Planet BJJ

David Penn, you wondered why I wasn't posting about the PanAms, and I will rectify the situation toute de suite. I even shunted aside what could have been one of my best post titles ever--"Pan-Amania"--to let you know that your feedback and input are valued. (Although, now that I think about it, I may have used that title before. For a different PanAms. Well, anyway, it's a good one. I'll remember it for next year.)



Okay, here's what's going on vis-a-vis the PanAms: The PanAms are next weekend!









That is all.







Just kidding. For those of you who don't know, the PanAmerican Jiu Jitsu Championship is one of the big gi grappling tournaments; it, along with the Mundial (World) championships, constitute the twofecta (no, that's not a word, I don't think) of gi tournaments that every grappler aspires to win. They last for 4 days, and grapplers come in from all over the world to test their mettle against other grapplers. It's a combination of anxiety, excitement, joy, trepidation, laughter, overstimulation, acai and cooked meat, sweating, Portuguese curse words yelled at ear-piercing decibel levels, and world-class Brazilian jiu jitsu.


Many of my friends are coming to town, and tons of other people, too. It's at times like this that I remember one of the many reasons I live in SoCal: the world comes to us for the opportunity to participate in and witness elite grappling events. The PanAms used to be held in FL sometimes, and the Mundial used to be held in Brazil sometimes, but for the most part, they are both held here now, in my back yard.

One of the friends coming to town is the newest black belt I know of, Ryan Hall. Ryan is very bendy and extremely accomplished in the grapply--the most prolific and successful competitor I know, and a very smart, friendly, upstanding person to boot. Ryan was promoted by Felipe Costa this past week; Felipe apparently tied his own belt on Ryan at Ryan's academy, 50/50 BJJ, in Arlington, VA. So now he gets to come out and represent the new status. HUGE congrats to you, Ryan! I truly don't know anyone who deserves it more.

The trickle of people coming to town has started, and will become a deluge by about Wednesday. The first day of competition is Thursday. I compete in the women's open division on Saturday and in my weight class on Sunday. I decided to register in the 163lbs and under division even though I've been walking a little lighter than normal lately, because my weight is weird, and you have to weigh in with the gi, and we've discussed at length how I don't cut weight. (The next lower weight class is 152 and under.) I normally compete in the higher class anyway, so we'll see how it goes, whether I made the right choice. Regardless, I'm excited to compete!

I know it's Easter, but in keeping with the fact that I'm out of step with the rest of the world (there is something called the Final Four going on, I believe), I haven't eaten a single jelly bean or searched for a single egg. Is there a Scrooge character for Easter? I hope I'm not that bad; I'm just out of it. But anyway, Happy Easter and Happy Passover!

Here's a nice compilation video from the 2010 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Danish Open Masters Division featuring Claes Carson and Sune Stausgaard.

It's great to see footage from Denmark and these are two fun white belts to watch.

Thanks Heine!

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How many times have I asked the question “How did you go tonight?” after a training session has just finished. And how many times have I heard the following replies “I lost” – “I won with ‘this’ technique or ‘that’ technique!” It is quite common for to describe a match we just had in terms of either winning or losing – but that is a very small and narrow perspective – after all, the real FUN is DURING the match. The END of a match is just that, the END of the match – and regardless of the outcome, the enjoyment (hopefully) was to found in all the play that happened DURING the match. BJJ has been likened to a game of chess – so again, I’ll expand on this analogy. When two people play a game of chess, I very much doubt whether the full measure of JOY resides solely in the moment of the Checkmate – rather, it is to be found in the struggle and strategy that is the game itself. When we hit the mat and roll, much of the time, someone will ultimately ‘tap’ to the other; and this should in no way, take away from the joy and fun to be had by either partner. The FUN is in the fight – the outcome can be viewed as a momentary pause that allows for a brief acknowledgment of the submission – but it shouldn’t be the moment that determines whether or not we had fun or experienced joy. When young kids play a game of football, soccer, tennis, or whatever – they often don’t seem to pay much attention to who won or who lost – they are just too busy immersing themselves in the act of playing and having fun. From the mouths of babes …
JBW

Class #298
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Sahid Khamlichi, High Wycombe, UK - 01/04/2010

Kev was away being a fireman, so one of his more experienced blue belts (who recently took gold at the British Open, IIRC), Sahid, took the class. Still, theme was the same as Tuesday, working on side control. I was looking forward to practicing my top game from side, as I'd been watching a Braulio Estima video recently (I'll review it at some point in the future) which talked about proper control from that position.

