[Frodo]

4-20-2006

Went to the CMU Grappling Club, and Drew logged practice again. Went over:

• Helicopter Ambar Drill: Spinning armbar going from side to side.
• Fast armbar by underhooking the leg (forgo foot on hip).
• Tight 6-point armbar by putting the foot on the hip.
• High Guard Stuff
  • wrist/shoulder lock
  • to armbar
  • or flower sweep to armbar
• Triangle escapes
  • if it's not in tight: do the normal leg on shoulder pass.
  • if it is on tight: both hand on knee to let you live for a few seconds, pin his knee to the ground and look away.

Then we rolled for a while. Randy really abused me today, but I didn't feel completely 100% despite only training once today.

[Frodo]

4-21-2006

Visited CGS (Combative Grappling Systems) again - this time on MMA day. First we did some warmup exercises:

• Pushups (1 min)
• Situps (1 min)
• Sprawls (1 min)
• Lunges in place (1 min)
• Lunges around the room's perimeter (1x)
• Crab walking up/down (forward/backward) a lane (1x)

Then we did some drills:

• Get out of side control to a good position (with punching)
• Get out of guard to a good position (with punching)

Then we worked on some technique from top side control to get better control:

• Trap his far arm (near my butt) between my knee/foot.
• Trap his far arm with a figure 4 of my legs.
• Switch to kesa, push arm under leg, switch to side control and figure 4 my legs.
• Finishes after trapping the far arm.
  • Punch him.
  • Americana on near arm.
  • Straight Armbar on near arm. Use kimura grip, not americana grip. When switching grips, use head to pin near arm.
  • Elbow strikes to head: Crossface away from legs, Post on temple with a lot of force for a few seconds, then rain the elbow down while siding your arm down quickly. Fight ender.

Then we rolled for a while. I still need to work on takedowns.

[Frodo]

4-22-2006

Went to Mark Shrader's today. First watched Sheronda's test for her black belt. It was pretty long, but the extra cardio at the end was sweet. I don't think some of those black belts ever did sprawls or wall sits before. I stayed afterward for the typically scheduled noon practice.

We practiced in the cage this time. Mark's cage is a lot smaller than the one at PFC. There were two other people practicing in there besides Mike and me. I didn't like the cramp quarters, as Mike hurt his knee and I hurt my ankle. However, we stayed in there because of the extra padding they put underneath the cage.

First we did takedown drills. Then we had Mike try to do shots on me, and I had to simply escape/prevent the takedowns. This lasted about forever. I gotta remember:

• Be careful when doing Tawara Gaeshi, my opponent can switch to kesa gatame to counter my counter to his shot. According to Randy:
  • I just have to get enough momentum that he can't stop himself in the middle.
  • Most people will try to counter by stopping themselves in the middle. I just need to time it so that they can't stop the momentum.
• When hand fighting, use scoops not robot grips. I.E. Don't use my hand! Don't grip really hard. Go with the flow.
• Don't post on his head and be predictable.
• Work on my sprawls!!!

Then we worked on some sweeps:

• Hook Sweep from guard.
• Hook Sweep from .5-guard.

Afterward we did live grappling. I wrestled Mike for like 30 mintues straight before a submission again. However, he dominated me in position a lot. Mike rolled once before me too (against a big dude), so he was probably tired.

I was really tired after practice. Missed the CMU Grappling Club and practice with Bill Vucick. Tomorrow I'll make up for it then get ready for my Computer Science Final.

[Bubble Boy]

Originally Posted by Frodo

First we did takedown drills. Then we had Mike try to do shots on me, and I had to simply escape/prevent the takedowns. This lasted about forever. I gotta remember:

Be careful when doing Tawara Gaeshi, my opponent can switch to kesa gatame to counter my counter to his shot. According to Randy:

• I just have to get enough momentum that he can't stop himself in the middle.
• Most people will try to counter by stopping themselves in the middle. I just need to time it so that they can't stop the momentum.

