Good training today, working mostly self-defense (one-two with push-kick to body clinch takedown ... headlock escape) and some specific training from side control. Got in a little bit of rolling, continuing to work "burienbyarmbar" only with more control and precision. I think part of what went not-exactly-right with my last armlock was that I was attacking the left arm rather than the right. And while I am very proud of myself for recognizing the opportunity on my "weaker" side and attacking rather than demurring, I am not impressed with having a "weaker" side where this particular technique is concerned. A part of what I think is going to make burienbyarmbar work is the ability to attack either arm with equal speed and fluidity. So, onward for that.
Also, too ... I need to work on my Flat Pass to the right. To the extent that I'm starting to develop some go-to guard passes, I want to make sure that my best passes are right where I want them to be when I need them. There have been too many times when I've been stymied in the guard because my preferred pass side was blocked (by a collar-choke attack, for example). Simply by being able to go to the other side, I'll be able to make those attacks work for me rather than against.
160.3 on the scale post-train. Typical Monday weight. Ideally, I'm down around 157 or so come Wednesday.
Showing posts with label Flat Pass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flat Pass. Show all posts
Monday, November 05, 2012
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Training Day: Saturday
157.4 on the scale post train.
A great day on the mat on Saturday. I got to work with John, who I haven't trained with since he got his brown belt the day I got my black belt. We reviewed the techniques of the week, taking the back after sprawling against the double leg, and adding both a bow and arrow choke and a knee-in choke for the finish. Professor Carlos added that nice detail of hipscaping back and allowing the guy to fall into your lap, rather than trying to roll the guy over and into you. It's another great example of the physics of jiu-jitsu at work.
A lot of training today. Guard specific, shark tank training (six minutes each in the middle), then a couple of sparring sessions with blue belts David and Ron. I was able to attack much, much more with the Effing Pass and, quite frankly, am getting close to the point where I need to start thinking about working both sides a little. I'm still reverting to the Flat Pass against tight closed guards (twice today), adding in the handcuff behind the back if I can get it. It's a little bread and butter. But if nothing else is working, then I go to it.
I still haven't done much so far with the deep half. I don't want to play deep half against guys that are smaller than me. But I've got to remember to switch to the deep half anytime I've got a "body" to climb around. I'm liking my Faria move from deep half - the one I drilled with Mark a little bit on Friday - and am anxious to see it at work in real-time.
Had a very nice conversation with Zee after training. He's been running a new 6:30 am class on Friday, and invited me to stop by. I'm going to take him up on it next week. The class has been growing and there is talk about expanding it to other mornings. This might be the best news I've gotten in a month.
A great day on the mat on Saturday. I got to work with John, who I haven't trained with since he got his brown belt the day I got my black belt. We reviewed the techniques of the week, taking the back after sprawling against the double leg, and adding both a bow and arrow choke and a knee-in choke for the finish. Professor Carlos added that nice detail of hipscaping back and allowing the guy to fall into your lap, rather than trying to roll the guy over and into you. It's another great example of the physics of jiu-jitsu at work.
A lot of training today. Guard specific, shark tank training (six minutes each in the middle), then a couple of sparring sessions with blue belts David and Ron. I was able to attack much, much more with the Effing Pass and, quite frankly, am getting close to the point where I need to start thinking about working both sides a little. I'm still reverting to the Flat Pass against tight closed guards (twice today), adding in the handcuff behind the back if I can get it. It's a little bread and butter. But if nothing else is working, then I go to it.
I still haven't done much so far with the deep half. I don't want to play deep half against guys that are smaller than me. But I've got to remember to switch to the deep half anytime I've got a "body" to climb around. I'm liking my Faria move from deep half - the one I drilled with Mark a little bit on Friday - and am anxious to see it at work in real-time.
Had a very nice conversation with Zee after training. He's been running a new 6:30 am class on Friday, and invited me to stop by. I'm going to take him up on it next week. The class has been growing and there is talk about expanding it to other mornings. This might be the best news I've gotten in a month.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Training Day: Thursday
Got to the academy early to work on some conditioning and, if I were lucky, some drills with any available bodies.
Fortunately, I was able to find a willing partner and once again I was reminded of how valuable this time is as part of regular training. I've never taken a private, so I can't honestly compare. But the few times I've spent really stopping to drill a specific move or technique with a training partner have often been as valuable as class time itself.
Tonight I worked mostly on the over/under half guard pass that Marcelo is such a big fan of. It's a great way to finish off the Flat Pass, which has been getting stalled out at half guard. I'm still only getting used to it. But tonight was a great kick-off.
I also did a little more review on the counter to the backstep pass. Ironically, Prof Rodrigo taught us a very similar counter as part of the class. The approach I used is another Marcelo Garcia tactic, but Prof Rodrigo's use of the far arm to reach below the leg and secure the gi lapel provides a lot of control. Both finish with the butterfly hook using the outside leg.
We also got to work on dealing with the watchdog pass (as opposed to the turning pass). So far, it seems like your best bet is to assume that your guard is already passed and treat the position like a side control escape: getting the underhook on the topside, going belly down, and then working to your knees and a standoff.
