Sunday, NoGi

Sunday class started without a warmup. I got there 30 minutes early though, and warmed up in the back anyway, so I was fine.

A younger guy came up to me and asked me if I could defend a jumping/standing guillotine. I said I don't know, let's try. I did, and we kept going. I managed to get side control because he stayed committed to trying to finish it, after which I ended up in north/south and finishing with a kimura. Good warm up.

Class started and with a 1 minute timer we live drilled escaping from side mount, while the top person tried to submit or advance position. I only really knew one side escape, which was kick off and push your knee through the belly, which only worked once or twice on my opponent. After that, he used his hand to block my other hip, which stopped me from getting my knee into his stomach.

My top game was ok, I had tried things I haven't before, just to see where where I shouldn't be and I got swept a few times. Lesson learned though!

After the live drilling, we circled up and asked questions, in which multiple escapes were shown by different people. A blue belt named Nelson showed us an escape he learned from when he wrestled, which was putting your inside arm to the far hip, exploding up and turning to your knees and pushing forward. There is a choke he doesn't get up, otherwise you can drive into his leg.

Another escape was an Eddie Bravo technique which he coined as the 25 cent. Elevate your inside knee, turn your body toward your opponent and scoope his leg and bring your outside leg under and establish half guard. The Flo, which can bring you to butterfly guard was discussed, but we didn't do it.

Leg locks were next on the agenda and with that being Andrew's specialty, we learned quite a few positions. We drilled from holding both legs, then standing up and grabbing a leg. My brain is too frizzled to write it down at the moment, so I'm assuming that means I need to drill them more.

Rolled with Nelson at the end and I'm pretty sure he tapped me, I just don't remember how. We were mostly just messing around with some Rubber guard techniques. I do remember having half guard, trying to get the Electric chair sweep, missing the opportunity, then getting the Old school sweep. I let go of his leg too soon, and ended up in his butterfly guard I believe. Like I said I don't remember what happened after that.

My biggest accomplishment is that I am no longer just flat on my back in side control or half guard. That was something that other people have pointed out, but I just couldn't get into my head. It is just finally coming to me. Can't explain the feeling when you just get something, but it's a great feeling!