[BDON911]

I started taking BJJ on July 18th, 2007 at South Hills Judo Club in Pittsburgh, PA. under brown belt Bobby Palumbi. I'm just now starting to realize that I forget a lot of the techniques that we go over in class, so I'm going to give the training log a shot. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with this.

[BDON911]

9/10/07 - SHJC (gi)

There is an upcoming tournament on Sept. 22, and there are quite a few people who will be competing. I have already decided that I am not going to compete in this tournament for various reasons. To prepare for the tournament all classes from now until tournament time will be more intense.

Started class with a side control drill. Switch from one side to the other while mainting control for 3 minutes. After that we did a knee on the belly drill for 3 minutes. Knee on the belly kind of wore me out a bit.
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Techniques-
Properly pulling guard - Grip opponents sleeve under the tricep/bicep. Grip lappel opposite of your sleeve grip. Put your foot on opponents hip and fall back/pull them down. Make sure opponent doesn't grab your foot before you pull guard because they will get takedown points.

Gi choke/forearm choke (didn't catch the proper name) - From closed guard. Double arm grip break. Pull opponents arm behind your head to achieve overhook. Once you achieve overhook grip opposite side of opponents lappel. Make sure you get deep into the lappel and get a strong grib. Drop foot to opponents hip and post.* Take your other arm (while maintaining grip on lappel) and grip opponents gi in the shoulder area. Apply choke -pull on lappel and push with your forearm while maintaining grip with both hands.

What to do when gi choke/forearm choke doesn't work - * If opponent tucks his chin or defends with his arm. Pivot hips (similar to arm lock) and swing right leg over opponents head. Cross feet. Apply choke by pulling lappel and pushing with your legs.
You can also apply a triangle choke if you cannot apply the choke with your legs or get your right leg over the head.
* = Repeat up to.

Hard Rolling at the end of class - Got owned pretty nicely. Rolled 3 times. No type of offense at all. Worked off my back the entire time, but couldn't even get to closed guard. Got tapped once via triangle choke that I almost went out to (thought I could fight it ).

I was very discouraged after class. When I went to change in the locker room both of my instructors noticed something was wrong with me. I told them about my situation and that I was frustrated. They both had very encouraging things to say that helped me out.

[BDON911]

9/12/07 - SHJC (no gi)

Twisting knee in butt guard pass - Either control opponents arms by pinning them to the mat while holding their biceps, or keep your elbows in tight on their stomach. Be sure not to give any space. Right knee in opponents butt, left leg pivots out at a 90 degree angle. Turn to your side and use both of your hands by pushing on opponents thigh*. Once guard is broke bring your left leg over their right thigh. Make sure your knee is touching the mat. If not, you're open to get rolled. Once you've maintained your knee on the mat fish for the underhook with your right arm. Once you achieve underhook bring your right leg over and fall into side control.
*=repeat up to

Staple gun guard pass - *Step on opponents right ankle with your left foot. Underhook the opposite leg. Push your weight forward putting their knee into their face. Pass your left leg over their right thigh (same as basic guard pass) achieving knee of the mat. Post with your left hand, pass other leg over opponents thigh. Pivot your body into side control. (Maybe I should practice this one a few more times. Description is very vague.)

Stop techniques early to do some extra rolling.

Rolled with about 5 different guys. Wasn't able to mount much of an offense. Smallest guy I rolled with was around 160, but he is an ex-wrestler who is very strong, and I believe he's a 3-4 stripe white belt.

Worked some positions with Jeff. He probably should've picked someone else though because I can never hold a position against him.

Feel pretty beat up, and it's probably going to feel worse tomorrow

After everybody left Jimmy and I worked 3 techniques.

Wakigatame from standing - When opponent grips your lapel achieve double hand grip. Yank their arm back while taking a step back. Lock their elbow under your armpit. Bring your other leg back so that your opponent is facing your back. Bend knees and keep your back straight. Pull up on opponents arm for the tap. Make sure their thumb is facing down towards the mat.