I'm not 100% convinced on this one. But I love this kind of diagnostic approach to training: thinking very specifically about what is not working and then going over the physics of the situation to figure out where the potential opportunity for escape lies.
Good training overall tonight. In addition to the counter I mentioned above, Prof Rodrigo showed us a nice backtake from top side half guard. Right now, it seems as if the jiu-jitsu world has declared war on the half guard - especially the deep half guard - as all the top guys are coming up with ways to take the back from the top position. It's one of the fascinating things about jiu-jitsu, the constant "arms race" that drives the art into ever-greater efficiency and capability.
156.0 on the scale post-train. The brown belt adult lightweight bracket this Saturday at the Revolution is brutal. Sauleh, the brothers who run Seaside Jiu-Jitsu in Oregon, and Jacob - a guy I've lost to twice already at purple. Should be one hell of a show.
Fortunately, I was able to find a willing partner and once again I was reminded of how valuable this time is as part of regular training. I've never taken a private, so I can't honestly compare. But the few times I've spent really stopping to drill a specific move or technique with a training partner have often been as valuable as class time itself.
Tonight I worked mostly on the over/under half guard pass that Marcelo is such a big fan of. It's a great way to finish off the Flat Pass, which has been getting stalled out at half guard. I'm still only getting used to it. But tonight was a great kick-off.
I also did a little more review on the counter to the backstep pass. Ironically, Prof Rodrigo taught us a very similar counter as part of the class. The approach I used is another Marcelo Garcia tactic, but Prof Rodrigo's use of the far arm to reach below the leg and secure the gi lapel provides a lot of control. Both finish with the butterfly hook using the outside leg.
We also got to work on dealing with the watchdog pass (as opposed to the turning pass). So far, it seems like your best bet is to assume that your guard is already passed and treat the position like a side control escape: getting the underhook on the topside, going belly down, and then working to your knees and a standoff.
I'm not 100% convinced on this one. But I love this kind of diagnostic approach to training: thinking very specifically about what is not working and then going over the physics of the situation to figure out where the potential opportunity for escape lies.
Good training overall tonight. In addition to the counter I mentioned above, Prof Rodrigo showed us a nice backtake from top side half guard. Right now, it seems as if the jiu-jitsu world has declared war on the half guard - especially the deep half guard - as all the top guys are coming up with ways to take the back from the top position. It's one of the fascinating things about jiu-jitsu, the constant "arms race" that drives the art into ever-greater efficiency and capability.
156.0 on the scale post-train. The brown belt adult lightweight bracket this Saturday at the Revolution is brutal. Sauleh, the brothers who run Seaside Jiu-Jitsu in Oregon, and Jacob - a guy I've lost to twice already at purple. Should be one hell of a show.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Training Day: Wednesday
Another good practice as I ease myself back into a training routine. After the basic warmup of squats, pushups, chokes and obliques, Rodrigo added a conditioning component based on first two moves of the First Five: elbow escapes (in place) and The Lift (10 reps to tripod, 10 reps to full standing).
This is what my Matwork is all about: using those old school jiu jitsu exercises - many of which Rodrigo used to do all the time back at the old Tully's location - to develop the circuitry necessary for improving your jiu jitsu as effectively and efficiently as possible. It's nice to see this work its way into our regular training routine again.
Since today was a Wednesday, we worked on a few more moves from the First Five: the guard open from knees and the mount escape - for the beginner class. I worked with Michael, who I haven't seen in awhile. One detail I picked up from the mount escape was to really lock the guy's leg after the footdrag. I may change my CBDP to better reflect this. But it was the second time that Rodrigo really went over this point, the idea of almost making a half guard on top with the leg triangle, so it may be worth giving a CBDP step to that part of the move alone.
Did a pretty decent job of focusing on standing to pass the guard - though my resolve wore down a bit in the second class where we split the time between specific sparring (guard, pass guard) and regular sparring. I ended up working a little Flat Pass - more than I would have liked. But I'm not yet at the level where I can try to pass the guard standing all night long (though that's definitely a 2010 training goal).
I'm still at a "stand without being swept" mode, the survival mode of passing the guard from standing, you might say. I'm surviving against some pretty tough guards right now, and that's the first step in the process toward being able - eventually - to pass them.
This is what my Matwork is all about: using those old school jiu jitsu exercises - many of which Rodrigo used to do all the time back at the old Tully's location - to develop the circuitry necessary for improving your jiu jitsu as effectively and efficiently as possible. It's nice to see this work its way into our regular training routine again.
Since today was a Wednesday, we worked on a few more moves from the First Five: the guard open from knees and the mount escape - for the beginner class. I worked with Michael, who I haven't seen in awhile. One detail I picked up from the mount escape was to really lock the guy's leg after the footdrag. I may change my CBDP to better reflect this. But it was the second time that Rodrigo really went over this point, the idea of almost making a half guard on top with the leg triangle, so it may be worth giving a CBDP step to that part of the move alone.
Did a pretty decent job of focusing on standing to pass the guard - though my resolve wore down a bit in the second class where we split the time between specific sparring (guard, pass guard) and regular sparring. I ended up working a little Flat Pass - more than I would have liked. But I'm not yet at the level where I can try to pass the guard standing all night long (though that's definitely a 2010 training goal).
