03/05/2014 - Fabio Novaes BJJ Open Mat

Class #566
Fabio Novaes BJJ, Open Mat, Lakeland, FL, USA - 03/05/2014

A photo posted by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on May 3, 2014 at 11:55am PDT

Today is my last full day in the US for 2014 as well as my last training on American soil for this year. It was really cool to finally train with an old Bullshido buddy of mine, Josh. Back when I was regularly updating my training log thread on there, Josh would often chime in with some good advice.

I was therefore excited at the prospect of rolling with him in person, as I knew he would have lots of pointers (on top of very generously driving me to and from the open mat, a three hour round trip, which was shortly after his mammoth 6hr+ drive down from Atlanta, GA!). He didn't disappoint, breaking down several issues I've been having. First up was a potential solution to my long-running issue with combat base: even better, it was simple.

You've broken their posture, but they have a knee raised. Bring your outside foot in front of their shin, hooking their ankle, then pull it to the open side. You can then knock their leg back, which combined with collar control could provide an immediate transition into an omoplata, moving into the triangle and armbar if you miss that.

Another thing Josh pointed out was that given I frequently go for a deep collar grip, I could start using a collar drag. I've seen that done, but always forget about it as an option: you simply shift slightly to the side and pull them into the space you vacated. If they resist, post your free hand behind you and push forwards to knock them backwards. If that doesn't work either, there's the possibility of a loop choke. Sounds like a good sequence for me to work on, fitting with my current game (though admittedly I don't have much of a game from guard).

With passing I'm focusing too much on driving forward, meaning I miss opportunities to circle around. That came up when I was putting in lots of pressure forward, while Josh had a sort of lasso grip on my right hand. At that point, I should have used my strong position to get that hand free and move around to an underhook pass. Also, if my knee cut is getting blocked, I should slide my hip into them, rather than continuing to shove forwards ineffectually.

On the sit-up sweep, I made a very sloppy attempt during sparring, prompting a useful reminder to bump with the hip rather than leading with the shoulder. Interestingly, under side control Josh recommends putting the foot on the knee: I have always preferred to keep the knee floating and I had thought that putting the foot on the knee made it more vulnerable to footlocks.

Quite to the contrary, Josh said it actually was easier to footlock when the leg is floating. He also noted that by having the foot on your knee, you can use the other leg to help wedge your knee underneath. Be sure to properly shrimp with a turn: I wasn't doing that properly today, sliding sideways, which doesn't bring any advantage. Basic point, but always get on your side! ;)

The usual issue of not attacking enough came up too: I've gotten comfortable maintaining mount, but I keep being to complacent and not moving on from that. Josh pointed out that when I get that high mount with their arms crossed over their face, the arm triangle is an option. Even if I don't get it, that could open up other attacks.

Sparring with Stephanie again was really cool too. She has a dodgy knee at the mo, so we were keeping things on the knees rather than any open guard against standing type stuff, which suits me fine. I got to have a good play with the crucifix entries and attacks I learned at the Dave Jacobs seminar a few weeks ago in Virginia, which was fun.

I managed the entry a few times, but couldn't get her arm straightened out walking my feet up it. She was also careful to tuck her chin to make that bow and arrow style grip difficult. I could perhaps have worked a sliding choke, because I might be able to get away with not going under the chin as much there, so I need to remember to attempt that next time.

There was loads of chatting with Josh and Stephanie too: all in all, a super cool way to round off my trip this year. I will definitely be back in the States, but it might be a coupe of years before I head out again. At the moment, my next priorities are Seattle, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York (the only place in the US that would tempt my gf to give this country another try), followed by return trips to Virginia, Texas and Florida. :)

Update May 2014: Josh's write-up here.

01/05/2014 - Stephanie's Women's Class (Triangle Under Side Control)

Class #565
Fabio Novaes BJJ, Stephanie McClish, Lakeland, FL, USA - 01/05/2014

A photo posted by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on May 1, 2014 at 6:47pm PDT

Back to the awesomeness of Stephanie's women's class tonight, where this time we covered a technique I frequently use, the triangle from under side control. Stephanies uses it the same way I do, which is as an escape that very occasionally might turn into a submission.

The situation is that they are in side control, but have put and arm inside your leg (if they haven't put the arm inside, you can walk you legs up by their arm and get a similar position). Push their head towards your legs and swing one over the head, locking in a triangle position where you capture both their arm and their head.

Normally it will be hard to submit from here, but to try, slide your upper body underneath their torso (you may need to move their arm because it is often obstructing your route), lock your arms around them and thrust your hips. Usually they will posture up before you get that far, whereupon you can shrimp away and recover your guard.