The rice bag reversal is great, but as you alluded to, RISKY.
What about Uchimata? They shoot in for the double leg and immediately turn for uchimata. Extend that leg to the sky and tuck your head under and around like a foward roll. Bury them into the mat. Plan on rolling right over them as you throw.
Chop up with your leg and don't give up. Just keep rolling over.
Y' know how in TKD they teach punching THROUGH the board in order to break it?
It's the same with uchimata (and actually the same with tawara gaeshi). Throw THROUGH the person, so that you're visualizing yourself already completely through the throw and rolling over them. Your not just sending them to the mat, your flipping YOURSELF all the way over them onto the mat.

For whatever it's worth. Thanks for the great tips over in my log.

Dude, you are a training beast. VERY impressive. Wow.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by Bubble Boy

The rice bag reversal is great, but as you alluded to, RISKY.
What about Uchimata? They shoot in for the double leg and immediately turn for uchimata. Extend that leg to the sky and tuck your head under and around like a foward roll. Bury them into the mat. Plan on rolling right over them as you throw.
Chop up with your leg and don't give up. Just keep rolling over.
Y' know how in TKD they teach punching THROUGH the board in order to break it?
It's the same with uchimata (and actually the same with tawara gaeshi). Throw THROUGH the person, so that you're visualizing yourself already completely through the throw and rolling over them. Your not just sending them to the mat, your flipping YOURSELF all the way over them onto the mat.

For whatever it's worth. Thanks for the great tips over in my log.

Dude, you are a training beast. VERY impressive. Wow.

Thanks. I'll try that. Yesterday (and for the last few days actually) we were grappling no-gi, though. How do you do uchi mata when the kimonos come off? Also, Dave Camarillo thinks harai goshi is better for jiu jitsu.

[Bubble Boy]

No-gi uchimata:



Or from an over under (in the above pic your right arm would be under, your left over), or a double over hook. Harai is probably better because you end up in a more dominate position when you hit the mat. But Uchimata is easier to get IMO because you don't have to travel as far to get it; you just turn, extend the leg to the sky, and roll.
My uchimata SUCKS, but I threw a highschool wrestling coach effortlessly several times with it last week in randori. It's just not something wrestlers are used to. It seems that they shoot and grab a leg, but then stradle that leg as they shuck around. I think you should be able to dump him on his back if you try it. However, as I did with the wrestler, you may end up in a bad tactical spot once on the mat.
Again, just my 2 cents. You know what you're doing. And Dave Camarillo probably knows a thing or two also.

[Frodo]

4-23-2006

Went to impromtu grappling practice with some CGS dawgs (Russ, Jim, Dave, & a newbie) and Randy (who I brought along). (Shall I call this DHT practice?) First we warmed up by running around the room for a few minutes. Then we did some drills:

• 50% grappling
• 100% escape from side control
• 100% escape from guard

Then we rolled for a while. I rolled with Jim who is Russ's brother, 230 lbs, and a foot taller than me. However, still caught him with a back-mounted ankle lock. I still have to get better so my technique and limited strength can neutralize their size advantages.

Randy did well today, but I think he was pissed we each had to chip in on the mat fee. Actually, I was a little pissed about that too...

...

I felt that I didn't do enough at DHT practice, so I went to Pete afterward. Did Bas Rutten's All Around Workout, Track 1. Because of my bad ankle, I modified the workout as follows:

• Used heavy bag instead of shadow boxing
• Instead of jump squats, did regular squats
• Instead of jumping, did tkd kicks (both legs for one set)

Wasn't that bad, I guess...

[Frodo]

Thanks Bubble Boy! Actually, I don't know what I'm doing and never did! lol

[Frodo]

4-24-2006

Went to Bill Vucick's to train today. Bill invited three other people to come down. Did some drills:

• 15x Sprawls
• 15x Straight-Left-Right Sprawls

Then we went over the first lock flow again. Remember to put my elbow in his temple and to switch my leg under his elbow during the transition to kesa. Next we rolled at 60%; although, I think the other grapplers forgot how to thottle down to 60%. haha. We did 50-50-50 afterward, but I was not tried at the end of practice so I rolled with Bill for a little bit more.

[Frodo]

Just thought of something....

Try a wrestling double leg, he sprawls, let got, switch to osoto gari?

Try a wrestling snap down, he jerks up but expects the shot, instead do harai goshi?