I'm still at a "stand without being swept" mode, the survival mode of passing the guard from standing, you might say. I'm surviving against some pretty tough guards right now, and that's the first step in the process toward being able - eventually - to pass them.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Training Day: Wednesday
More good training tonight. In some ways, competition training is a lot like the training Rodrigo used to do more often back when GB Seattle was a mile or two further south in the Tully's Building. Although the conditioning is no joke, I really wouldn't mind if we did more of it. Between that and the emphasis on specific training (especially guard/pass guard), it's been some really good training over the past few weeks.
The instructional was more of a drill on the underhook pass. It's a guard pass I really ought to attack with more. Rodrigo had us do a nice drill where the guard player provides movement, but not so much as to totally impede the pass. I'll take some of this kind of training every week (if not every day). You really get to WORK the pass, instead of being ready to transition to something else the second you get resistance as is often the case when you are sparring. It's a little more live than regular drilling, but far from a specific. Good stuff. We also worked against the spider guard in the same way. I worked both the basic toreano with the step back, the toreano with the twistover - hipstepping up and folding the legs over to the far side and passing toward the back - and the little hand jive pass where you swim the wrist to free the grip, grab the opposite leg at the cuff with the newly-freed hand and attack with the Jack Pass.
One note about the Jack Pass. Stiff arm the leg and pull on the sleeve. If you pull on the leg and the sleeve - as I did with Alex - you're not as likely to get to his side because you are bringing the leg toward you. It's a lot like that half guard replacement from turtle - which I also wasn't able to get with Alex, or with Jesse the night before - you want to just hold the leg in place and move your body, not try to move his leg.
I've got a lot of confidence with the Flat Pass going into next weekend. The fact that it's not a very common guard pass - though everybody's heard of it in some other name - gives me a nice edge. Even with teammates who know it is coming, I'm able to be competitive.
What I need to improve is my half guard pass - a particular point of shame given my fidelity to the half guard. Rodrigo showed us a version of Crossface Walkback where you get a lapel wrap under the far arm and around the head toward you as a way of getting even more leverage with the Shoulder of Justice as Frodo calls it. My guess right now is that I just need to pick a half guard pass and stick with it for awhle. And Crossface Walkback is as good as any. Saulo even touched on it at the seminar when Marcelo Alonso asked a question about dealing with the knees (Saulo's tip? As you walkback and block with the shoulder, pull the knees toward you instead of away from you. That creates a bad body dynamic for the half guard player because he is looking away from you because of the Shoulder of Justice, while his knees are pointing toward you.)
154 after training, which is another 2.5 or so off Tuesday night's weight. This is about where I want to hang out, with the limit being 154.9. I'm sure I'll drop a little lower as I continuing training - assuming I don't blow up over the weekend. I'd like to spend more time training at 152-154 and less time getting down to that range.
The instructional was more of a drill on the underhook pass. It's a guard pass I really ought to attack with more. Rodrigo had us do a nice drill where the guard player provides movement, but not so much as to totally impede the pass. I'll take some of this kind of training every week (if not every day). You really get to WORK the pass, instead of being ready to transition to something else the second you get resistance as is often the case when you are sparring. It's a little more live than regular drilling, but far from a specific. Good stuff. We also worked against the spider guard in the same way. I worked both the basic toreano with the step back, the toreano with the twistover - hipstepping up and folding the legs over to the far side and passing toward the back - and the little hand jive pass where you swim the wrist to free the grip, grab the opposite leg at the cuff with the newly-freed hand and attack with the Jack Pass.
One note about the Jack Pass. Stiff arm the leg and pull on the sleeve. If you pull on the leg and the sleeve - as I did with Alex - you're not as likely to get to his side because you are bringing the leg toward you. It's a lot like that half guard replacement from turtle - which I also wasn't able to get with Alex, or with Jesse the night before - you want to just hold the leg in place and move your body, not try to move his leg.
I've got a lot of confidence with the Flat Pass going into next weekend. The fact that it's not a very common guard pass - though everybody's heard of it in some other name - gives me a nice edge. Even with teammates who know it is coming, I'm able to be competitive.
What I need to improve is my half guard pass - a particular point of shame given my fidelity to the half guard. Rodrigo showed us a version of Crossface Walkback where you get a lapel wrap under the far arm and around the head toward you as a way of getting even more leverage with the Shoulder of Justice as Frodo calls it. My guess right now is that I just need to pick a half guard pass and stick with it for awhle. And Crossface Walkback is as good as any. Saulo even touched on it at the seminar when Marcelo Alonso asked a question about dealing with the knees (Saulo's tip? As you walkback and block with the shoulder, pull the knees toward you instead of away from you. That creates a bad body dynamic for the half guard player because he is looking away from you because of the Shoulder of Justice, while his knees are pointing toward you.)
154 after training, which is another 2.5 or so off Tuesday night's weight. This is about where I want to hang out, with the limit being 154.9. I'm sure I'll drop a little lower as I continuing training - assuming I don't blow up over the weekend. I'd like to spend more time training at 152-154 and less time getting down to that range.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Training Day: Tuesday
162.4 on the scale before training. 157.4 after.
