3.31.10 - Training

Gi

Anthony gave me some ideas for my clip game:

- tight on trapped arm (meaning controlling w/ far arm too) if taking back
- loose if looking for arm/triangle/omoplata
- if playing loose, need the leg to clip shoulder
- use a cross collar and near wrist control when playing open, pull into clip
- when pulling lawnmower back, it's not all the leg whip. remember to straighten bottom
- when using that grip, use knee to control opponent
- use feet more when playing open

All this stuff is burning holes in my brain.

3.24.10 - Training

Gi

Worked from closed guard attack w/ collar grip.

Arm Bar from closed guard:
- cross #1 and #2, track their thumb
- use knees to swing them on top
- look for opposite arm bar, releasing cross #1

Collar Choke and combos
- make sure elbow is on top of their bicep for control

Palm up/palm down choke to:
- armbar
- triangle

#3 grip to:
- scissor
- scissor fail to kimura

Jeff and Mike gave me some good tips on my pendulum game:

Grips/Control points:
- armpit
- elbow
* using far arm and pinning head

Taking back:
- lawnmower, switch to near arm control of sleeve
- lazy man, far arm controls elbow and open them up (open for straight armlock)
* look into using grip 6 as a control point when taking the back

Attacks:
- lazy man combo
- think of combining shoulder clip
- when working for the arm to omoplata, try and lock the triangle first rather than going to the omoplata on far arm.

Contemplating working on butterfly / open guard the next 3 months. I feel as if my escapes and defense has improved, which was my goal for the 1st 3 months. I did branch into back attacks a bit. Need to focus in on what to work on these next 3 months.

Topics to consider:
- continuing the closed guard attack
- butterfly / open guard
- back attacks
- guard passing

Decisions, decisions.

3.22.10 - Training

"Tournaments are an opportunity for someone to show you holes in your game to work on." - Jeff Baldwin

Grips:


1. Wrist
2. Elbow / Tricep
3. Deep in the collar (behind neck)
4. Shallow on the collar
5. Belt (front)
6. Belt (back)
7. Knee
8. Ankle

Arm Bar from closed guard:
- cross #1 and #2, track their thumb
- use knees to swing them on top
- look for opposite arm bar, releasing cross #1

Collar Choke and combos
- make sure elbow is on top of their bicep for control

Palm up/palm down choke to:
- armbar
- triangle

#3 grip to:
- scissor
- scissor fail to kimura

3.11.10 - Training

“Perfection is reached, not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.” -- Antoine de Saint-Exuper

Finally got out to the gym for the first time since the tournament. It felt like an eternity since last being on the mat. My head is still sore from the knee, but I just made sure to keep my head away from knees and elbows...LOL.

Clip Shoulder from closed guard
- to armbar
- to triangle
- armbar to triangle
- triangle to armbar

Good stuff since it continues on what I've been focusing in on the first 3 months this year.

From MGInAction - Leg Over Pass
- be sure to stay low to not get underhooked
- kick through

Worked on that pass during rolling and got stuck for awhile.

Triangle Escapes

Triangle escapes

1. Posture up. Early before ankles are crossed
2. Twist out. Opponent crosses ankles loosely
3. Stack/neckbreaker. Locked ankles
4. Leg over face. Fully locked/ arm across
5. The night stick. Choke opponent with lapel
6. John laird. Last ditch effort

Need to fill in details later.

Triangle Escapes Revisited

Went to the gym to get my run in real quick and get some tips from Mike regarding my triangle escapes. We revisited 3 escapes and touched on how each escape has an appropriate time to be used.

Escape #1 - Over the shoulder (Early)

• This escape is best used when the triangle is being attempted or has not been been locked in, meaning your opponent's leg is across the back of your neck or better not sunk in yet.
• Keep head up.
• Arm that is in must not go across their body. Can put it on the ground or in your opponent's hip or ribs. By doing this, it makes it harder for your opponent to lock up the triangle since your elbow will be blocking their leg.
• Get up and w/ other arm grab around their neck and work for an over the shoulder pass.
• If the legs still have not opened up yet, throw your elbow (the arm that is in) back as if elbowing someone behind you.

Escape #2 - Stacking (Sunk in, but not quite deep enough)

• This escape is, like the title says, good when the triangle is not deep. Meaning, the triangle is locked in and your opponent's leg may is somewhat perpendicular to the back of your neck and your elbow has been defeated from escape #1.
• Both hands must go behind your opponent's neck. You must be able to control them by putting your arms there. (Maybe the rapist choke? I don't know if this would be where I would want my arms because it would be easy for my opponent to defeat them versus being behind their neck and not around their throat)
• Stand up and get face to face. Be careful not to get legs trapped by opponents arms. Keep opponent from wiggling out w/ arms and hands behind neck.
• Sprawl into their butt. Use your hips! Legs should pop open.
• REMEMBER - use hips not chest! "Make like Fuck"

Escape #3 - "The Laird" (Last Resort)

• Now the triangle is in and locked up. Your opponent's leg is completely perpendicular to the back of my neck and is sunk in.
• With the arm that is in, put your thumb in the bend of their knee. By doing this you're almost making it deeper because you should be reaching across your body.
• Get the arm that is in across their body (elbow to opponent's hip).
• Free hand grabs same knee and peels.
• MAKE sure to pull knee off and try and get opponent's leg on it's side.
• Also do not stay at six o'clock but move bottom half of body to either 3 or 9 o'clock (depending upon what arm is in) to help get opponent's leg on it's side.

It was good to revisit these escapes. I personally have been going to the over the shoulder pass and not trying the stack pass more often. It could be my timing and not being able to recognize how deep the choke is but I definitely need to work the different escapes.

Kimura, North / South and Triangle

Worked on kimura defense with Mike today.

Kimura defense from half guard

• Over hook or guillotine they're arm (arm being attacked)
• Hand on their hips
• Sprawl hips, dropping the hip that is the side being attacked
• Pin your shoulder on theirs
• Head up and drive forward over their shoulder

Kimura defense from North / South

• Free hand use to create space against their leg, so your head is not being smashed
• Roll to get shoulders square on the mat
• Make sure elbow is on mat and past their wrist

Escape from North / South

• Hands and hips so you can press
• Do crunch w/ legs to create more space
• Then attempt to rock to get to knees
• If they try to pin you with their head when you rock, slide one arm across they're body and try to get a leg to get to your knees

Defending the Triangle

Got this yesterday from Roy.

• Set up as if you are doing an over the shoulder pass
• However sprawl your chest to their butt.
• Press forward and legs should pop open

This was really strange but very effective. I haven't tried it yet, but want to drill it.

Notes

• When someone is attempting to start x-guard, make sure your leg is not availabe for them to pull on....try and smash.
• Do not post your leg up when trying to free your leg. If deep enough, push it through to try and go for mount.
• Like Rickson would say, "make like fuck" and start using my hips to create pressure (especially when trying to pass)