10/3/07 - BJJ - Sa Bom Nim

We started class with the usual running laps routine. And then went onto practicing our rolls. We would roll forward, get up, shuffle back, and do it again. We then rolled forward, got up, did a break fall, stood up in base, and did it again.

We then went onto takedowns from the clinch.

If opponent pulls you from the clinch:

• Shoot in with both arms around their waist like your hugging them (I need to verify if head should be inside or out)
• Wrap your outside foot around their leg for the trip.
• Get into a dominant position

If your opponent pushes into you from the clinch:

• Sit back and put your feet into their hips.
• Throw them overhead
• Continue to roll backwards to take the mount

We then went onto an escape from the X-choke when mounted.

• Opponent has mounted and has one hand in your collar
• Make sure your elbows are above their knees
  
• Push their elbow down towards your chest and to the side while turning your head
• Elbow escape and replace guard
• If they are still holding on while in guard, armbar them for being stupid

*A note on the X-choke: Usually one hand goes in the opposite collar and the other hand comes underneath. If you want to go on top with the second hand then reverse the grip of that hand to thumb inside instead of fingers inside.

We ended with a little bit of rolling (1 min rounds). I wish I got more in but oh well.

First match: Newish white belt - Started from knees and went for the scissor sweep. My one leg got caught so I ended up getting him in guard. He was kind of spastic but I tried to force myself to work on attacking with my X-choke. I also tried working on breaking his posture when he has his hands in my armpits.

Second match: Matt : Tried for the step through to scarf hold takedown I just learned. It didn't quite work that well and I don't really remember how I ended up.I do remember he somehow got knee on the belly(KOTB) and I think I put him in 1/2 guard. Ah...he tried going for an arm bar when he was KOTB and I ended up rolling him and landed in his guard. I has just broke open his guard when time was up.

Third match: Another newish white belt, big guy - I was going to go for the scarf hold step through thing again but he was pushing into me so I pulled guard (while it might have been hard, I should have tried the overhead throw sweep). From guard I got his right arm across my body and grabbed it with my left hand over his head. His wrists were thick! I attempted the pendulum sweep but it didn't work. I didn't have my right arm under his leg either. Then time was up.

I was going to roll with another newish white belt (Matt and Steve were rolling together already). We started and he tried to pull guard but I didn't let him. I basically sat back and ended up controlling his legs. Ended in side control and was trying for an armlock/bar but he gassed out. We stopped, let him take a break, and I started from in his guard. I broke it open and took side control, and easily took mount. By that time he couldnt take it anymore and we stopped. I was hoping Matt and Steve would have stopped as well so I could roll with them but they didnt and class ended. No one stuck around to roll afterwards either.

So while I got to roll with a lot of guys, I still didnt really get to roll very long. I was barely winded.

Good class over all.

10/3/07 - SBD - Losasso Sa Bom

For the next two weeks we are doing sparring. We started class with 1 min sparring matches and then split up the Dans and Gups.

We worked on 2-on-1 sparring. The technique Losasso Sa Bom used was like the set up for low block. The leg thats in front, the other hand is guarding high and the same side hand is guarding low. As soon as the first person moves, rush toward them (tightly, very close to them) and try to catch something while they block. Go for the take down. Obviously never be in between the two because you only want to fight one person at a time.

We also did a great exercise where the 1 person starts against the wall. that way he can not move back, only towards his attackers.

To end class we did round robin sparring. All the Dans lined up on one side and all the Gups on the other. As SBN yelled switch, you continued sparring but moved onto the next person.

10/1/07 - Workout at Parents

Did the elliptical for 45 min and then did a little lifting. Concentrated mainly on my shoulders but also threw in some arms as well. Did the speed bag for a little as well.

9/27/07 - SBD - Evaluation

Last night I went to the white, yellow, and orange belt evaluation because I missed my Dan evaluation on Monday due to Gabe being sick. I was the only Dan testing.

We started off with basics and they only asked me to demonstrate up to orange belt level basics. I guess they already know before the test how good you are. And besides, if I'm doing orange belt level basics I better be doing them with perfect technique. So they can grade on that as well.

We then went onto self defense. I did my sleeve grabs and really messed them up. I did them correctly but his hand was so sweaty it was hard to get a good grip on it. Something I need to be prepared for but it just made it a lot harder.

We then did kicks, again only to orange belt level.

And ended with form #1 by Sa Bom Nim's count.