Part of why I know I missed training on Monday was because I ate too much over the weekend (our first "dinner party" in years) and didn't get in any activity after training on Friday. Not training is bad enough, but combining it with overeating is something really bad. My stomach still feels awful - though better than it was this time yesterday.
It seems like 160 has become the new 170. Having dropped down below 155 for so many weeks, it is no fun being back above that number, even if only by 5 pounds.
Tonight was very much a training night. A good hard warmup, then some standup, then guard/pass guard for the duration. After that, I got in a roll with Jesse, who I haven't rolled with in a long time. That pretty much did it for me for tonight.
A few notes: my Flat Pass is doing a very, very good job of getting me to half guard more often than not. But I'm still having a harder time than I should when it comes to passing the half guard. My strategy over the past several days has been to attack with submissions and passes alternately until something opens up. While I'm still going to go with this, I need to work on my latest half guard pass series which gives me three different options without needing to distract with a submission attempt.
Back on the mat tomorrow - and likely Thursday and Friday, as well. There's even a halfway decent chance that I'll get on the mat Saturday, but I don't want to push it. If I can get my four days this week (TWRF), then I'm not going to cry about not getting a fifth.
Part of why I know I missed training on Monday was because I ate too much over the weekend (our first "dinner party" in years) and didn't get in any activity after training on Friday. Not training is bad enough, but combining it with overeating is something really bad. My stomach still feels awful - though better than it was this time yesterday.
It seems like 160 has become the new 170. Having dropped down below 155 for so many weeks, it is no fun being back above that number, even if only by 5 pounds.
Tonight was very much a training night. A good hard warmup, then some standup, then guard/pass guard for the duration. After that, I got in a roll with Jesse, who I haven't rolled with in a long time. That pretty much did it for me for tonight.
A few notes: my Flat Pass is doing a very, very good job of getting me to half guard more often than not. But I'm still having a harder time than I should when it comes to passing the half guard. My strategy over the past several days has been to attack with submissions and passes alternately until something opens up. While I'm still going to go with this, I need to work on my latest half guard pass series which gives me three different options without needing to distract with a submission attempt.
Back on the mat tomorrow - and likely Thursday and Friday, as well. There's even a halfway decent chance that I'll get on the mat Saturday, but I don't want to push it. If I can get my four days this week (TWRF), then I'm not going to cry about not getting a fifth.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Training Day: Friday
Was too beat up to train Thursday night - and was also anticipating a rip-roarin' Friday class. At it turned out, Rodrigo turned it up, but not overwhelmingly so (i.e., a minimum of sprawls). I got a good workout without feeling too overwhelmed.
We did some hipscapes, jumping jacks, squats, pushups and chokes to warm-up. Then the new takedown warm-up/conditioning/pre-tournament routine wear you maintain the gi grips. I'm still looking for ways to attack the legs around the stiff-arm of the gi grip (without popping the grip), so it is nice to get the work.
The instructional was the double biceps side control escape, which we did at a pretty good pace. Rodrigo also had us work on the Cross Guard move where you get a cross grip on one side, then attack the leg on the other side with a hook and cuff control as you spin around under him and kick the hook leg forward to off-balance. I tried this a little bit in the guard/pass guard specific drill - the trick is to remember the cross. It was nice working the drill with the new white belt I was paired with and helping him complete the steps really did a great job in helping me remember them.
I have to say that I love the fact that I've really only worked on two different positions this week: the side control escape and the Cross guard. In my perfect jiu jitsu world, I would train twice a day for four days a week and learn about 2-4 positions over the course of the week - so this pace (training once a day four times a week) of two moves a week is ideal for me.
I also love training the basic/beginner classes. I almost miss the drills we used to do - the armlocks from the guard and mount, for example. One day when Gracie Barra Seattle expands enough to do two day classes every day, I'd love to teach/lead a jiu jitsu conditioning/circuit-building class that is all drills: 360 drill, armlocks from the guard, hook sweeps, my matwork routine, armlocks from the mount, Rodrigo's takedown drill, then all specific sparring mount/mount escape, side control/crossbody escape, guard/guard pass - hell, maybe even some ginastica natural, while I'm at it.
Got to work some Flat Pass during tatame. I'm thinking I'll get a chance to use it at the Revolution given the fact that some many guys rely on the closed guard. I had some success today going the other way - though I really need to keep working it develop a sense of stability and surety. At the same time, I want to make sure that I'm working both Shield and Sword (I might rename that the Saulo) as well as the Leozinho, which I almost went to Wednesday as well as Friday.
Also fun was working with Glen on a couple of things: low mount and the Ezekiel, high mount and the armlock. We also went over the two main side control escapes: the double biceps and the swim-to-belly. I can't even say how much fun that was: going over basics, living somewhat vicariously through someone else's tournament prep.
A good week of training. Including the two hours of training on Sunday at the Saulo seminar, I managed to get in a second consecutive four-training week. I can really feel the difference when I'm training at this clip and it is really motivation to do what I can to stay off the illness list and on the mat. One thing I'm hugely grateful for is the fact that I've been injury-free for quite awhile it seems. Annoying as the headcolds and rhinovirii are, I'll take them over a 6-week whack due to a bad shoulder or worse.
