BJJ has been going well. I feel I’m progressing, and retaining the technique knowledge. There are quite a few times when we’ll be rolling and I’ll remember some little thing I learned, or some way to move (often times this thinking is a few seconds late too ).

I’ve been able to complete more of the initial warm up as well. The first couple weeks it was pretty rough, and now I think i’m building up to that endurance level. I also noticed i’m not so winded right after the warm up and into the technique training. I figured this would happen I just knew it would take some time.

Tonight was great. We went over some basics for quite a while: Guard pass 1 and 2. Guard pass 1 is the typical pass where you break their closed guard, and pass under the leg. Guard pass 2 is where you are unable to break the closed guard, so you make yourself skinny in their guard and slam the legs down, and work your legs over.

After this we practiced the standing guillotine defense for a few minutes. This involves wrapping your arm around their shoulder, grabbing the opposite knee cap, walking around the knees, bumping, and going to the ground.

I’ve not been posting as regularly in the BJJ category, I think because sometimes the classes have quite a few techniques we learn, each one getting slightly more difficult. Also I believe it is because when I get home I’m dead tired, and am too busy at work typically.

Tonight we covered several techniques: Triangle, Tricks for getting the Triangle, Side mount Kimura, Side mount Kimura defense, Side mount to north/south kimura, Side mount to north/south kimura defense, and then something like side mount to north/south kimura defense defense. Each one played off the other, and for now it’s going to be quite a bit to try and describe each one.

Mark has been attending too, and last night he really seemed to enjoy it when we did the final roll when someone was attemping a kimura and was put off balance.

These are separate moves with the same initial setup.

#33 Sit up Sweep from Guard 

You are laying on your back. Opponent is in your closed guard. Opponent is moving, and finally sits straight up. You place both feet on the ground, pinning opponents feet. Twist upper body in one direction (almost a minor shrimp out), and place elbow directly down on ground. Begin pushing yourself up, placing your hand in the same spot your elbow was on the ground.

Position yourself as sitting in opponents lap, all your weight pushing them down and slightly back. Wrap your free hand over opponents opposite shoulder, making a fist, and hooking under their armpit. Continue driving your hips forward into opponent, pushing them the direction your hand is on the floor, and spinning around. (If opponent places their hand back behind to catch themselves at this point, please see #34 below).

You will topple opponent over, taking the mount, and be 180 degrees around from where you started.

#34 Kimura from Guard

Do setup as described above. If opponent places hand behind them to brace the fall, sit firmly in their lap, take your hand that’s on the ground and grab their wrist supporting them (the one on the ground). Work your hips out from opponents lap and lay them face down to the ground. At this point you should be straight across their shoulders, one leg over their back, with your feet hooked on their far side, opponents arm behind their back wrapped in your arms.

Wrap arms tightly around opponents shoulder area, keeping firm grip on wrist. To finish the kimura the opponents upper arm should be straight out from his body, and 90 degrees down bent at the elbow (An upside down U for reference). Crank opponents wrist upwards while keeping the elbow close to you for the shoulder crank/kimura.

As comical as this one may seem, it is indeed on the list, and I sucked at it . The basic belt tie is:

1. Find center of belt (Both ends are even)
2. Place center of belt on front of waist
3. Wrap belt around body on both sides
4. Tuck one end of belt under both layers and pull it straight up (leave other end hanging down)
5. Fold the tucked end straight down over both waist loops
6. Take the original hanging end and put it behind the wrapped-over loop
7. Create a knot of the wrapped ends and pull snug
8. It should look like two loops going in and two loops going out of the knot

Opponent has gotten you in a leg locked triangle. Just before the opponent pulls your arm across his body, you slam your elbow down to the ground, grab his lapel/gi in the armpit area, and spread your base slightly wide to the right. The opponent will now attempt to lift your elbow from the ground to finish the triangle. As soon as they reach for the elbow, take your left hand and grab opponents lapel/collar deep near the neck (as if applying a choke). When you have the lapel/collar in your left hand, position opponent straight again. At this point, stand up from your base, stack the opponent to the ground. Hop around opponent to their side. When almost perpendicular, raise your head to the sky and their leg will fall to the ground, giving you top/side mount control.