BJJ Class 133
Back-to-back evening classes. These classes always suck all my energy from me. This time I was gassed 35-40 minutes in. I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses, maybe I am, but the combination of takedown techniques & picking yourself up a gazillion times, the feeling of low oxygen due to no air circulation (no fans or open windows), and back to back classes are all very draining. I know my cardio needs work, but I’m able to snowboard eight hours a day without needing a break (except once to eat) and be able to stay up for the ride home be it two hours or five – so my cardio’s not that bad…
Anyway. Both classes were basically the same. I came in a few minutes late for the first class and missed just a few minutes of the warm-up. I didn’t miss much and was able to work up a sweat. Techniques continued the same theme. We first reviewed and drilled the fifth recounter and then we went on and added number six. Number six is a counter for when number five is countered. While holding the leg, fake upwards, then drop to your knees, grab around the ankle of your opponent’s far leg, and drive forward with your shoulder against your opponent’s legs to take him down. Proceed to take mount or side-control.
Situational sparring followed next. One side defends open guard and the other tries to pass. 30 seconds were given for each side with each person alternating. I don’t know how many times we switched, but it was very good training. The time limit pumps you up, gets you excited, and gasses you quicker. My coach said it was very good training for that. I did the situational rolling with the same bigger dude, that I later found out outweighed me by 50lbs. The first several rounds of the first class I did very well, able to pass guard and defend . Later it on, fatigue set in and the weight difference was really making a, well, a difference. I was surprised I was outweighed by so much since he was moving around rather quickly when he was playing top. Late in the second class, I managed to do a modified BJ Penn Sweep.
A few rounds of rolling went next. I first went with a whitebelt. I was very gassed and rolled very lightly. I did sweep & reverse him once or twice and was able to do the shoulder plant pass, but since I was so tired I played defense most of the time. Next I rolled with a blue belt. I was playing open guard and we got caught in half guard. We hit a checkmate at half-guard with him unable to to finish a kimura and me unable to sweep him with the lockdown. We scrambled after that and he somehow got me with a gi choke. I rolled next with the big dude. I was able to somehow get side control and then mount. While trying to get a submission he, and it’s annoying that bigger stronger guys can do this, bench pressed me off him, but I managed to catch an arm for an armbar. I almost had it when he just pulled his arm out – I was kinda surprised by how he was able to just pull it out, I thought it was tight – but then again I was gassed. He later tapped me with an unintentional neck crank – which is still hurting my neck btw.
What I did right:
- Paired up with a bigger dude for just about the whole night
- Almost got an armbar from being thrown off mount – usually my attempts at those are loose, and this attempt felt a lot tighter
- Stayed for the second class even though I was contemplating calling it a night after the first class
What I did wrong:
- Again, I didn’t see a gi choke coming
- Need more mat time
- I forgot how to properly do those half-guard, Eddie Bravo lock-down sweeps
- I sucked against the big dude
- At the end of class I refused a roll, which I almost never do
- Got gassed early on
Ok, time for bed!!
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February 9th, 2009 at 9:32 am
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