Next week, as I go into "Fight Speed" until tournament time, I'll be back on my regular schedule. There is a huge temptation to take the early classes for the next two weeks to try and condition myself to train at the same time of day that I'll be competing at. It hugely tempting - and would probably contribute toward getting the rest I really need - but we'll see if I can pull it off.
I'm still in the Saulo glow - even after hearing a few stories (one from a teammate and one from the Intertubes) that didn't necessarily portray the man in the most magnanimous light. But seeing my heroes as mistake-making human beings actually is a prerequisite for pedastal-hood. If I don't see flaws in the work, then I'm inclined to believe I'm looking at a fake.
Without going on and on about any more than I already have, the Saulo seminar seems to have helped chill me out: about competing, about training, about "accomplishing" things in jiu jitsu. There are times when I start to treat training like work, like an obligation in order to get to where I want to be. And while that's understandable, ultimately that's not right. I'm not training to become a jiu jitsu black belt. I'm training because jiu jitsu is one of my favorite things in the world and I can't quickly get over how fortunate I have been to have a top-notch Gracie Barra academy less than 30 minutes away from home for the past four-plus years. While "enjoy the journey" tends to have a bit of an "eat your vegetables" quality to it, it really is the truth: you've got to enjoy the path, the process, in order to get the most out of both becoming and being.
We did some hipscapes, jumping jacks, squats, pushups and chokes to warm-up. Then the new takedown warm-up/conditioning/pre-tournament routine wear you maintain the gi grips. I'm still looking for ways to attack the legs around the stiff-arm of the gi grip (without popping the grip), so it is nice to get the work.
The instructional was the double biceps side control escape, which we did at a pretty good pace. Rodrigo also had us work on the Cross Guard move where you get a cross grip on one side, then attack the leg on the other side with a hook and cuff control as you spin around under him and kick the hook leg forward to off-balance. I tried this a little bit in the guard/pass guard specific drill - the trick is to remember the cross. It was nice working the drill with the new white belt I was paired with and helping him complete the steps really did a great job in helping me remember them.
I have to say that I love the fact that I've really only worked on two different positions this week: the side control escape and the Cross guard. In my perfect jiu jitsu world, I would train twice a day for four days a week and learn about 2-4 positions over the course of the week - so this pace (training once a day four times a week) of two moves a week is ideal for me.
I also love training the basic/beginner classes. I almost miss the drills we used to do - the armlocks from the guard and mount, for example. One day when Gracie Barra Seattle expands enough to do two day classes every day, I'd love to teach/lead a jiu jitsu conditioning/circuit-building class that is all drills: 360 drill, armlocks from the guard, hook sweeps, my matwork routine, armlocks from the mount, Rodrigo's takedown drill, then all specific sparring mount/mount escape, side control/crossbody escape, guard/guard pass - hell, maybe even some ginastica natural, while I'm at it.
Got to work some Flat Pass during tatame. I'm thinking I'll get a chance to use it at the Revolution given the fact that some many guys rely on the closed guard. I had some success today going the other way - though I really need to keep working it develop a sense of stability and surety. At the same time, I want to make sure that I'm working both Shield and Sword (I might rename that the Saulo) as well as the Leozinho, which I almost went to Wednesday as well as Friday.
Also fun was working with Glen on a couple of things: low mount and the Ezekiel, high mount and the armlock. We also went over the two main side control escapes: the double biceps and the swim-to-belly. I can't even say how much fun that was: going over basics, living somewhat vicariously through someone else's tournament prep.
A good week of training. Including the two hours of training on Sunday at the Saulo seminar, I managed to get in a second consecutive four-training week. I can really feel the difference when I'm training at this clip and it is really motivation to do what I can to stay off the illness list and on the mat. One thing I'm hugely grateful for is the fact that I've been injury-free for quite awhile it seems. Annoying as the headcolds and rhinovirii are, I'll take them over a 6-week whack due to a bad shoulder or worse.
Next week, as I go into "Fight Speed" until tournament time, I'll be back on my regular schedule. There is a huge temptation to take the early classes for the next two weeks to try and condition myself to train at the same time of day that I'll be competing at. It hugely tempting - and would probably contribute toward getting the rest I really need - but we'll see if I can pull it off.
I'm still in the Saulo glow - even after hearing a few stories (one from a teammate and one from the Intertubes) that didn't necessarily portray the man in the most magnanimous light. But seeing my heroes as mistake-making human beings actually is a prerequisite for pedastal-hood. If I don't see flaws in the work, then I'm inclined to believe I'm looking at a fake.