It seems that Braulio focuses heavily on controlling the elbows, which I realise is something I haven't been doing due to my preferred gable grip. While that feels tight, it doesn't give you any real purchase on their far arm. Much better to actively grab that arm, coming underneath the elbow. Sahid demonstrated exactly that grip while quickly going over the basic concepts of top side control.

He then moved on to two submissions, beginning with the kimura from side control. Controlling that far arm, you want to pull it up, in order to get them on their side. Ideally, you'll have already cleared their near arm, but if not, take the opportunity to dig the knee closest to their hips into their armpit instead. The leg nearest their head will step over, so that you end up shifting into north south.

However, in this case you stay upright, as you're maintaining control of that far arm. Pin it to your chest, then establish a figure four grip. They may well try and grasp their belt or some gi material at this point, because they'll normally realise their arm is vulnerable and try to defend it. If they do, yank the arm in the direction their knuckles are facing: in the other direction, they're probably too strong. You can then complete the kimura as normal, twisting your body to rotate their arm and lock out the shoulder.

Alternatively, you may be able to step right through for an armbar. If you are able to get their arm trapped straight up against your body, rather than bent, then instead of stopping at north south, you can continue to the other side of them. From there, keeping tight on the arm, slide down so you don't leave any space, then drop back. Maintain control of the wrist, being careful that they can't turn their hand and try the hitchhiker escape (so called because you turn in the direction your thumb is pointing, then continue around to the side, due to the fact they only have one leg over your head, rather than the normal two).

Sparring from side control with Callum, I started on the bottom. I was still looking to spin and kick my legs up, looking to use them to hook an arm or head then push off and escape. This did work once, but I always wonder when I escape like that if I'm being complacent due to the set end goal of specific sparring, meaning that if that finish line wasn't there, I would actually end up in a bad position.

I also continued to play around with armbars from the bottom. Today was another handy reminder that even if you can secure the arm, you have to keep in mind that you're in an inferior position. So, holding onto that arm if they get their head free, as happened that roll, probably isn't a good idea. Instead, I should have used it as a controlling position to help my escape, not a potential submission. Also, must pinch my knees together to stop them slipping their head out, and make certain I can in fact use both legs: I'm not sure I had the second leg in the right position when I brought the first one over his head.

Escaping north-south proved more successful. I've been attempted to follow Gustavo Machado's escape off his DVD for some time now, but this is the first time I've got it to work when sparring a fellow blue. The process is to first grab their belt or low on their gi, protecting your arms, then wiggling your hips from side to side to make space. Once enough of your body is clear, you can swing up over their shoulder and take the back.

At least that's the theory. The first time, I flailed a bit around his shoulder, then fell off. The second time was better, as I did get my legs over, but I was way too far forward. So, if this hadn't been specific sparring, Callum could have just pushed me off and taken my back. Still, nice to get it sort of working, but I need to make more space to do it properly.

On top, I wanted to try out Braulio's transition from a tight underhook with your other arm controlling their far arm. If they push up on your neck, you move your underhook from under their head to under their far arm, establishing control on that arm before taking your other arm to their near hip. I wasn't reacting quickly enough for that to work, so could do with drilling it.

Again, north south proved more successful, this time from on top. I was concentrating on keeping my weight low and grabbing over his shoulders to reach for the armpits, to maintain control. I was also basically dropping my weight on his head, sprawling my legs back, hips low: I'm not sure that is a legitimate thing to do. Callum has about eight or ten kilos on me, so I was just happy to keep him under some kind of control, but it doesn't really fit with my goal of always staying technical. I did later shift to be more diagonal, on his shoulder, which is less mean. I'll be aiming to stick to that next time.

I'll be missing training yet again due to a visit down to Bristol, but should make it back in time for the Thursday session next week.