Other than my self defense everything went pretty well. And Erin even made 7th gup (orange belt, blue stripe)

9/25/07 - Workout at Parents and a random BJJ though

Last night we picked up my mom from the airport and went over their house afterwards. I took advantage of my mom watching the kids and hopped on the elliptical machine for 45min.

I have also been thinking about my first match in the BJJ tournament. I really need to attack (from guard)! If I am attempting a sweep, choke, or armbar that will put then on the defensive and start to frustrate them. Either way they will either be busy defending and therefor open something up, or they will get frustrated and start getting sloppy, thus opening something up.

I also talked to my dad about the sit out when someone sprawls on you (in reguards to my 2nd match). I sat out and just kept spinning around. My partner kept spinning around with me and almost got my back. What I needed to do was to control his arm. And even if I didnt control the arm, after sitting out, I needed to switch my hips and turn to my knees.

9/22/07 - BJJ Tournament at Hassets

Yesterday was my first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament!! I had a great time! and yes, I was able to make my weight class! I have been trying for two weeks to get down below 170 (from at least 176) and I ended up weighing in at 168.4lbs!

In terms of learning things, my first match went well! Even though I lost. My game plan was to go out there and go for the take down. Even if I didn't get it, at least he wouldn't have gotten it. Well it turns out that I went into the match and completely went against my plan. I just stood there playing with him. In my mind I was trying to feel him out...see if I should shoot in for a single/double or clinch up and work from there. He ended up going for the takedown. I don't know if he was awarded any points for it (other than an advantage)) because I defended it pretty well and after some rolling around he ended up in my guard.

I didn't have anyone there coaching me, so that made it a little hard as well but I did hear his coach telling him what to do so I played off of that. They wanted him to posture up and get his hands on my belt. So I kept him close with his hands above my belt. I tried for a scissor sweep and a sit up sweep (and almost got them) but he defended pretty well. He eventually passed my guard (after keeping him in there and putting him back in there a few times). From side control he finally got me in an americana. I straightened my arm once but he manhandled me and got it back. This time I tried to roll out of it but I guess he had his weight distributed well enough. All of a sudden I felt the ref stop us so I figured time ran out or we had moved to far to the side. It turns out the ref stopped the fight early because "it was in tight". I know he wanted to play it safe but to tell you the truth the kid didn't have it in very well.

Take aways from the match:

• Impose my game on him - get out there and shoot for the takedown.
• Attack! - I tried the X choke on him but I didn't have it in good so I gave it up. Even if I didn't have it in good I should have still continued with it because it would have put him on the D instead of a position to pass my guard.
• When going for the sweep just do it! I was scared of him passing my guard if I went for the sweep. I know at least once I didn't try my hardest for the sweep because of this fear.

Match 2 went a lot better - even though I still lost :)

My second match was absolute division. And to my disadvantage I ended up with one of the heavy weights. Go figure. And on top of it, he was a blue belt that looked like he had been for quite some time.

By this time I had already learned from my mistakes. I went it there and went for his lapel (to see if I could pull it out a little). It seemed in there pretty good and I didn't want to waste any time because it looked like he wanted to clinch me right there. Remembering that Sa Bom Nim had said bigger guys like to clinch rather than shoot in, I decided to shoot in for the single. He sprawled so I tried to duck under and pop out the left side (my left). I gout out but not fully around to his back. He almost got my back but I got out of it and he somehow got mount. I was smothered under there! I got out of mount and put him into 1/2 guard. By the time I could even react he hand my arm straightened and was ready to arm lock it. I tried to get out of it by grabbing something (a lapel, his arm, anything!) and turning but he ended up with my arm straight on the ground. I tried ti bend it back to my body but it was to late.

Take aways from this match:

• I imposed my game on him (at least with the takedown). I went for it and when it didn't work I tried my backup plan of escape.
• Pay more attention to my arm placement and what he is doing with them. Don't worry about my surroundings (points, time, etc....in this case trying to breathe because he was smothering me.

So while I was there for about 5 hours or so and only got to roll twice, it was still an awesome learning experience and I had a great time! Thanks Mr. Hasset!

And I cant forget to mention, Matt came home with third in his division (he had to forfeit his last match because of a wedding) and Zack came home with first in his division! Way to go!

9/20/07 - BJJ - Sa Bom Nim

We started out stretching and then ran 5 laps around the floor. We then went into stand up take take downs.