Without going on and on about any more than I already have, the Saulo seminar seems to have helped chill me out: about competing, about training, about "accomplishing" things in jiu jitsu. There are times when I start to treat training like work, like an obligation in order to get to where I want to be. And while that's understandable, ultimately that's not right. I'm not training to become a jiu jitsu black belt. I'm training because jiu jitsu is one of my favorite things in the world and I can't quickly get over how fortunate I have been to have a top-notch Gracie Barra academy less than 30 minutes away from home for the past four-plus years. While "enjoy the journey" tends to have a bit of an "eat your vegetables" quality to it, it really is the truth: you've got to enjoy the path, the process, in order to get the most out of both becoming and being.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Training Day: Wednesday
I had told myself before the Saulo seminar that I could use some jiu jitsu wisdom. What I got, in addition to a couple of techniques that I'm looking forward to trying out in training, was not quite wisdom so much as attitude in the "frame of mind" Suzuki sense of the word (the Western sense of the word has connotations of obedience that I don't sympathize with). It was a calming down, a "remember to breathe," a think-in-short-elemental-movements kinds of wisdom Saulo imparted, something along the lines of presence, maybe, or what people are always saying after getting the opportunity to train with Rickson Gracie. You can definitely feel the Zen in it - an interesting sensation for a non-Zen Old Testament Buddhist like myself - and I think it's actually making it easier to do just about everything I've been doing at home at GB Seattle. Even in the midst of trying to get back my conditioning, I could find myself at peace in the luminous whirlwind of jiu jitsu.
There were a few good instances of this - though the best might have been with a relentless white belt who flew around my guard Connor-style. Getting back to guard and to sweep took awhile, and I felt myself processing at a pretty good pace, taking incremental step after incremental step to improve the situation until I was in a position to try and take the advantage. It was some good training.
Rodrigo has got us in competition mode, three weeks out from the Revolution (more like two and a half) and about eight or nine weeks out from the Interschool Tournament That Needs a Good Name. The pace is hard, but Rodrigo typically knows just how to bring us to the threshold. I'm doing better than I thought I would.
The instructional, by the way, was the double bicep side control escape. I was dragging through this drill late, but again, I wasn't alone in that regard (Charlie).
Some good work with the Twist Back tonight. With the tournaments coming up, I'm giving myself the "all clear" to work with my competition gameplan type moves from now until December 14th. I'd like to work in the slingshot and the armdrag from half - and the success I had with the Fowler Series 3 from the latest Gracie Magazine tonight means I'll likely be adding that to my top half game.
But the name of the game is still takedowns and guard passing. I'm feeling fine enough about the former, and the latter is coming rather than going. Clint is among the guys doing a really good job of testing my Flat Pass, and I'm starting to get the nerve to go left as well as right. Shield and Sword with Stephen turned out to be a stalemate (I should have gone for the Leozinho!), but I want to continue to work it as the opportunities arise. My suspicion, though, is that I'll either end up relying on the Flat Pass or the Leozinho if I find myself in guard at the Revolution (or if I get lucky off the Leozinho, the Butler or the Jack Pass).
There were a few good instances of this - though the best might have been with a relentless white belt who flew around my guard Connor-style. Getting back to guard and to sweep took awhile, and I felt myself processing at a pretty good pace, taking incremental step after incremental step to improve the situation until I was in a position to try and take the advantage. It was some good training.
Rodrigo has got us in competition mode, three weeks out from the Revolution (more like two and a half) and about eight or nine weeks out from the Interschool Tournament That Needs a Good Name. The pace is hard, but Rodrigo typically knows just how to bring us to the threshold. I'm doing better than I thought I would.
The instructional, by the way, was the double bicep side control escape. I was dragging through this drill late, but again, I wasn't alone in that regard (Charlie).
Some good work with the Twist Back tonight. With the tournaments coming up, I'm giving myself the "all clear" to work with my competition gameplan type moves from now until December 14th. I'd like to work in the slingshot and the armdrag from half - and the success I had with the Fowler Series 3 from the latest Gracie Magazine tonight means I'll likely be adding that to my top half game.
But the name of the game is still takedowns and guard passing. I'm feeling fine enough about the former, and the latter is coming rather than going. Clint is among the guys doing a really good job of testing my Flat Pass, and I'm starting to get the nerve to go left as well as right. Shield and Sword with Stephen turned out to be a stalemate (I should have gone for the Leozinho!), but I want to continue to work it as the opportunities arise. My suspicion, though, is that I'll either end up relying on the Flat Pass or the Leozinho if I find myself in guard at the Revolution (or if I get lucky off the Leozinho, the Butler or the Jack Pass).
Sunday, October 11, 2009
CBDP: Flat Pass
1. Flat
2. Grip
3. Switch
4. Kick
5. Step
6. Check
Focus on Check. I've got a bad habit of settling for half guard. Although my watchdog half guard pass is getting better, I need to at least force the guy to defend the complete Flat Pass to side control.
2. Grip
3. Switch
4. Kick
5. Step
6. Check
Focus on Check. I've got a bad habit of settling for half guard. Although my watchdog half guard pass is getting better, I need to at least force the guy to defend the complete Flat Pass to side control.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Friday Training
A really great class on Friday. I had planned to come early and stay late and I did, getting to SoDo around 11 am and staying until almost 2 pm.
Admittedly, the weather was great, one of the hottest days of the year, and given that Friday was the first day of a three-day weekend, it would have taken a pretty hefty measure of tragedy to dampen my mood much. All that said it was a great day of training and rolling. I got to train with Bryan (who I never get to roll with unless I train on Fridays) as well as Stephen, Connor, Jared and Maggie, who was in town from San Francisco and stopped by the academy. It's been a regular reunion week with Tommy returning to the mat midweek and then Maggie appearing on Friday ...