Hello everyone,
my good friend Geoff Grant has just set up a blog for Ronin - accessible at RONINWILL.COM.
it will be a few days before we can arrange internet access for him - but if we can, he wants to try to read any messages that you may care to leave. Please understand, whether he can reply or not, will depend on his condition each day. New challenges have arisen and we have outlined the situation on his blog-page. Thanks so much to all who have taken the time to send their best wishes. The support has been overwhelming, much appreciated and does lift our sorely-tested spirits.
Best wishes all,
JBW

RONINWILL.COM

John recently posted this video on the Masters Division Facebook page (become a fan if you haven't already).  It's new footage from the Jiu-Jitsu by the Sea tournament series.

Masters Division is always looking for new images and video from competitions or even training, so thanks for the footage, John!  The rest of you, shoot me an email with a link to your footage and I'll get it posted.  Or you can always do like John and post it on the FB page.

Thanks!

Class #297
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 30/03/2010

I forgot my note pad today, as I was at an academic meeting earlier to discuss a conference paper I'm presenting. So instead, I grabbed a newspaper on my way back to High Wycombe: a handily plain advert with lots of white in it worked just as well, though must have looked a bit weird to the rest of class. Meh.

Kev didn't continue with side control for the advanced session, instead looking into two submission options off a failed scissor sweep, starting with an armbar. If their base is too solid to get the scissor sweep, step off their same side hip with your chopping leg. That will enable you to kick the bent leg by their stomach straight out. Use that space and momentum to swivel towards the chopping side, clamping your previous bent leg down on their back.

You can then move into armbar, which would normally be completed by raising your hips. Kev had another option, which somebody showed him a while back: turn their hand, then push that arm towards your knee. As long as you have their elbow pulled past your legs, you can get the tap from here too.

The second option was a triangle, which Kev also showed us last month. Those two submission follow-ups reminded me that I really need to try sweeps more from guard, which I hardly ever even attempt these days. It used to be the first thing I tried, especially the sit-up sweep, but I seem to have very much fallen out of the habit.

Sparring with Howard, I wanted to try Roy Dean's take on the Gracie Gift. Unfortunately I continue to have trouble dealing with that collar grip, though I did eventually get into the position I wanted. I wrapped his leg close to my body and kept my elbow back, as Dean teaches. However, I didn't drive forward enough, so I ended up almost getting knocked to the side. That meant I needed to step over and trap Howard's head to free myself.

I also had lots of fun trying armbars under side control, and to my surprise, got closer than I ever have before, but Howard managed to pull his arm free. Judging from the times I've attempted what is presumably a low percentage technique (as its from an inferior position), it looks to be a useful way to make the person on top more cautious. Naturally, that in turn helps my escape prospects.

Against Kev, I still wanted to work passing, so stayed in his guard each time we restarted. As a decent brown belt, Kev was taking it easy, letting me move into a double underhooks pass, but I couldn't finish it. Normally I go to reach the collar and lose the position, but I remembered in time. I switched to wrapping my arms over the legs and pulling them in, driving forward. However, it proved to be to no avail, as Kev made his legs heavy and I couldn't do anything. He did mention I wasn't doing anything wrong afterwards, so at least I appear to have got the basics of the technique right for once.

At a point where he was about to pass my half guard, I tried to quickly drive my leg through to stop him and recover guard. However, I must have been too explosive, as my calf immediately and painfully cramped up. I guess I haven't drunk much water today either, due to coming straight from Uni rather than getting in my usual meals at home. So, silly error on my part. Kev showed me a good calf stretch later, where you put your foot against the wall, angled upwards, then lean in.

Finally, I was trying to play with half butterfly to control the leg, and had a brief chance to switch to full butterfly. I didn't seize that moment, so Kev was able to sit on my leg. So rather than having the control of guard, I was relatively stuck. My instinct is still to try and go to closed guard, so I need to make butterfly instinctual as well, so I don't have that moment of hesitation where I'm trying to get my bearings.

Two days ago, my son Ronin was up and walking around - not a single tube or drip in sight. He was eating food and we had some great conversations. Today, it all went pear-shaped. he got a fever this morning and safter doing the requisite scans, the medical personnel discovered a fungus growing on the valves of his heart - probably something he caught as a result of all the procedures he has undergone. Tomorrow morning, we shall know morte - but it could mean he has to go in for yet another open heart surgery. They are telling us that this is quite serious, given his condition and the amount of radical surgeries he has undergone in the past two weeks. it's an emotional roller-coaster ride for everyone - especially him.
Life is like that - things can change in an instant; and both Ronin and I know and understand that it is how we react to these dramatic changes that in many ways defines who we are. it's easy to be happy and smiling when the butterflies are flying and the birds are singing; but when you are in besieged, both physically and mentally - that's when the real test kicks in.
The way is forward ...
JBW

Class #296
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 30/03/2010

In case people missed it, fellow blogger Georgette recently popped up on The Fightworks Podcast, talking about the right way to coach somebody at a tournament. Very cool to hear somebody speak when you've only ever interacted with them online!

