Leg Pain and Goals.

No training tonight, which could be considered a good thing for my legs as I've been a bit of a stupid muppet. I went to the gym Monday lunch time and met up with my training partner of recent months, Steve, who was just starting on a small leg exercise routine. Now Steve's just coming over a serious keyhole surgery leg op so I figured things wouldn't be too bad with this "leg routine" and I haven't done a decent leg session at the gym in over a year (I know, more fool me but I hate leg workouts) so jumping in on an easy one seemed like the way forward. Next thing I know, Steve's blitzing me with leg presses, 20 kilo lunges and squats on the Smith machine. I could feel that all this abuse was hurting a bit at the time and I was getting to the jelly leg shake stage when we called it a day. For the rest of the day I seemed to be doing my best Charlie Chaplin impression and since waking up this morning I seem to have lost the ability to walk in a straight line down the stairs without suffering excruciating muscle pains.

Lesson learned? Don't believe anything Steve says for one. Bloody taking it easy! Secondly, if I'm going to continue what Steve is already starting to call the regular (I know! After one session?!) Monday leg blitz, go a bit more realistic on the weight I'm lifting and stretch properly before and after. And make sure I have a pack of painkillers on hand at ALL times.

Anyway, subject matter of the day then. I'll be training Thursday and I've been putting up a lot of goals to achieve in Bjj recently. I really need to prioritise which of my Jiu Jitsu aims should be more important and have my immediate attention and which can sit on the back burner for a later date or for when they come up in classes or sparring with out me going out of my way to train them.


The aims I've had recently for improving my game are:

Attempt more triangles.

Attempt more Omoplatas.

Work more from Guard.

Use different attacks when I have my opponent mounted.

Work on my Butterfly Guard.

and of course

I MUST GET BETTER AT HALF GUARD!!


Of these goals I have, at least in some small part, accomplished the triangle and omoplata parts. I've hit a couple of triangles recently and have attempted a few more so I've been bringing them into my game. I hope that I'll now be able to do this on a bit more of a subconscious level so won't have to prioritise it as one of my goals. 


I've also hit a couple of omoplatas in sparring recently and have definitely not been shy of trying to find the right positioning for attempting them. I would certainly say I am hungry for the Omoplata and often find myself hunting for the sub from different types of guard. Job done. It'll be a mainstay for a while I think.


As for working from guard, I am now quite often pulling guard from the face to face sparring (especially against guys I know like to pull guard, hehe) and find myself inverting a little too when trying to avoid being passed. My most favoured kinds of guard in my game at the mo' are probably Spider and De La Riva. I will always be trying De La Riva sweeps and wish to hit the one where you reach around to the belt and spin the player round to take his back. As for Spider, I enjoy hitting some sweeps and have used it quite often to set up the triangle attempt too. 

I still need to incorporate a good Butterfly Guard into my game. For this I am heavily studying the X Guard book by Father Marcelo (The High Priest of Jiu Jitsu) at any opportunity I get, be it out on call at night, on the bog, in the bath etc... It just getting a chance to drill and use any of it. Coming up with something on that front that I may tell you about in the near future.


For the mount attacks, I have been mixing it up slightly. I have been trying some mounted triangle although I think I still need to work on my technique for this. I've also attempted a couple of head and arm triangles recently and even a mounted gogplata (what was I thinking?! It nearly worked mind). I still have room for improvement there but we'll call it a back burner for the moment.


Which bring me on to the Half Guard. Now this is an area that I really need training in, to the point where I think I'm just going to pull Half Guard on guys from now on to try and polish up my technique. I need to view moves, practice positioning technique and drill lots trying to commit at least five sweep variations and a couple subs perfectly to memory. And then use it all in sparring. A Lot.


So in conclusion, my goals for the next few months are to incorporate the Butterfly Guard into my game and improve my technique at that position. And to get better at Half Guard. 

Life seems a lot simpler when you set yourself goals :o)


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