The instructional was mostly clinch work, with a conditioning edge. Rodrigo has developed a style of showing us three techniques that we work on one by one. Then, to finish up, he has us work back through the three to help improve the body memory and recall. Today, we worked mostly on clinch work. We pummeled for awhile, then trained a step back and re-under hook as a counter to the double unders, then a third move where you stepped back but then brought up the forearm against the neck to help drive the guy away.
Also, in what might have been a nod to Royler's self-defense work in his recent seminar, Rodrigo has us do a "plum" escape, an escape from the muay Thai plum that Anderson Silva has used with such devastating effect (especially against Rich Franklin).
First off, block any incoming knees by reaching up and hooking on top of the opposite plum arm. For me, it was easiest to reach up with my right hand and hook on top of his right arm, with my elbow pointed down to block any knee strikes. From here, step back with that same side leg so that you are in an open stance. As you do this, drive your other arm between him and his plum grip. It is a combination punch/stiff-arm type of move.
Bring that arm through and down, and wrap it back around his back as you either clinch or go in for a shoot on the legs.
As far as tatame notes go, SRO gets an "A" for effort. It's really just a matter of making it a regular part of what I do - along with the Flat Pass. Bryan swept me out of the Flat Pass when I leaned too far back instead of doing the "hand on a clock" rotation that Justin Garcia talks about in his video clip. But I did manage to have some success with it later. I also tried to switch too quickly to the Twist out of a Tackle half guard sweep with Jared and missed the move. I've got to remember that what makes the Twist such a devastating sweep when it works is the fact that I've felt the momentum correctly and waited for the moment before switching. Going too early just ends up in trying to muscle the move over (not a good idea with someone like Jared).
Like I said, a really great day on the mat - no doubt boosted by the fact that it was the first day of a summertime holiday weekend. The mat was packed, Rodrigo had to let us spar in Group A / Group B style because there were so many people there to train. Maybe I would feel differently if I were regularly in one of those notorious NYC jiu jitsu classes with 150 people or something, but there's nothing more fun than training when there is a huge turnout with a big range of sizes, experience and style. That's part of what makes seminars so much fun. I remember Cristiano's seminar from a few months back, where you could line all four walls with people from white belt to black belt. It was like some house party from the 90s.
I doubt that I'll train on Saturday (which is too bad; I need to make the Saturday before a tournament a must-train afternoon). But Friday was just the kind of session I need before competition week gets going on Monday. My plan is to train Monday through Thursday, take Friday off and weigh-in later that evening. I'm not entirely convinced that the 153.2 I got on the scale post-training is to be trusted. Then again, I hadn't eaten anything all morning but a Clif Bar (crunchy peanut butter, if you're curious) and have been increasingly disciplined about my diet in recent days. So maybe I'm already dipping into the Revolution's lightweight zone of 154.9-140. Pretty crazy to start the week at 166 and end it at 153 (a 7% drop).
Conditioning-wise, I'm doing LSD every other day into Thursday. Friday will be all about sweating out any few remaining pounds (Martell: "Do Not Burn Glycogen"). Watching some track and field on cable this afternoon, I was reminded at the sharp physique difference in top athletes as you move from the sprint competitions (100m and 200m) to the so-called "distance" competition (800m and 1500m), and how that reflects on the relative importance of aerobic conditioning over anerobic for all but the most short term of activities. I feel great when I'm doing regular LSD, which has not been often enough. I think that genetically I'm tuned more toward the power, fast twitch (think Olympian sprinter Michael Johnson or judoka Rhadi Ferguson) way of generating energy. Anything I do that takes me in the other direction (toward the Ethiopian) will only help balance and extend my ability to perform.
Admittedly, the weather was great, one of the hottest days of the year, and given that Friday was the first day of a three-day weekend, it would have taken a pretty hefty measure of tragedy to dampen my mood much. All that said it was a great day of training and rolling. I got to train with Bryan (who I never get to roll with unless I train on Fridays) as well as Stephen, Connor, Jared and Maggie, who was in town from San Francisco and stopped by the academy. It's been a regular reunion week with Tommy returning to the mat midweek and then Maggie appearing on Friday ...
The instructional was mostly clinch work, with a conditioning edge. Rodrigo has developed a style of showing us three techniques that we work on one by one. Then, to finish up, he has us work back through the three to help improve the body memory and recall. Today, we worked mostly on clinch work. We pummeled for awhile, then trained a step back and re-under hook as a counter to the double unders, then a third move where you stepped back but then brought up the forearm against the neck to help drive the guy away.
Also, in what might have been a nod to Royler's self-defense work in his recent seminar, Rodrigo has us do a "plum" escape, an escape from the muay Thai plum that Anderson Silva has used with such devastating effect (especially against Rich Franklin).
First off, block any incoming knees by reaching up and hooking on top of the opposite plum arm. For me, it was easiest to reach up with my right hand and hook on top of his right arm, with my elbow pointed down to block any knee strikes. From here, step back with that same side leg so that you are in an open stance. As you do this, drive your other arm between him and his plum grip. It is a combination punch/stiff-arm type of move.
Bring that arm through and down, and wrap it back around his back as you either clinch or go in for a shoot on the legs.
