[Frodo]

3-19-2006

Went to the Panther Grappling Club (no-gi) We practiced in the lower mat room today. Five people showed up. I invited our guest instructor for the day - Drew Yao. We reviewed:

• shrimping
• how to tap
• elbow-in-knee escape from mount
• knee in butt escape from guard
• scissor sweep (no-gi version)
• kimura from side-control to north-south

I also showed one person the bridge and roll escape from mount. Then we rolled for a bit from standing.

...

Went to Bill Vucick and today was boxing day. We did 2 minute shadow boxing drills. Then round robin sparring. Next was shark bate sparring. We had to do 50 pushups, 50 situps, and 50 squats. Would have been kinda easy if I actually knew how to box well.

...

Went to TKD. True2KungFu logged practice as well. I got tired, slipped and fell once during a drill. Had to take a five minute break, but it was embarassing. We did gauntlet drills (kicking toy, freestanding bag):

• roundhouse kick, spinning back kick
• fast kick to counter roundhouse kick, spinning back kick
• rear roundhouse kick to axe kick, spinning back kick
• roundhouse to roundhouse to roundhouse, spinning back kick
• spinning back kick, spinning back kick

I have to work on my left leg's form, especially chambering, especially when I am tired. At the end we did suicides. Good for conditioning.

[Frodo]

3-20-2006

Easy today. Helped move mats at CMU. Went to Pitt BJJ Club. Went over push-knee sweep. Went over pinning and armbars from mount. Did some throws and went home. Class ended early, and I didn't break a sweat. However, my arm hurts from boxing practice yesterday and practice at SCMA on this past Friday. I think I am glad I took today mostly off given how tired I was yesterday. Hopefully I have good workouts tomorrow!

[Frodo]

3-21-2006

Went to JUDO CLASS (the real one). Drilled:

• Okuriashi Harai
• Tai Otoshi
• Ippon Seoinage
• Morote Seoinage

Then we were shown and practiced:

• Uchi Mata
• Kouchi Gake (I think?)

Then we did some randoi, and I asked learn Tomoe Nage. No newaza today!

...

Then immediately went to Judo Class (the "Jiu Jitsu" one). Drilled for nagewaza:

• Osoto Gari
• Shiai Osoto Gari
• Osoto Gari counter to Osoto Gari
• Sumi Gaeshi

Then for newaza:

• Cross Choke
• Under-Over Cross choke

Next we rolled from the ground. Then we did standing randori. Finally, I practiced Tomoe Nage again.

...

Went to the fifteenth Panther Grappling Club practice at Pete. Six people showed up. First did some drills:

• Shrimping
• Reverse-Shrimping
• Rolling
• Hip Thrusts
• Rolling Breakfalls

Then went over a few advanced moves:

• 6-point armbar
• 6-point armbar to triangle
• 6-point armbar to uma plata

While some people rolled, I showed someone (on request) the basics of the elbow-on-thigh break and americana variations. Rolled some more. Finally everyone had to go after a long 2 hour practice.

Didn't make it to CMU in time to get a meaninful workout at their grappling club. Next time I shall limit my time at Pitt.

[Frodo]

3-22-2006

Visited Combative Grappling Systems for a 1.5 hour grappling practice. CGS is taught by Brad Hoyle and Casey Leonard. It is a no-gi club, but one person still wore a gi.

The mats weren't that good. They were those jigsaw pieces; I don't like that kind. However, the space was pretty big compared with many other places I visited.

They initially were going to force me to watch the first time (grrrrrr), but after I told them that I had previous experience they were cool and let me train. First we ran for 5-10 minutes. Then we did a few drills up and down the mat:

• shin shuffle walks
• front/back rolls

After warmups we did a few games:

• 50% Rolling
• "Escape from Side Control" Game
• "Escape from Guard" Game

Next we learned two techniques. First Casey taught how to do an Americana from side-control:

1. Starting with you have side-control. Your opponent is trying to make space by putting his hand on your shoulder with forearm across my throat and elbow on opposite side of head.
2. Switch my legs and lean back a little (not too much). Now his arm is a little straighter.
3. Using my hand, grab his wrist and use my weight to drive it to the ground. Position my elbow by his neck/head area.
4. Thread my other hand and do Americana.

Then was the counter to the Americana to reversing side-control:

1. My opponent is doing an Americana on me (oh no!).
2. I straighten my in-danger arm, while pushing on his elbow (by my head) with the other arm. This should make it easier to straighten.
3. Now turn to my side (about 90 degrees or more).
4. Hook his closest arm with my non-danger arm.
5. Roll him over my head.
6. Now I have side-control. If he didn't let go, I have an Americana too.

Next we did randori starting from feet. During the first time I rolled with Brad and tapped once to an ankle lock. Next I rolled with Russ and stalemated. Then I rolled with someone whose name I forgot. He got tired and quit, but Russ was taking a break so I rolled with him again. This time he got me twice.

I have to work on moving in half and full guard - especially when I'm tired. Getting stronger is also a goal; I was out-muscled a lot today too. I also got to work on my takedowns and sprawls. I really enjoyed working at their place today, and I want to go again.

[Frodo]

3-23-2006

Felt a little out-of-energy, a little more humble, and a little sore from yesterday. Still, life goes on...

(dramatic pause)

Went to Judo Class today, but it actually was Jiu-Jitsu Class for a change. Imagine that, it was living up to its namesake. Ronny - a state champion blackbelt - taught the class today. After stretching, drilling, and ukemi, he taught us some newaza:

• Rolling Sweep:
  1. Starting from closed guard. Break his grip, bridge and pull. The objective is to get his arm across your body.
  2. Sit up and hug with double underhooks connected with a gable grip. Now he can't pull his arm through. Hug tight!
  3. Open guard. Leg on same side as trapped arm goes flat as if in sissor sweep. Opposite leg posts close to the body.
  4. Roll to the side with trapped arm. Remember to piviot/scissor your straight leg.
  5. Da ta da! You have mount with an arm triangle!
     
