Winning is the Solution to Losing, Gracie Breakdown Edition

Murilo Santana: My Jiu-Jitsu Hero

Welcome to a Working Week

Out of nowhere, a four-day training week. 

I'm trying to remember the last time I managed to get to the Academy so often (quick check of the training calendar says the last week of August: 25, 27. 29. and 30). My four-week training average had plunged below 1.0, courtesy of a pair coast-to-coast business trips that kept me off the mat for much of the second half of September and early October.

This four-day week has me back above 1.0 fortunately, though not by much. And while a few technical breakthroughs are keeping me from feeling totally inept on the mat, there is very little that is sharp about my game, right now.

One of the things I'm (re)thinking is my focus on submissions. I've been trying to focus on chokes, thinking for a variety of reasons that this would be the best way for me to pursue finishing contests. I've switched up to focusing on the Rickson Finish, giving myself a chance at moving from my position-dominant jiu-jitsu toward a pressure-submission top game. But trying to make sure I train this approach consistently is a struggle.

That said, I'm managing to keep me weight under control, finishing the week under 162 in the gi. That's mostly coffee and calorie restriction, which is fine with me. As I bring the conditioning online, I'm hoping to drop that gi number to 158, halfway between the lightweight no-gi limit and the featherweight gi limit, and then down to 154.5 (featherweight gi limit).

Back on the Mat

Double Leg takedowns / Double Leg to Back / Double Leg to Back to Straight Choke to Osoto Gari

Beach Boys Closed Guard Break to Split Pass with Backstep

3 five-minute rounds Live Training
162.4 lbs post-train

Homework: Bottom to Top

Eddie Bravo Invitational - No Gi - Featherweights

Top Game