Wakigatame from side control - When opponent tries to stuff your face with their hand/forearm. Grab their elbow and yank it towards your knees. Slide your hand from the elbow to their hand while locking the elbow under your armpit. Achieve double hand grip on their hand. Push your hips out and pull their arm up. Make sure thumb is facing down.
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(Only attempt "flying" armbar when somebody is pushing into you for the takedown. You have to use their momentum to execute the maneuver properly. Works well with wrestlers who are willing to lock up.)

"Flying" Armbar (from knees) - When you're locked up with your opponent bring your right leg and step in front of your left knee. Fall back/pull opponent towards you while swinging your left leg over opponents head and keeping the right leg bent stuffing it in their armpit. Push opponent forward to fall into the basic armbar position. Squeeze knees and lift hips for the tap.

"Flying" Armbar (from standing) - When locked up with an opponent raise your right leg up to opponents hip. At the same time fall back/pull opponent forward. While falling back swing your left leg over their head and stuff the right leg in their armpit while keeping it bent. Push opponent forward with your legs and finish armbar.

[BDON911]

Originally Posted by BDON911

Feel pretty beat up, and it's probably going to feel worse tomorrow

9/13/07

Body isn't as sore as I thought it would be. Having a hard time swallowing. Don't know if I picked up a virus from somebody/the mat, or if its from being chocked last night.
Going to school (Finance class) tonight from 6:30-9 and then hanging out.

[BDON911]

9/14/07 - Panther Grappling Club @ University of Pittsburgh (gi)

This was my first time attending Panther Grappling Club. Good group of guys to train with. Saw some familiar faces from South Hills Judo Club.
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Guard Breaks (Always remember to keep elbows in, back straight, and head up/straight.)

Twisting Knee in butt - Gain control of opponent by either pinning their arms to mat by controlling their biceps, or walk you hands down towards their stomach/belt. Important to keep your elbows in, back straight, and head up. Put your right knee in their butt* and turn your left leg out 90 degrees. While maintaining good posture turn your body toward your left leg and opponents guard should break.
*=repeat up to

Posture and turn - *sprawl your other leg out so that it's straight. Turn your body and work your hips and your posture to break the guard. I think you can also use your elbows.

Stack and turn - While gripping opponents gi step forward to the side of your strong arm. This allows you to stand up to your feet. Let go of opponents gi. Turn your hips while extending your leg back, but keeping it straight. Push down on opponents thigh to break the guard.

Combat Base - (Works well with bigger/taller opponents). Stand up while in opponents guard. Same as stack and turn. Drop your knee into opponents butt while keeping opposite knee back. This should be uncomfortable enough to break the guard.
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Drilled guard breaks with 3 different people.

Rolling - Rolled with a blue belt. Attempted the flying armbar. Performed it better than I thought I would, (especially against a blue belt) but FAR from actually pulling it off. Pulled into half guard. Got mounted. He attempted an armbar which I defended, but he got me in a bicep crush. Due to the fact that I wish to use my arm this weekend I tapped out. Plus it hurt pretty good.

[BDON911]

9/17/07 - SHJC (gi)

Warmed up with the arm lock
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Side mount to mount to triangle - While in side mount take control of opponents bicep. Post with your hand on his bicep and your left leg. Push up with your post hand and leg and sit on opponents chest. Bring your left leg behind your opponents head and touch your left foot to your right knee. Be sure to keep it tight.* If he tries to buck you, you end up falling right into the triangle.
* = repeat up to

Side mount to mount to arm lock - *Step over opponents head with your right leg to finish arm lock. Position may feel unstable, but the arm lock is very easy to finish from this position.

Triangle (when opponent is digging an elbow into your thigh to break guard) - Take control of opponents arm by grabbing his gi. Take control of wrist (the wrist that is trying to break your guard). Pull the arm (gi grip arm), and push the wrist into his chest. At the same time throw your hips up for the triangle.

