Knee On Belly

Jessica and I worked on knee on belly on sunday.   This was not a lot of fun, It does make it hard for you to breathe.  I shall see how well this works out in class this week.   We practiced some side to mount transitions, and some mount attacks.

Then on monday I went to both lunch and evening classes to try out what I have learned.  Lunch class I got a chance to use knee on belly but I did not hold it well, probably due to I was not holding the person down right but I was able to transition to some attempts to submit.   Though I did not submit, I learned how to do it and where I need to fix it.

Evening class was a lot of self defense.   I do wish we get more self defense in.   It is important to me.  I know that in a real fight that all I learn is still applicable, but focusing on self defense gives the comfort room when someone applies a head lock or does a typical street bully move.    The rest of the training was going over half guard, which I need more practice,  the hardest concept I have yet to get is how to get my hips on the ground and keep pressure on their body.

Take care,

P.S.  I did something I thought I would never be able to do, though he did submit me first, I was able to submit someone I personally never thought I would be able to!  It was all technique, the individual was a lot stronger and more fit.  I am very happy about my progress in BJJ.  I am able to see noticeable improvements!  I just wish it would all click!

Half Guard

Yesterday, we worked on half guard pass.   JT helped me understand a lot of the small details on the pass.  I used it twice in regular training.  Thanks JT and congrats on the european open!   Today was on a open guard pass , that I need some more practice and reps on, though I did it once today already in regular training but left a gap between my hips and their hip about 10 miles long that you can drive a small aircraft carrier through.

I am starting to see more and more places I can manipulate to an advantage, I used to stop and think what can I do, now I can see what I can do and continuely trying to see more what I can do from each position change.  

I will hopefully make it to this evening class.  Hope is the keyword.  If not, I will go watch some Demian Maia Science of Jiu Jitsu.  If anyone knows of any other videos that is good to watch, feel free to drop them in the comments.

Take care

Butterfly guard

Last week we been focusing on butterfly guard,   For me, it is very hard to keep any guard other than closed guard. I know I will get better in time, but butterfly guard is the most frustrating of all guards for me to even maintain.    I feel like I took a step back this week but its ok, I know we all have those weeks, that I just need to show up and practice.


Other things I noticed that have changed is that I am on my toes a lot more, and more aware when my knee hits the mat.  I am beginning to get an appreciation of what is meant by being heavy and light at the same time.  I am gaining more awareness of a lot of other things, but it is hard to put in words to explain.

Alliance did great this week at the european open.   Fabio Gurgel did something most people would not do.  He stuck his neck out, competed, and won.  You have to admire a martial art and sport that people of any age can come out and compete.   I do wonder what motivated him to do that, the challenge?

Another training day

Sometimes it takes me 100 times making the same mistake over and over to finally click inside my head not to do that even though it looks like to me the best thing to do. I decided to make a list of basic techniques and do each 10 times, then the next one, till I get a 100 reps in each technique, then do it again till I reach 500, 1000, etc. I was working with my bjj buddy chris the accountant, and it is a great feeling that we both want each other to improve. The things I am weak on he helps me out a lot.

There was one technique that looked, wow, I could do this, but when I tried it, my hips said "no" . After sleeping on it I realize that It was cause I was trying to rotate my hips in place instead of moving them out and rotate. I want to test the theory but I have to wait till later on this day to test it out.

I have this theory, that when a person is mentally ready to go to the next level they will. I feel like I am inching or perhaps one cm at a time getting closer and closer to the next level. I am ready, but I still am doing the small mistakes that I see even though I am told not to do that.

Life is good, my girlfriend and I are moving in together. Even though she already spends the majority of the time over my place. The new place is closer to work and both dojos. I am thinking doing thursdays night on aiki. I like the art of aiki, and the flow drills cause I do "feel" my training partner more once I do them. I am "feeling" what they are trying to do.

One last thing.. I love the people at alliance! Very willing to help everyone on the life long path of jiu jitsu.

First One on One Lesson

I decided that my girlfriend and I would do a one on one lesson with a purple belt mat rat. He had me do some drills then after the drills showed me where to apply these drills at. It was a very good first lesson. I learned alot about movement and am able to move a little more. I will practicing these drills on my own to improve.

It was so information packed that I decided to do it next sunday. I hope *grin* maybe saturday, cause I am moving monday.

More Ponderings

Last few classes have been interesting. I been focusing on getting out of mount and side control a lot, and its been paying off. There are more and more details about the basics that I learn everyday. I sometimes learn the hard way if I do not properly execute everything the person will escape. I been starting to play with the idea of go ahead and try for a submission always , be willing to give up a position just to see if i can get a submission. I am comfortable enough now being mounted and side mounted I can give the other a person a good resistance... well if the other person isnt a high blue. I do my best, but I run out of gas sometimes.

I wish I started this sooner. :)

Wow.. 4 months later

What a journey this is so far. I train at the alliance bjj in roswell georgia. I didn't realize that it has been four months until I decided to check my blog. What has changed from the aikido mindset. Most of the techniques of aikido are not practical at start. It is 1000 times harder to get an arm lock with a resisting opponent. I have seen some aiki like moves but they are limited to what is practical.

The alliance head instructors, Jacare and Cobhrina, I did not realize who they were when I joined. Jacare won the instructor of the year reward. One thing I like about Jacare, he makes every student feel part of the family. He brings comfort to us by saying things like 'let me do my job and give you the skill. Show up, and I will do my job.' Reason why, is that I lack atheletic ability,, and there are more natural people than me. However the amount of time I been training is PAYING off.

On that note, my skill level has vastly improved on the ground. The training method of live training everyday for up to 1/2 the class makes me learn the difference between being taught a move, and being able to execute it. My doubts of joining have been earsed. Yes, the first week is awkward cause you really do not know what you are doing. Now after 4 months, I really do not know what I am doing, but I am getting an idea of what I do not know.

The students there, are simply the best hearted students I seen. All of them are very safety aware. They will stop and show you what you are doing wrong, and praise you when you do it right. I really do not think the alliance would be what it is today without the students.

http://www.alliancebjj.com

http://allianceatlanta.blogspot.com/