Scissor sweep to get reversal.
c.) Decent guard passes.
I am going to try to go to a weekly format for posting instead of everyday..we will see how it goes. All in all this week I feel like a pretty much SUCKED. I'm not trusting my techinque enough and still using a lot of strength. This is turn is causing me to get very fatigued during training at which time all techinque goes out the window.
This week Cassio primary focused on different sweeps:
==== Tuesday class (9-30-2005) ====
Reverse De La Riva sweep
Setup: Bottom Open Guard with opponent standing
Grip: Sleeves
Important points:
1.) Place foot on opponent hip and push to drive his leg backwards.
2.) Under hook foot/ankle on the opposite side of the leg that is pushed back(step #1).
3.) Arch back and thread the leg of the hooked foot/ankle side through opponent's leg
4.) Roll weight backward to complete sweep in mount.
Reverse De La Riva overhead sweep
Setup: same as previous
Grip: Lapel and Sleeve
Important points:
1.) Steps #1 -3 from previous
4.) Maintain grip on lapel and use the hand that was hooking ankle to reach up and grab opponents belt.
5.) Reverse foot position and squeeze feet together to get a firm hook on opponent's outer thigh
6.) Pull Lapel and Belt in one motion along with pulling hook in loading opponent's weight over your hips.
7.) Extend legs and hips up over head and maintain grips. The opponents momentum should pull you into mount.
-- Rolling Results --
Negatives(s):
a.) Wasted too much energy trying to muscle and gassed out.
b.) Still having trouble with Knee on Belly escapes
c.) Poor balance in 100-Kilo lead to mulitple reversals
d.) Smashed head trying to "Gator roll"...gotta get that head on the opponent's side
Positive(s):
a.) Defended fairly well against upper belt.
b.) Decent hip movement early on in maintaing guard
c.) Used Royce Gracie side control choke to get a submission
==== Wednesday class (9-31-2005) ====
Closed guard sweep
Setup: Bottom Closed Guard with opponent on knees
Grip: Lapel
Important points:
1.) Opponent stands and as he does you under hook on foot.
2.) While keeping closed guard extend hips and arch back to the opposite side of the hooked foot and pull foot toward your body at the same time to execute sweep.
Closed Guard to knee hook sweep
Setup: same as previous
Grip: Lapels as in cross choke
Important points:
1.) Opponent stands
2.) Side closed guard down legs until your feet are right below the knees.
3.) Load up oppponent over hips by pulling lapels and bring hooked knee over body.
4.) Extend hooks on knees straight up and then over to execute sweep.
-- Rolling Results --
Negatives(s):
a.) Wasted too much energy trying to muscle and gassed out.
b.) Had trouble passing guard(Kept getting ankle grabbed while trying to stand)
Positive(s):
a.) Defended sweep attemtps fairly well.
Well I'm back from a week's vacation in the Sausalito with my wife(and girlfriend).
I returned in time to attend my first promotion ceremony. Lots of good BJJ guys got their due in getting promoted.
The surprise of the day was "Brown Belt" Richard getting promoted to Black belt. Big props to Richard on a huge achievement.
With my batteries recharged I plan on training at least 4 times a week until the holidays. My guard game is coming along slow but it's coming along.
I promise to be more diligent in my blogging.
Peace,
TMG
Class: Saturday
Instructor: Ernest
The whole focus was again drills based on escaping side control.
Side control escape
Setup: Side control
Important points:
1.) Hip out while pushing with forearms
2.) Bringing outside arm under opponents armpit.
3.) Bring inside leg up and under to obtain half-guard.
4.) Make sure you get shoulder inside onto sterum and turn on side.
5.) Finish by closing into closed guard
============= Rolling Results ================
Roll #1
Opponent: Dustin
Rank: Blue(but not really)
Result: Got submitted by arnbar and triangle.
Error(s):
a.) Wasted too much energy trying to muscle Dustin and gassed out.
Positive(s):
a.) Defended numerious armbar attempts.
Roll #2
Opponent: Wes
Rank: White(but not really)
Result: Got submitted by clock choke that almost broken my jaw. I should have heel hooked to defend.
Error(s):
a.) Wasted too much energy in prior match with Dustin and gassed out.
b.) Allowed guard pass into side control..(knee on belly)
c.) Didn't get to side before knee on belly came.
d.) Tucked chin in to defend choke the wrong way.