Defense for aforementioned triangle - To defend simply get a good grip on opponents gi pants. That way when they try to jump for the triangle you can keep you can block their leg. It's also very important to maintain a straight posture with your back.
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Rolling - Rolled 3 times.
1st roll - Mostly defense. Gave up my back but I was comfortable defending. Wasn't at much of a risk of being tapped. Rolled over and got mount at the end and almost finished an eziekeil choke. Couldn't get it so I went to something else and got swept into closed guard. Time ran out as soon as I got swept.

2nd roll - Rolled with Bobby (my instructor...brown belt). (Of course he went easy on me) He had an arm lock towards the end but I defended...time ran out.

3rd roll - Keilen - Worked from closed guard. Guy was going for a gi/forearm choke but I was defending. I was trying to work my rubber guard here. I kept getting the overhook, but he kept sliding out of it. I finally secured it and got to chill dog, but I wasn't able to create any space. I was basically holding him in chill dog. I forgot to keep my leg tight to his hip and he passed me into half guard. Got the choke from there. Tapped out to the choke and somehow my rib popped. Luckily the guy I rolled with was a physical therapist so he took care of me. No major damage done.

After class I tried to work my gogo with Jimmy aka Frodo from the grappling forum. I made the same mistake with him and didn't keep my leg in tight to his hip from chill dog. I want to drill nothing but rubber guard one day.

Mark my words...Soon enough I will have a sick rubber guard and post some vids for all to see.

[BDON911]

I won't be in class 9/19/07, and due to school I can't ever make it to the Thursday classes (9/20/07).

There is a tournament coming up on 9/22/07, which I chose not to compete in, so I don't know if I will get more than 1 BJJ session this week . I look forward to attending the tournament and seeing my fellow training partners kick some ass.


Team Balance FTW

[BDON911]

Mental note:
Move I need to try:
Rubber guard to armbar - When setting up rubber guard, but opponents hand is not on the mat. Pummel opponents right arm into his chest. Hook his elbow with your left arm. Release the right leg off the hip and swing that leg into his left armpit. Release rubber guard. Bring your left leg over his head. Grab his leg if possible and roll over into armbar.

[BDON911]

9/22/07
Attended the tournament as a spectator, and I can honestly say I'm glad I did. Now I will know what to expect when I participate in future tournaments. All members of Team Balance did very well. A few of them took first place in their respective divisions, with some coming in 2nd. I think that Team Balance had an extremely good showing in this tournament being that we only had 7 people fighting.

[BDON911]

9/24/07 - SHJC (gi)

Warmed up with the americana from mount, and a mount escape. Trap an arm and a leg on the same side, bridge, and roll over your shoulder on side of their trapped limbs.
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Half guard to closed guard - Make sure you aren't flat on your back. Establish underhook. Post with your outside leg and shrimp to get your leg inside of opponents knee. Move your other leg to the side as to not get in the way for the sweep. Grab opponents gi pants on opposite side of your underhook. Push up with your underhook grib, gi grip, and leg to lift opponent up. Take your legs out and get back to closed guard.

Half guard sweep to side position - Establish underhook. Shrimp to get outside leg into opponents body. Establish opposite side gi grip on opponents sleeve. Pull their arm across their body. Establish gi grip on opponents pants. Swing opponent to the side that their arm is holding them in the air on you leg until they base with their opposite arm. Once they base push forward into side control while holding onto their sleeve. *
*= repeat up to

Barbo choke from aforementioned sweep - *While holding their sleeve reach over their arm and hold onto the back of their head. Grip your other bicep and finish the choke. (This grip is very unorthodox so it's very hard to put into words)
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Rolling - Went with Keilen (not sure how to spell his name) he took first place in gi and no gi in last week's tournament. I believe he got the take down. Had me in a few different positions. Got back to guard. Attempted to set up rubber guard but got passed. I think he pulled an americana on me at the end.

Work some stuff with Jimmy and rolled afterwards. He showed me high guard and a wristlock from high guard.

Bobby showed me the back escape Shougn kept pulling against Forrest at UFC76.

From turtle position peel out one of their hooks and simply summersault over the shoulder where their hook is out.