In the half guard specific sparring at the start I again wasn't doing great on the passing or underneath, so I'm looking forward to half guard month at Artemis BJJ. Clearly my half guard needs a lot of work, as I'm not really doing anything from there. I flail at the scissor sweep and roll over from knee shield and occasionally go for deep half Homer Simpson, but that's about it. Ineed much more from the standard haf guard.

Getting to free sparring, just like last time, the women all had good pressure, turning my head and working the pass. I was again trying to go to deep half as well as try Kev's 'nappy grip' (or what I decided to dub the 'mawashi grip' because I think it sounds cooler :p), but not much success with either. I am at least remembering to regrip on the mawashi option.

29/04/2014 - Stephanie's Women's Class at Fabio Novaes BJJ

Class #564
Fabio Novaes BJJ, Stephanie McClish, Lakeland, FL, USA - 29/04/2014

My next stop after West Palm Beach was Lakeland, a few hours further north into Florida, where away from the beach it becomes rural. The reason I headed that way, as usual, was more cool bloggers, this time the McClish sisters. Allie picked me up from the train station in order to get me checked in at the AirBnB, then Stephanie drove me to Fabio Novaes Jiu Jitsu about an hour later.

I've followed both of their blogs for many years now, as well as reading both of them write about running a women's class. Allie started it off, a responsibility that has since passed to Stephanie. I already knew from seeing her at the Boca that she's a dedicated coach, so it was cool to experience one of her classes. Although it's a women's class, men have been invited along a number of times: I was one of two men there tonight.

Stephanie kicks off with a 'circuit training' style warm-up, with four stations in each corner of the mat. You start off with jumping jacks, then kimura sit ups (in other words, diagonal rather than square on with your knees), mountain climbers and finally using a Swiss ball to swivel onto your front then back again. I think it was two minutes every time, with two or three people at each station.

The topic for this month is half guard, as Stephanie noticed that some of her students were having issues with half guard at the Boca Open. To start off we did some specific sparring from half guard, keeping things fairly light. I was with the other guy in class, Patrick. Underneath, I did my terrified squirrl impression and clung on tightly to his leg, spending most of it in quarter-guard (so, clinging to the lower part of the leg). He basically had back control at the end, wriggling that second hook into place.

On top, I got swept a lot. I wasn't able to dig out any space for the underhook, reverting to that position where you are turned towards their legs. I could perhaps have used my head next to theirs for more control, clamping my elbow. Either way, Patrick was able to get underneath me every time and roll me over, so my base wasn't solid enough and my grips were poor. Good reminder that I should think more carefully about half guard passing! :)

Technique for tonight was a straight-forward half guard sweep. Assuming you don't have the underhook next, get up on your side and bring your top arm in front of their face, swivelling it to reach past their armpit. Use that to slide down towards their legs, reaching through their legs with your bottom arm. Link your hands together.

Stretch out their leg on that side with your own. Making sure you keep your inside leg over their calf (otherwise they can just step into mount), push off with your outside foot and roll them away from you, moving to the top position. Be careful of staying too close to their legs: if you leave your head and arm inside their legs, they can go for a triangle. Once you're on top, you should be able to move into side control, sliding past their leg.

The other option is almost exactly the same, except that you roll them the other way, over your body. This feels more natural, though like Patrick said, that could just be because of our jiu jitsu instincts. For somone who hasn't trained before, perhaps the other way would feel more intuitive. ;)

Class finished off with several rounds of sparring. I had a light roll with Stephanie, who is recovering from a knee injury. That prevents her from standing up to pass, which meant I wasn't going to the gi grips I've been playing with recently. At some point I got on top and tried for the spinning gi lapel choke, but I went for it too early, without having secured enough gi by her neck.

I had a few rolls with several of the other women in the class, who had good hip movement and plenty of energy. Maria pretty much had a rear naked choke locked on from a smooth transition, but I think her elbow wasn't quite by my chin, so I had enough space to squirm out.

Sparring with Patrick involved me getting choked. I was falling into the trap of going to the running escape then having my back taken. The first one was a rear naked choke (I think?), followed by a bow and arrow grip finished with his fre arm sliding behind my head. I remembered to pull on the elbow to escape one bow and arrow type attempt, but couldn't manage it the second time.

I also kept getting my arm trapped between his legs, I think because I was looking to go to deep half from mount. I need to keep in mind the primary rule for escaping the back: protect your neck! I'm getting complacent on that, which leads to being choked. ;)

I really liked the atmosphere at the women's class: everyone was very friendly and the rolls were at a good pace. As Artemis BJJ will soon be starting a womens class, I'm keen to glean any tips, especially given Stephanie's approach has been so successful. The number of women at the club has grown from 1 to over 20 since Allie and Stephanie started: if we can manage that at Artemis it would be awesome! :D