As far as tatame notes go, SRO gets an "A" for effort. It's really just a matter of making it a regular part of what I do - along with the Flat Pass. Bryan swept me out of the Flat Pass when I leaned too far back instead of doing the "hand on a clock" rotation that Justin Garcia talks about in his video clip. But I did manage to have some success with it later. I also tried to switch too quickly to the Twist out of a Tackle half guard sweep with Jared and missed the move. I've got to remember that what makes the Twist such a devastating sweep when it works is the fact that I've felt the momentum correctly and waited for the moment before switching. Going too early just ends up in trying to muscle the move over (not a good idea with someone like Jared).
Like I said, a really great day on the mat - no doubt boosted by the fact that it was the first day of a summertime holiday weekend. The mat was packed, Rodrigo had to let us spar in Group A / Group B style because there were so many people there to train. Maybe I would feel differently if I were regularly in one of those notorious NYC jiu jitsu classes with 150 people or something, but there's nothing more fun than training when there is a huge turnout with a big range of sizes, experience and style. That's part of what makes seminars so much fun. I remember Cristiano's seminar from a few months back, where you could line all four walls with people from white belt to black belt. It was like some house party from the 90s.
I doubt that I'll train on Saturday (which is too bad; I need to make the Saturday before a tournament a must-train afternoon). But Friday was just the kind of session I need before competition week gets going on Monday. My plan is to train Monday through Thursday, take Friday off and weigh-in later that evening. I'm not entirely convinced that the 153.2 I got on the scale post-training is to be trusted. Then again, I hadn't eaten anything all morning but a Clif Bar (crunchy peanut butter, if you're curious) and have been increasingly disciplined about my diet in recent days. So maybe I'm already dipping into the Revolution's lightweight zone of 154.9-140. Pretty crazy to start the week at 166 and end it at 153 (a 7% drop).
Conditioning-wise, I'm doing LSD every other day into Thursday. Friday will be all about sweating out any few remaining pounds (Martell: "Do Not Burn Glycogen"). Watching some track and field on cable this afternoon, I was reminded at the sharp physique difference in top athletes as you move from the sprint competitions (100m and 200m) to the so-called "distance" competition (800m and 1500m), and how that reflects on the relative importance of aerobic conditioning over anerobic for all but the most short term of activities. I feel great when I'm doing regular LSD, which has not been often enough. I think that genetically I'm tuned more toward the power, fast twitch (think Olympian sprinter Michael Johnson or judoka Rhadi Ferguson) way of generating energy. Anything I do that takes me in the other direction (toward the Ethiopian) will only help balance and extend my ability to perform.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday Training
Back on the mat for a Cindy class after more than a month ... It was nice to get back into her routine: the semi-gymnastic warm-up has been augmented with a serious core building routine: duo triangles, flutter kicks, duo triangles, isometric situps with trunk twists ... it was actually a relief to get to the Superman, behind-the-head Superman and alternating Superman drills.
We did specific work after several minutes of pummelling. Guard/Pass Guard and Mount/Escape Mount. Since it was no gi, I focused on the Flat Pass. I'm a little hung up on some of the things guys are doing to defend it - tonight, grabbing my attacking hand and controlling it was a major tactic. I need to work through that. It definitely works to get into the habit of opening the ankles with your top leg. It is agility worth developing because it is a nice edge to be able to open those ankles without necessarily needing to use your hand.
That was probably the biggest lesson. I went a lot more for the knee wedge half guard pass with the double underhooks, which should probably be my go-to half guard pass outside of the watchdog position. I had to fight for it, but the ballerina pass out of the watchdog and crossface positions both seemed to work tonight.
I'm also thinking that Thursday night might be a good weightlifting night, given the new equipment downstairs. Being able to do some heavy pulls on the lat machine and rows on the cables would be great, along with some leg extensions for my quads. Mainly focusing on stuff I can't do at home. Doing that after class on Monday and Thursday might be a nice little difference maker in my strength training.
157.8 on the scale. So far I've managed to weigh in below 160 after every class this month. Starting in July, that's going to have to be a pre-train weight instead of post-train, keeping things nice and low for the two weeks going into the Revolution event.
We did specific work after several minutes of pummelling. Guard/Pass Guard and Mount/Escape Mount. Since it was no gi, I focused on the Flat Pass. I'm a little hung up on some of the things guys are doing to defend it - tonight, grabbing my attacking hand and controlling it was a major tactic. I need to work through that. It definitely works to get into the habit of opening the ankles with your top leg. It is agility worth developing because it is a nice edge to be able to open those ankles without necessarily needing to use your hand.
That was probably the biggest lesson. I went a lot more for the knee wedge half guard pass with the double underhooks, which should probably be my go-to half guard pass outside of the watchdog position. I had to fight for it, but the ballerina pass out of the watchdog and crossface positions both seemed to work tonight.
I'm also thinking that Thursday night might be a good weightlifting night, given the new equipment downstairs. Being able to do some heavy pulls on the lat machine and rows on the cables would be great, along with some leg extensions for my quads. Mainly focusing on stuff I can't do at home. Doing that after class on Monday and Thursday might be a nice little difference maker in my strength training.
157.8 on the scale. So far I've managed to weigh in below 160 after every class this month. Starting in July, that's going to have to be a pre-train weight instead of post-train, keeping things nice and low for the two weeks going into the Revolution event.
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