BJJ Class 123
Hey, I’ve reached class 123…I like that number, having the digits arranged in order. I’ve gone through all the the double digits already: 12, 23, 34, 45, 56, 67, 78, 89. After 123 the next number is 234. That sounds like a long-time away, considering it’s taken me two and a half years to get to 123.
BJJ Class 123 was my first class as a blue belt and class with everyone being a blue belt or above. The whole class was rolling. A quick self-warm-up, no techniques, all rolling.
I know I mentioned previously that I should aim to roll with those with the same weight or heavier than myself, and that did happen. I think I had three or five or four (can’t remember how many now) rolls with bigger guys. It was great rolling for learning. I think I was a little bit better at rolling with them this time then I was before. I still had the same problems as before and I definitely need to roll with bigger guys more often. I’m still not used to dealing with all the extra weight and strength. Of course, I’m not saying I avoided them before. I’m always open to roll with anyone, it just didn’t happen enough before. Since I really want to get used to bigger guys more, I’m going to add that to this month’s goals. So:
December 2008 training goals:
Guard Passes
Roll more with guys my weight and above
What I did right:
I didn’t panic. Not that I normally do. When being stuck on the bottom, I didn’t do anything hasty and stayed calm. At one roll I was stuck under a purple belt’s mount. I kept trying to escape but couldn’t reverse him and through it all I managed to avoid being submitted. Hmmm, I don’t remember much else of what I felt I did right….I tapped to avoid injury, does that count?
What I did wrong:
I’m sure there’s a lot more than I remember. I should practice my sprawls more. When sprawling on someone in this class (and once in the week before too), I would sprawl on someone and sprawl somewhat successfully, then give up the sprawl for a bottom position because I felt tired. I guess that also means I should work on my cardio. As stated several times before, my general guard passing needs work. I need to make one or two new pass techniques my own and try to solve my difficulties in completing a pass once I have control of both legs and work on difficulties in achieving side control. I feel like I have a slippery side control – once I pass both legs, the other person slips back into half or full guard.
Ok, back to finishing the fall term’s final projects and presentations.
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