[Frodo]

5-12-2006

Did nothing at all. Dammit!

[Frodo]

5-13-2006

Went to SCMA. Went over two half guard passes:

• Sit-out half guard pass
• A variation on the driving half guard pass that I don't like. First move from SCMA that I really disagree with.

Then we rolled for a while. I grappled with mostly lower belts. Wild Bill was fun to roll with. When he grows to be more than half my height, he will be a beast!

...

Went to the CMU Grappling Club. We went over more half guard stuff:

1. Half guard to get up and take him down.
2. If he whizzers, roll him over.
3. If he goes cross body in your half guard and puts a kimura on, use your knee to break the kimura, hook his leg, throw him up and go to move #1.
4. If you have the underhook but he has the shoulder of justice, throw him up and go to move #1.
5. If he goes to the reverse scarf hold type position, grab his sleeve and pants (or hand and under knee) and pop your hips up and do a back roll.

I got videos of these techniques, but my instructor asked me not to share them. Then we rolled of couse. I got a picture of the class. I'll miss Drew...

[Bubble Boy]

I bookmarked two techniques from this page Frodo:
The second shoestring triangle (armbar), and the sit out half guard pass from 5-13.
The triangle (to armbar) from the spider guard is something I never would have thought of (I miss the obvious shit sometimes!). I think this might work well against some of the bigger opponents I roll against. It seems like it might get around the typical stack counter to the triangle from the big boys. Maybe?

And I like the guard pass technique, but I always get rolled over when I get to step #5 in your sequential photos. If they manage to trip me up a little at this stage when I'm trying to get my leg out, and my base leg is up on their stomach...over I go. Any advice?

[Frodo]

Bubble Boy, I'm not that good with triangles, but I imagine it would work against opponents who drive into you a lot. It also works if he is punching you and you block using your guard.

The pictures don't do the technique justice, though. They make it look like you are quickly throwing your leg through. In fact, it is a series of short motions. First you get your knee in there, then you pin in arm there (by pulling with your wrist grab. Then your side your foot and do the same thing. Then you slide it through. Also, the lockflow guy has his other knee too far out (it should be hugging the body).

I don't really like that half guard pass technique. I always use the driving half guard pass. From a previous entry:

Originally Posted by Frodo

(Changed slightly)

1. If uke stays locked around leg in .5 guard (most likely response), that's fine.
2. Tripod up. i.e. Your head goes ON THE MAT on the free leg side with your head looking away from the uke. IMPORTANT: Get a deep underhook on the trapped-leg side of the uke. These two moves help you drive your shoulder into him. You then make a pyramid with your butt in the air. Start shaking your hand free.
3. Tori's same side (as underhook) knee starts to come through. Use free hand to push uke's legs until knee all the way through.
4. Put knee flat on the ground. If he stays around ankle, use free leg to pry his legs open until tori is totally passed.
5. From here, tori wants to get head on opposite side. Distract uke with knee-on-stomach so uke doesn't make a frame against tori's neck.

That works no-gi too. I have a good movie showing the technique, but not a good reference. For now, see the last 10 seconds of this butterfly guard sweep video.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by Bubble Boy

And I like the guard pass technique, but I always get rolled over when I get to step #5 in your sequential photos. If they manage to trip me up a little at this stage when I'm trying to get my leg out, and my base leg is up on their stomach...over I go. Any advice?

IME: You want to be driving really hard with the shoulder-of-justice like pressure. You don't want to be completely in the air like in step #5 too. You want to be on the ground with the uke twisted. Therefore, keep the free leg's foot on the floor.

I also don't like this pass a lot. I perfer the Half Guard Driving Pass, like I said...

[Frodo]

5-14-2006

Went to MAC Fitness again. Beau was teaching. This man is possibly the best grappler within 50 miles of Pittsburgh. I now realize that I took his instruction for granted back when I was at Penn Hills.

First we went over standup drills. Then we went over the elbow press and options and Guillotine from guard off of a hip bump/kimura attempt. Finally we rolled from back-to-back.

I have to work on my abs. However, I was only 152 after practice. If I can get to 144, then I can go down a weight class at the kumite. Of course, I promptly had breakfast/lunch/dinner with my mom and grandma for Mother's day.

John called and I sent him a letter. I wanted to practice more, but I was stuck at home. :-/

[True2KungFu]

wuts MAC fitness? oh and you did know there isa BJJ black belt in New Kensington right...Ed Vincent.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by True2KungFu

wuts MAC fitness? oh and you did know there isa BJJ black belt in New Kensington right...Ed Vincent.

MAC Fitness is a gym in Wexford. I only go there once every few months because it is too far away.

According to FarEastGrapplerMD on JiuJitsuGear, Ed Vincent is ranked in Walt Bayless Combat Jiu-Jitsu (a hybrid martial art) and not BJJ. This article is wrong. I don't know if BCJJ is a good system or not. From a description of BCJJ I like the constituent influences that were blended together. However, I'm skeptical of most "styles" until I've taken a few classes. Unfortunately, Ed Vincent doesn't seem to teach any more except out of his home. There is another BCJJ school located farther away, but I'll rather go there. I don't like going to places run out of people's basements unless I personally met them at an event.

[Frodo]

5-15-2006

Went to Pitt BJJ Club. For Nagewaza, we covered:

• Harai Goshi
• Harai Goshi to Osoto Gari
• Tao otoshi

Then we did newaza sweeps from guard:

• Scissor sweep
• Full guard to elevator sweep
• Push-knee variation of sweeps.

Then we rolled for a while. I wanted to do more, but Pete closed at 10 PM. Jerks.

[Frodo]

5-16-2006

Went to the CMU Grappling Club (logged). Drew, Randy and I showd up. We went over guard passes:

• Hammerlock pass
  1. Start in uke's guard.
  2. Uke underhooks tori's leg.
  3. Tori pins uke's arm between uke's body and tori's leg. Tori grips arm.
  4. Tori slides grip to wrist (using standard wrist grip).
  5. Drive into uke with head on pinned arm side. This lifts uke's hips off the ground.
  6. Feeds uke's wrist across his back/hip to tori's other hand.
  7. Use free arm (formally holding the wrist) to break guard.
  8. Use far knee pass (don't let go).
  9. Get mount (don't let go).
  10. Pull him to side. Get baseball bat grip. Pull guard if you must (be on "side" if you can).
  11. Pull uke's arm up uke's back to finish hammerlock.
• Combat base pass:
  1. Stand up and put your knee in.
  2. Sit down to combat base.
  3. Cup around leg (like getting a kneebar from standing) to prevent scrambles/sweeps.
  4. Finish with far knee pass.
• Standing Pass:
  • Standing up, upright and push his leg to break open his guard.
  • OR - hip in, raise arms to counter back sweep.

We did an "Escape Guard" drill before rolling for a while.