DV8 Academia de Jiu Jitsu 25/10/12

I haven't managed to get to a Bjj class for about 2 weeks due to being on call last week with work during the High Tides. Lots of overtime but it reallly puts a dampner on your Bjj. All I've managed to get in is a couple of lunchtime No-Gi sessions with a lad called Matty Martin at my local gym. These No-Gi sessions are pretty productive though as I haven't really done a lot of Bjj without the Gi on so it's a good learning curve for me too. And Matty's a big guy with a lot of strength so I have to be really wily to get anything over on him. It ensures I use more technique rather than just muscling my way through.

While I've been off from Bjj classes I've also been a bit lax with my blogging. During this time though there has been some great things happen in Bjj. Particularly the mega event Metamoris Pro, which featured some of the top Bjj athletes in the world pitted against each other in one off, submission only, 20 minute bouts. Put on like a traditional boxing or MMA card with fighter intros, commentary and clearly defined winners (or draws if no sub occurs) the event was, in my opinion, a tremendous success with some truly amazing world class action. I think this format is the future of the top end of the sport. I mean obviously to sell it you need some big names, so the guys on the card have already paid their dues and won world championships tournaments and everyone into the sport/art has heard of pretty much everyone on the card. I really hope another event such as this occurs in the future.

In other Bjj related updates more relative to me I'm really proud of our Bristol Instructor and head of Checkmat Europe, Chico Mendes, for going up to London on the weekend and taking gold in the London Open Gi competition, and then gold in the European No-Gi at weight and silver in the absolute. Well done Chico. You're awesome! Special mention should also go to Sam Cook who went up and got gold in her category at the London Open too. Also on a side note, well done to Tyrone Derrick for taking gold in his weight division at London too. Makes me seem that little less bad for losing to you at the Bristol Open ;o).

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. This weeks class down at DV8 Bjj, Weston, was brilliant. There were good numbers down there and the guys that attend these days are real good blokes who are committed to learning but still willing to have some fun while doing it.

Venue: Sweat Fa,



Warm Up:
I took the guys for the warm up starting with jogging laps with Arm Windmills, Butt kicks, Knee ups, Inward for a lap and outwards for a lap. Then two steps facing in two steps facing out for a lap. Then we did 2 lengths of the mat sprinting, followed by breakfalls, forward rolls for 2 lengths. Backward Rolls 2 lengths. Then Neck and Arm stretching. 4 x 10 Squats, 3 x 10 situps and 3 x 10 press ups. Finished with some leg stretching.



Techniques:
(For ease of explanation, I will describe techniques using the sides I used when first learnt (i.e Left and Right).


For this weeks first move Ian ran us through the Upa technique for escaping mount. This is a fantastic escape move that everyone should have in their arsenal. This is an impressive move that always amazes the newby or inexperienced grappler. I've shown this move a few times to some of the guys I've been training during lunchtimes recently and it always elicits a suitably amazed response. Fortunately, using the joyous Youtube website, I can show you this technique and cut down on valuable wear and tear on my keyboard and fingers ;o)

Video courtesy of Jaymac0152 taught by Zed Chierighini

For the second technique, Ian started us off with a one man drill. Lying on your back you bridge up, then hip escape (firing your ass out to your left) then scissor switch your legs so your hips are now facing the ground, then turn your whole body over so you are on your hands and knees at a 90 degree angle to how your body was initially positioned. This is a basic drill to get the movement for the an Escape from Side Control to Single Leg.


Once this was drilled a few times we then paired up and did the technique. I was paired with the ever improving Rich Presley.
With the guy on top of you in a strong side control position, his legs off to your right, you have your right forearm against his waist and your left hand below his head (to the right) of his head. You bridge up and push out to the right, then perform the leg scissor switch turn, whilst taking hold of the opponent's right leg as you come over into the all fours position. From there you can drive forward, preferably with your head on the inside, pushing the guy back onto his ass. If you maintain good control of his legs you can come up into side control here.


Next was the old staple for side control escapes. The Bridge and Shrimp to Guard Recovery. Once again the guy has the strong side control on you. This time you have your right forearm at his waist, your left forearm across his neck. Bring your feet close to your ass and bridge up and push to the right once again. At this point you shrimp out to your left but this time, bring your right knee up inbetween the two of you to make enough space that you can bring your left leg inside to gain guard. The type of guard you recover is dependant on your flexibility, your body type (long/short) and the size and strength of your opponent. Regardless, if you only initially recover to half guard you can still shrimp out the other way and get the other leg in for the full guard (Butterfly hooks).


To continue on from this but from the perspective of the the top control guy, Ian then demo'd a counter to the bridge, taking it into a Darce Choke. As the guy bridges up, the top control guy can pull back a little while using his left arm to control the guys head, while threading his right arm under the arm pit of the opponent's left arm and passing it underneath his neck and head. Then use your body to press down and keep his left arm in position, so you can put your right hand into the elbow crook of your left arm. To finish you close the left arm over the right and then reach the left hand behind your head. This should apply enough squeeze to get the tap but if it doesn't, you can turn your lower body to face the opponent (instead of facing down) and curl in toward him wrapping a leg over his leg to apply extra pressure.
I really enjoy this move and have tapped a few guys out with this in rolling. Love it.



