Even in a space as familiar as GB Seattle 3.0, there is still a special feeling whenever there's a big seminar that is almost disorienting in its sentimentality. However much seminars are a great opportunity to learn techniques from a new professor, there are also every bit as much an chance for the local jiu jitsu and grappling community to come together in a family-like, non-competitive environment.
Again, that's no slight to the technique. In addition to a surprisingly straightforward sweep from the closed guard that Prof Freitas showed us, it was a true journey deep into the heart of barataplataville. From entries from the closed guard to entries from standing and the mount position, Friday night's seminar was an up-close-n-personal look at how the basic kimura-lock on the shoulder can be applied with more control and more overall power with the legs and hips. I especially appreciated how Prof Freitas pointed out that the kimura lock was one of the most powerful submissions in jiu jitsu. "After all," Prof Freitas said, "It was the kimura that defeated Master Helio. And it was a kimura that defeated Renzo and Royler."
Especially when you include mixed martial arts competition, it is clear that the kimura is among the highest percentage submissions. In fact, it could be argued that if you could only master three submissions, you could do a lot worse than to master the triangle from the bottom, the choke from the back, and the kimura from on top. It doesn't surprise me for a moment that of the main prodigies of someone like Lloyd Irvin, who has done some work quantifying submissions in jiu jitsu, one was known for his triangles and the other for his back control and finish.
So the barataplata is an extension of this in some ways. Taking the edge that is the kimura (compared to, maybe, the lower finishing rates of the americana or the straight armbar) and then finding new ways to secure that same control. I remember a class with Cindy a few years back when she insisted that you should never let a kimura grip go if you get it - the grip just provides too much control and eventually will lead to a submission opportunity if you keep it. The idea of combining that tenacity when it comes to the grip in general with Prof Freitas' re-interpretation of the control of the shoulder, elbow and wrist, is something I think could really work well for a game like mine - one that is not especially heavy on triangle nor back control.
162 and change post-seminar. I would have liked to have rolled some, but I was feeling a little sluggish having trained during the early class on Friday. That said, a great night of training and a very nice start to the three-day weekend.