Positive(s):
a.) Defended numerious choke attempts.
Roll #3
Opponent: Jack
Rank: White
Result: Got submission via cross choke.
Error(s):
a.) Missed decent armbar attempt due to by allowing too much distance.
Positive(s):
a.) Able to get side control
b.) Able to get in good position to execute good armbar attempt.
c.) Defended one serious guard pass attempt.
Class: Noon
Instructor: Cassio Werneck
The whole focus of the was drill based on escaping side control.
Side control escape and sweep/a>
Setup: Side control
Important points:
1.) Use forearms(do not grip) under opponent's chest
2.) Hip out while pushing with forearms
3.) Bring inside arm under opponent's arm and arch over toward opposite wall
4.) Come up into seated position bring outside foot in as hook. (Note: You gotta get make sure you have enough space between you and you opponent to come up into seated position.)
5.) Bring opposite shoulder to the and lift hook at the same time to complete the sweep.
============= Rolling Results ================
Roll #1
Opponent: Dustin
Rank: White
Result: Got three armbar submissions. Dustin was just coming back after a week lay-off..welcome back brah!
Error(s):
a.) Allowed guard pass into side control.
Positive(s):
a.) Able to break opponent's posture from closed guard.
b.) Able to break opponent's posture.
c.) Defended two serious guard pass attemtps.
Roll #2
Opponent: Dan
Rank: Blue
Result: Submitted by Armbar.
Error(s):
a.) Missed decent armbar attempt due to bad balance.
b.) Lost focus and allowed an Armbar from starting postion
Positive(s):
a.) Able to get side control
b.) Able to get in good position to execute good armbar attempt.
c.) Defended one serious guard pass attemtp.
Roll #3
Opponent: Richard
Rank: Blue
Result: Stalemate
Error(s):
a.) Missed serious armbar attempt due to good defense
b.) Gassed myself out trying to open opponent's grib in order to finish armbar.
c.) Unable to transition from armbar into choke or kimora
Positive(s):
a.) Able to get side control
b.) Able to get in good position to execute good armbar attempt.
c.) Escape side control back into full guard.
Lesson: Sometimes if the techinique is not there then don't force it.
Class: Evening
Instructor: Cassio Werneck
The whole focus of the was drill based from the closed guard. We did the 30 reps per side of each of the following:
1.) Arm Bar
2.) Kimura
3.) Triangle
After class Cassio announced the "King of the Hill" was going to occur during the "24 hours of Jiu Jitsu". The premise is two team with one man from each team competing. The winner stays in the middle and fights the next guy from the opposing team.
One guy starts in the closed guard and the other starts on his back.
3:00 mins per match
The team scoring is as follows:
1 point for a stalemate
2 points for a controlled pass
3 points for a submission.
I had the pleasure of watching the advance class actually do a "King of the Hill" and I must say I was very impressed.
============= Rolling Results ================
Context: The rolling was 3 mins for each side starting in a closed guard(triangle position).
Goal: Guy on bottom was going for submission. Guy in guard tried to escape.
Roll #1
Opponent: Mark
Rank: White
Result: Got one armbar submission and one wristlock. Did not submit.
Roll #2
Opponent: Dustin
Rank: Purple
Result: Submitted by two Armbars.
Roll #3
Opponent: 'Big' Al Reyes
Rank: Purple
Result: Submitted to one Armbar. Got Armbar submission
Note: Thanks again Mr. Miyagi.
Class: Evening
Instructor: Gus
Gus has some crazy warm-up and this day was no exception. We did leapfrogs, over/unders and something he called 'Weakest link'. In 'Weakest Link' the group was split into teams and each team link arms. Then the two team link up in the middle and begin to pull trying to separate the other team from the chain.
BTW..Our team won 3-2.
Technique #1 Controlling both knees to pass the guard into side control
Setup: Closed guard
Important points:
1.) Open Guard using standard 'Gus' opening(Knee in butt crack w/ outward pressure on one leg.
2.) Secure the inside of both knees with hands.
3.) Hop up and push opponents knees toward his head. Lot of pressure!!
4.) Step back bring feet to the floor. Lot of pressure!! According to Gus you should be almost able to do a handstand.
5.) Bring controlled knees to either side while hopping around to the opposite side. Lot of pressure!!