Rolling:

First off I rolled with Rich. It was a pretty good, action packed roll. I managed to pass his guard a couple of times. Got to mount a couple of times too. I took his back once but he defended admirably and I gave up the position by trying for an ill advised arm bar. At the end, I'd mounted Rich and tried for a mounted triangle, which Rich turned out of to come up attacking my guard. In the end I was hunting a Kimura and was totally gutted that the roll ended. Sometimes you have a round that you wish would last longer. This was one of those times.


Next up was Ash (Glenn'son), who seems to have taken to hunting me down every time we are both in attendance. A per usual against Ash, I pulled guard. He tried his best to break my guard and did his usual thing of leaving his arms extended too much to push against my arm pits. As I've told him about this countless times before I decided to just quickly arm bar him, give him the quick lecture again, then continue. After that I was happy to just do some flow rolling with him, letting him get positions on me so I can escape, then helping him do the same.


Next up I had a fantastic round against Glenn. Glenn is a strong dude and usually has some good top control. Coupled with the fact that he's pretty awesome at Judo it means he doesn't usually have problem getting you to your back. The time however, I managed to take him down and got straight to side control. After a bit of a struggle in side, me trying to keep the position, him trying to escape, I noticed he was extending his arm high to push me away so I switched and hit an arm bar on him. I was pretty damn chuffed with this and was fairly certain he would flatten me at the restart. He did take me straight down to my back getting into my half guard. I was massively chuffed with the next bit though as I hit a nice roll over sweep on him, although in the scramble he got his leg up so I jumped to 50/50 and after a couple of fumbled attempts I managed to secure an ankle lock. I was dead happy with this. It was probably the best round of rolling I had in a while.


For my last roll I was up against Cameron. Cam has been improving a lot and doesn't bull rush from the outset any more. He was comfortable to sit in my guard to begin, although he left his arm out allowing my to very nearly hit him with the arm bar from guard. I was extended very far up on my shoulder though and he was on his feet, so he walked over me cranking my neck a bit so I released the hold. I came up quickly from here though and passed his guard to side, quickly hitting him with a cheap Americana from side. After the reset I drove forward into a kneeling clinch and managed to quickly get a really tight loop choke on.


So it was a good session of Jiu Jitsu with some good mates and a great few rounds of rolling at the end.

I also attended a cool Leo Vieira seminar on Saturday too, which I still need to type up. Great times. ¬m/

DV8 Acedemia de Jiu Jitsu - 24-5-12

I've had a bit of a wild long weekend (had Friday off) this week, hence why I'm only just getting around to writing up Thursday's lesson. Training with the DV8 Academia de Jiu Jitsu under Ian Rossiter at Sweat FA in Weston and it was one of the most well attended classes we've had there for a while, which bodes well for the future as everyone in attendance seemed to be of the more committed type. Great times for the new club and our instructor, Ian, whose just had the club under his name added to the Checkmat World Wide Website. Exciting stuff. Congratulations to Ian for that as he's now officially recognised as a Checkmat instructor thanks to our Bristol instructor and head coach, Chico Mendes, having him added. Great achievement.

Not an official logo, I've just been fucking about.

With the addition of Glenn Cutter to the fold I am no longer the most "experienced" blue belt in the club and as Ian took his time getting changed due to some extensive tattoo work he's had done (that very day, the nutter), Glenn took us for the warm up. 

Which was; Laps of the mat, touching hands to the floor as we go around at Glen's direction. Butt kicks, Knee ups. Upper body stretches. 40 x Sit ups, 40 x Push ups, 30 x Sit ups. Legs Stretches. It sounds like a brief warm up but it really wasn't and frankly, as the heat had risen quite dramatically too, we were all pretty much sweating our asses off by the end of it. Yeah, Cheers Glenn :o|  

Techniques:

As there's been a spate of newer guys joining the team recently, Ian started us off with a nice basic Upa drill. You start laying on you back with your knees bent so your heels can be drawn up to touch your butt (feet flat on the floor). You then bridge up on your feet and one shoulder, turning your head toward that direction and bringing your arms up in that direction (as if you were pushing a guy up and over). You then switch your legs, bring your nearside leg (the one on the side you're turning toward) under the other and turn your upper body so you end on all fours. We all did this a few times.

We then did the drill with a partner. The guy has you mounted, you pick which side you're turning over toward and secure his arm on that side. You also bring your foot on that side out so it's positioned outside of his leg so it's stops him from basing out. You now use the Upa movement to turn him over and land in his guard. Always been a favourite mount escape of mine. I drilled it with Glenn.