Single leg

• Shoot in and wrap both hands around one of their legs
• Make sure your head is inside towards their belly or else you will get cross faced!!!
• As you grab their leg put it in between your legs and clamp it with your knees.
• Step your right foot over (if you attacked their right leg) and lift as you walk towards them.

Single leg trip - (after they sprawl)

• Shoot in on their right for the single leg
• Make sure your head is inside!
  
• They sprawl so you wrap/hook your left leg around their right leg and drive forward
• Control and clear their legs for side control

Standing to sitting takedown

• Your tied up in a clinch
• Step your right foot back to throw them off balance a little
• Step your right foot in between their feet (not past their feet though)
• Turn sideways to your left and sit backwards
• Your right foot can hook their left leg as well

We then move on to the

Sitting arm bar

• If they cross grab your lapel while you are standing grab that elbow. You will also want to control their other arm/elbow as well
• Assuming they are using their right hand, put your right foot in their hip and sit down
• Key point! - As you are sitting make sure you turn!
• Swing your other leg around for the armbar

After that we rolled. I started off with JD and took him down with a single leg trip. He somehow got me in a reverse triangle but didn't know what to do. Whew! I finally found the foot I needed to attack and pulled it off. By that time he was gassed so he stopped.

I then moved onto Joe. I will probably say this every time I roll with him but man! He's a beast! He throws me around like a rag doll. Sa Bom Nim pointed out that as soon as someone is moving to side control I need to start scooting away. Don't wait till they get there.

I then rolled with Sa Bom Nim. Boy that sucked! I was to worried about impressing him that my game was real bad. Of course he was tight as a turtle so any attack I tried was defended before I could even pull it. This made me start to worry more, hence more mistakes. I did do good on one pat though. He tried to get me in a kimura from N/S but I defended by rolling, he tried again, I rolled, then he went for the armbar and I cleared his leg and tried to stack him. After we were done he said that it seemed like I was trying really hard and trying to muscle everything. Which was 1/2 true. So unless I kick butt at this tourney I dont think I will be getting my blue. Oh well. I guess I am just not ready for it. Only time will tell.

Oh and one other note....
After waking up this morning (9/21/07) I weighed myself and it looks like Im going to make weight. I was 167.5 and if our scale is 1 lb less than the Dr's then that puts me at 168.5 which is still making weight! Hopefully ill lose a little more today as well...which might be hard because I want to take it easy the day before the tourney.

9/20/07 - SBD - Gilmore Sa Bom

Last night we started by drilling our basics from white belt to dan. After that we did a kicking/ab drill.

There were 3 people in our group and we had 1 standing bag. We did 5 kicks each leg and then laid the standing bag down on its side. You would lay on top of the bag with your torso hanging off while one of your partners held your legs. We switched between 15 extended sit ups or 10 side (oblique) sit ups per side. The partner who was not holding or doing the sit ups did jumping jacks. We then switched and once all of us were done we picked the bag up and started on a different kick. After the kicks were done, the bag went back down and we did more sit ups. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

All of the kicks we did:

• front
  
• round
  
• step behind side
• inside outside
  
• jumping front
• jumping back
• wheel
• 360 back

There might have been one or 2 more kicks but that was pretty much it.

We ended the class with another ab exercise. We lined up (4 in our row) and grabbed a medicine ball. while the first person was doing the medicine ball the rest had to do some sort of ab exercise, their choice. The person with the medicine ball had to do sitting trunk twists. Lock your ankles, lean back, feet off the ground, rotate with ball. We had to do 15 reps. Once we were done, pass the ball to the next person in line and start doing your choice of ab exercises. We had to do 4 rounds of that.

9/19/07 - Home Workout

I took a 20 min walk at work with Alex.

Then last night was the 2 hour season finally for Last Comic Standing. Why did it have to be 2 hours?! Well I couldn't miss that. So I took advantage of commercial breaks.

I skipped rope for a total of about 800 rotations or so.
I did a few sets of burpees (15 reps/set)
I did the MMA drill where you take a kick shield on the floor and work from side control to knee on belly, 3 punches, mount, 3 elbows, knee on belly opposite side, 3 punches, side control. Wash rinse and repeat till you pass out.

I also realized that my Gi top weighs about 4.5 lbs! I really hope we dont have to weigh in with our Gi on. I'm going to email Mr Hassett again today to find out.

9/18/07 - Home workout

Skipped Rope x 600 rotations in 6:45 min.

Ran 4 blocks - 20 second run, 10 second jog x 3 per lap

Need to get rid of these last few pounds before this weekend!