6.) Bring crown of head into opponents chest while maintaing.....Lot of pressure!!
7.) Bring weight down and knees in tight to opponents back......Lot of pressure!!
8.) Release inside leg and place across opponents torso(forearm on the mat)
9.) Bring opponents outside leg up towards head and then down to the mat in a single flowing motion.
10.) Finish by securing side control.
Technique #2 Controlling both knees to pass the guard into knee in belly
Setup: Closed guard
Important points:
1.) Open Guard using standard 'Gus' opening(Knee in butt crack w/ outward pressure on one leg.
2.) Secure the inside of both knees with hands.
3.) Hop up and push opponent's knees toward his head. Lot of pressure!!
4.) Step across toward opponent's hip(foot should be on mat but in contact with hip) while making sure the leg that does not step through is outside of the opponent's leg(reduce chance of opponent pulling half-guard).
5.) Pivot around like corkscrew bringing the knee of the foot that stepped through into the belly of the opponent while swinging the other leg around(leg should be extended creating a base).
Technique #3 Knee on belly escape.
Setup: Opponent has knee on belly.
Note: This was a side techinque I got from Dustin based on my question.
Important points:
1.) DO NOT FLATTEN OUT!!
2.) As soon as knee on the belly happens hip out away from knee trying to get shoulder up. GETTING SHOULDER UP IS KEY!!
3.) If opponent's base leg is close enough it can be used for getting more power into the 'hip out'.
4a.) Bring hips/knee back inside in order to half-guard or full guard depending on the distance created.
or
4b.) Bring knees around(think turtle escape) and secure the knee that was in the belly for a single-leg takedown attempt.
============= Rolling Results ================
Roll #1
Opponent: Joe
Rank: White
Result: Submitted to mounted keylock
Error(s):
a.) Did not pull guard properly allowing side control to occur.
b.) Too slow bring knee up to prevent mount.
c.) Got distracted defending choke to attempt mount escape.
Positive(s):
a.) Able to recover and get half guard.
b.) Defended numerous choke attempts.
c.) Defended numerous key lock attempts.
Roll #2
Opponent: Joe
Rank: White
Result: Submitted to Cross Choke
Error(s):
a.) Did not pull guard properly allowing side control to occur.
b.) Too slow bring knee up to prevent mount.
c.) Got distracted defending choke to attempt mount escape.
Positive(s): None, the first roll was like 4 mins and I was pretty spent.
Roll #3
Opponent: New white belt
Rank: White
Summary: Instructional work
Roll #4
Opponent: 'Big' Al Reyes
Rank: Purpl
Summary: Instructional work with Al showing me the finer points of guard control.
Important points:
1.) Hip out
2.) Turn and get onto shoulders (get hips off the ground using feet as base).
3.) Pivot hips back inside while coming up into a more seated position.
4.) Maintain grips and pull opponent back into guard.
Note: Thanks again Mr. Miyagi.
Went to evening class and got their after most of warm-ups. Traffic was very nasty.
Technique #1 Standard Cross choke from the guard
Setup: Closed guard
Important points:
1.) Slide hands(flat) in as deep as possible.
2.) Clench tight fists
3.) Bring guard down
4.) Keep elbows tight to the body and down towards floor
Technique #2 Cross Choke from closed guard with Gi seam grip.
Setup: Same as above
Important points:
1.) Instead of going underneath the gi grab is from above.
2.) Rotate the first hand arm in to put more pressure on carotid.
Technique #3 Wrist lock/Arm Bar variant grip.
Setup: Guy in closed guard posts arm in stomach to defend chokes above.
Important points:
1.) Walk legs up and trap shoulder on the same side as the first hand applying the choke.
2.) Lock feet and squeeze locking shoulder in place.
3.) Apply wristlock on arm that has trapped shoulder. Pressure toward opponent's body
or
3.) Apply armlock on arm that has trapped shoulder. Rotating arm trapped shoulder making sure opponent's hand is facing away from trapped shoulder.
The purpose of this blog is to chronicle not only my progress in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but to allow me to document the techniques I learn in class so I won't forget them.
After years of watching the fighters in Pride and UFC I finally decided at age 33 to look at BJJ.
I started BJJ training at Werneck's World Class Jui Jitsu
with 2003 World Champion Cassio Werneck.
God help me,
Travis