Ian continued the technique on in to turn it into a sequence so the next technique was the Upa to Guard then Smash Pass. So once you've Upa'd to land in your opponents guard this technique works under the premise that the guy would've instantly closed guard. First off, to break the guard, Ian favours the knee up ass guard break. Grab one of your opponent's arms at the wrist and push it down hard against his hips. Push down against his hips with your other hand too. Now push your other side knee (other side to the secured arm) hard against his butt and step out and to the side with your other leg. You can now sit back, taking your weight with your other leg, enabling your back to put force on his crossed legs, while the knee pushing against his rear forces him to break his closed guard. From there you reach back behind one of his legs and press the leg up toward him uncomfortably, reaching that arm across to grab his opposite side collar. It can help to distract the opponent if you grab quite deep and press the forearm against his neck. Now push your weight forward against his raised leg until the point where he feels uncomfortable enough to try and push back with his leg, by which point you can duck your head to slip the leg and come up in side control.
I drilled this move and the rest of the class with Rich Presley.


Next move in the sequence is one I use quite a lot to transition from Side Control to Mount. You've blasted passed his guard with your smash pass to get to side control. Now, ensuring you have good downward pressure on your opponent to keep him in place, you switch your legs to face down toward his feet so your bottom leg is pressed against his nearside leg. You can now grab his gi pants at the far knee and do a high kick up and over to get to mount.
With that being the end of the sequence we could do the whole lot against our training partner then he could do exactly the same to back as one continuous drill. A very good sequence that teaches you a way to defend from a poor position, attack a guard and transition to a highly advantageous position. This drill is fantastic for the newer guys to get down to memory as it gives them a good option from a few positions.


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Next up Ian ran us through some Wrist Grip Battles Techniques from a standing position. Standing face to face, your opponent grabs your wrist and you escape. If the guy grabs your wrist with his hand down, you pull your arm down and away to break his grip easily. It he takes an upward grip, you pull the arm up and away (as if hitch hiking). If he takes a double hand grip (although, why would he? you have a free hand to pulp his face with then), you reach inside with your other hand to grab your secure hand and pull it up and through hard. These grip break techniques should be virtually fool proof unless your being gripped by a guy with gorilla like strength. Me and Rich had no trouble breaking each others grips with the correct technique.




From the we moved on to a Standing Head Lock Defence - Trip to Side Control Arm Bar. Your opponent has you gripped around the neck in a side head lock. No concern from being choked out with this position but you're very limited as to what you can do from it while he has the option to try and repeatedly punch you in the face. Your first move must be (while defending your face with your outside hand) to reach behind him and grab his punching arm and pull it into him to hamper his ability to punch you. You can now stretch your near side leg out long behind him and use your free hand to pull at the crook of his near side knee to upset his balance and trip him over your extended leg.
We drilled this first part a bit before being moved on.

From there (on floor in a sort of side control with opponents back presented but still in headlock position), you push your far side knee (knee the furthest from the opponents head) into his back and use your forearm to press against his neck, first pressing down into the neck, then scooping upward to apply tight pressure on his carotid artery, making him quickly release the hold.It's just a quick movement from there to secure his arm and pass your near side leg over the opponent's head, then fall back for the really tight arm bar. Nice move, comes on really tight.


Rolling:

As I'm writing this a few days later I'll struggle with a full blow by blow account.

I rolled with Rich first. Pulled guard, hit him with a sweep to side, then transitioned to mount. Bucked the escape to land in S Mount and went for the Bow and Arrow. He managed to shake off my first attempt as I couldn't get the leg over the shoulder and he had a good protective grip at his lapel. I switched back to S Mount though, reset and went for it again. Got the leg around on the second try and got the tap.


Rolled next with Marcus who issued me with the bad news that he can't train on Monday and Tuesday lunchtimes :o(  While we were starting off our roll I was in between berating him for this and trying to find ways we could get a little session in somehow (there isn't a way). I managed to get to a side control position with my knee up against his nearside, then we stopped for a second so I could ask him a question about Monday. He answered the question, we then slapped hands to continue and I fell backward for a cheeky little arm bar. Marcus is under the impression that all the talking and the clap of hands to restart was just a set up for the arm bar. What ever. He probably deserves it for lunching me out on Monday and Tuesday ;o) Hehehe.


Next up was Tom Hill. Tom's a strong lad for his size and always put everything into his sparring. Traded guards and sweeps but other than that the roll was pretty uneventful. Tom rolled hard and managed to stymie all my attacks well. Fair play to him.


Last up was one of the newer guys, Cameron Rothery.  Cameron didn't have a gi on but I knew that he has done some MMA on the Wednesday night classes down at Sweat FA and I asked him whether he had much experience, to which he said yes. We than clapped hands to start and he attempted to dive straight toward me in a bull rush style to which I was easily able to redirect him using an arm drag and then take his back. I was quickly able to tap him out there with a Bow and Arrow. We reset and he started in pretty much the same way. This time I just knocked his arms out of the way and Guillotined him. After that I realised that he maybe had less experience than he'd originally made out so I showed him a few things. I particular how to start a sparring session without charging straight at the guy like a bull. It went well and Cameron seemed quite thankful.

At the end we had some photos taken by Glenn (hence why he's not in it).

There was a big buzz after the lesson too, everyone feeling pretty chuffed with how the club is coming along. Good stuff.

Until next week (it's now this week) ¬m/