     
• Scissor Sweep, the judo way:
  1. Try rolling sweep. Can't get arm across.
  2. Grip inside of collar on one side. Grip same side arm so he can't post.
  3. Open guard. Shrimp to opposite side to make space.
  4. Move same side leg straight.
  5. Move other leg across his waist, hooking your foot on one side and knee on other side. Go straight across.
  6. Pull him on top of you. As you load him on you, scissor your legs.
  7. Da ta da! You have mount!

Next was ground rolling. I first beat my partner, so Ronny decided to roll with me. I choked him out once and was on the way to doing it a second time when time expired. I should remember: When he is fighting my RNC, take my same side foot, bring it up, and push down on his arm. My leg's strengh >> his arm's strength.

I suspect he may have been holding backa little, but I still had good feelings: I choked out a state champ blackbelt judoka who was 15 pounds heavier than me. Judoka have to work on their newaza.

However, then we did standing randori. Ronny schooled me ten ways to the Kodokan. I made a few mistakes which he took advantage. I was bent over too much; gotta relax man! I was also loading him onto my hips from the side. I.E. He was perpendicular to me. If I get into this position a lot, I should kuzushi more.

We did some challenge shiai, but I didn't participate. I was preoccupied with something else. Finally, we did some striking forms:

• From fighting stance, punch!
• From fighting stance, upward block then counter-punch!

That was the end of class. In a few weeks after Ronny wins Nationals, he might come to SCMA with me. Kamsahamnida.

...

Went to Panther Grappling Club. Eight people attended practice, but not all at once so it took a while. Went over the crash course with the rolling sweep instead of the scissor sweep. Several Times. Went over the CGS Americana. Jaked showed us how to do jabs, crosses, uppercuts, hooks (striking). We did randori for a while. I still think we should do more live rolling.

My pinky toe got a huge red mark and starting hurting from any movement; I think it is broken from sparring with Ronny. Didn't make it to CMU again. Damnit!

[Frodo]

3-24-2006

Probably not going to do anything today. I went to the doc today... My pinky toe is definitely probably fractured.... oh well...

He told me to tape it to the other toe for a few weeks with cotton inbetween the toes, ice and elevate it, use foot powder so i don't get athlete's foot, and change the cotton a few times a day.

He also said I should get ketchup packets from mcdonalds and freeze them and put one in my ear since it is swelling a little too. I never thought of that before. I hope my ear doesn't cauliflower.

[Frodo]

3-25-2006

Went to a Danzen Ryu Jujutsu seminar with a few friends. Danzen Ryu is another hybrid martial art from Hawai'i. Why are there many hybrid martial arts from that archipelago? It wasn't very good. Here is our log of the event taken from Drew:

1. Instructor takes the time to ask everyone how long they have trained. Most people say something less than 5 years. He tells us that training less than 5 years doesn't really count as training. He has been training for 25 years. 25 years well spent!
   
   
2. He demos a bunch of throws with no resistance on his assistant, throwing him into the wall one time. His assistant assures us that they actually love each other, and he only hurts him because he loves him.
   
   
3. He shows us some moves and we practice them. When he demos another move on his willing assistant with no resistance, he almost breaks the assistant's finger and nose. The assistant tells us that you need to train like that... if you want to survive on "the street".
   
   
4. A warm and paternal moment as he shares with us the difference between sport and street. At any moment, everyone around you is plotting to kick you in the "taint." That's why we keeps it real. This ain't about no points, son!
   
   
5. He gets in Randy's guard and puts a cross choke on Randy. He asks what Randy would do in that situation. Randy says he would armbar him. He seems doubtful. They go live and Randy armbars him in 10 seconds. He wants to go again. This time he keeps his elbows in and tries to stab Randy's pressure point on his thigh. Randy triangles him in 10 seconds. Afterwards, he gives Randy some helpful tips on how to do an armbar. Randy did it wrong when he tapped him with an armbar in 10 seconds. I guess he was in a hurry.
   
   
6. He shows us how to do an armbar from the mount when the guy on bottom is trying to collar choke you.
   
   
7. He shows a mount escape that involves raising your arms high above your head, giving up the high mount. This allows you to bridge more and roll your opponent easily. He invites some small women to do the move. It works when they do it against the 250 pound assistant, but doesn't work when they do it against a 150 pound guy who didn't look like he was resisting hard either. Eventually, the solution is to turn and give up your back and armbar the guy who's on your back.

The moves most useful to me are the wrist locks he showed us. Everything else was mostly worthless. Balto had a strange experience. Even the wrist locks shouldn't be my main stuff. It should be like 2% of what I do (and for him it was like 80%). BTW, how come everyone picks on Brazilians?

[Frodo]

3-26-2006

Went to the Panther Grappling Club. Three people showed up. Went over good posture, breaking, and passing the guard. Keep in mind the following tips:

• Keep his back on the mat
• Keep your hands off the mat
• keep your hands in front of your head

Took turns rolling for about 20 minutes. Eventually I would like to get this up to an hour.

[Frodo]

Note: freezing ketchup packages and using them as icebags works well for small injuries like ears and pinky toes.

[Frodo]

3-27-2006

Went to the Panther Grappling Club Six people showed up. Went over the basics in preparation for the dual meet on the weekend. Most people did lots of rolling, but I only rolled once due to my toe still hurting.