Still on the topic of bloggers, Seymour from Meerkatsu.com set up a new Facebook group for BJJ bloggers to share ideas, here. If you have a BJJ blog, feel free to join in the discussion (I'd especially be interested in people's thoughts on this).

The Gracie Barra Fundamentals segment was a Haymaker defence defence today, which made for a slight contrast to the Gracie Combatives version, where they duck under and move to a side-on clinch. As ever Kev, noted that anyone who is trained in striking won't throw a punch like that, but if somebody does, you perform a motion as if you're combing your hair to block the punch, then wrap over their arm. Step forward with your same side foot, while simultaneously driving your other arm into their neck. That means you can drive forwards and take them down, so essentially a sort of modified osoto-gari throw.

Kev's main focus for the beginner class was transitioning from side control to mount. He began with the basic technique, but with an important tweak. After you've grabbed their knee to stop them snatching half guard, you don't swing your leg over. Instead, step through, bringing your knee under your own arm, then whack your foot on the other side. This has the advantage of making it more difficult for them to bridge and roll you mid-transition. If you have any trouble with flexibility, simply move you hips further towards their head.

That was followed by the knee slide alternative. Again, you progress as normal, but the difference is that you're either grabbing their belt by the hip, or cupping that hip with your hand. You don't let go of that grip until your knee is on the floor: otherwise, they can try to shrimp out and dislodge you.

Often when you try to slide your knee across, they will attempt to block mount by putting their hand against your knee. That means you can either go for the potentially risky option of an armbar from knee on belly, or alternatively, underhook that arm. You can then lift it, putting that limb out of commission, while you complete your slide into mount unimpeded.

Shoulder pressure is key with both of these: I tend to use a gable grip, but Kev mentioned that getting of their lapel and wrapping it around their arm is a strong hold too. It is also essential to isolate their near arm. The orthodox way to do that is to dig your knee into their elbow to pry it away from their torso, then drive up into their armpit. However, as Kev said later when I asked if you could do it without the knee inside, there are other options. For example, Maurição simply drops his hip straight onto the arm, trapping it by their side (as he once showed us in a lesson at RGA HQ, in the context of knee on chest). You can also pin the arm to their chest with your upper body, should they move it into a vulnerable position.

Sparring from side control was purely positional, with no submissions allowed. This reiterated how tough it can be to kill that near arm, meaning that I ended up trying to move around, shifting to north-south, sitting on their head, different grips etc. I was being particularly reliant on gi grips, so made a conscious effort to try and incorporate underhooks as well, along with lots of shoulder pressure and keeping my hips down.

On top with Howard, I didn't manage to do a whole lot. The only bit of success was an opportunistic leg swing into mount while his upper body was occupied, but that wasn't so much about technique as luck and timing. On top of one of the white belts, things were definitely easier, which is where I was experimenting with side control grips and trying to move around to north-south.

However, this specific white belt is definitely getting better, and had some intriguing defences. At one point I was all set, having dealt with the near arm, but he somehow managed to reach behind my gi pants and grab the back of them. That meant I couldn't shift back properly, forcing me to take a different approach instead

Underneath Howard, I was looking to swim through and stop him establishing an underhook, which resulted in lots of handfighting. Kicking my knee high towards the armpit and trying to spin worked well a few times, using my legs to gain purchase on their head to distract them, which in turn helped me rotate. I'm still generally too flat, so must get on side more. I can escape from a flat position and feel comfortable there, but it's a bad habit.

Under the white belt, he stayed very firm with that shoulder pressure, so much so that I started to have visions of cauliflower ear. Apparently the focus on pressure is something I showed him last time we sparred, so good to see I was able to be of some help. However, he sometimes forgot about his legs, meaning I could snatch half guard.

Working a lot. Lying low. Mildly out of sorts. More when there's something to discuss, either because something has happened or because I become inspired.