Post seminar ramblings

What an amazing seminar Friday night...

Two + hours with Relson Gracie learning half guard escapes, sweeps and advances (SO many notes taken) ---which reminds me, if you have a Windows Phone, there's something in the marketplace called Jiu Jitsu Journal. I HIGHLY recommend this as sometimes it's almost impossible to remember everything in class---, got my gi and my belt signed, so that was pretty nerdalicious...

let's see, what else happened...

My girlfriend's brother received his PURPLE belt (the first one my professor has given out), what an amazing accomplishment. I would LOVE to someday just have some color around my waist, let alone a purple belt. My professor gave out a statistic that around 75% of people who practice jiu jitsu never receive their purple belt. That's crazy....especially coming from TMAs where it appeared you were in the minority if you DIDN'T have your black belt.

Overall it was a fantastic seminar and gave me 4 different ways (on top of another I got this week) to escape half guard. A position I ALWAYS find myself stuck in just waiting to get side controlled/mounted, etc. There are SO many little pieces to jiu jitsu, it all still feels so intimidating. I feel like I'll never remember all of it. I am just going to keep working toward that day when I don't have to constantly think about it...that day when it comes naturally, that's an exciting and motivating thought.

I wish I could put my finger on what about this sport is so darn addicting...I think about it constantly, am doing little things all day in my head to improve my game, I've started running when I don't train, I have towels hung over braces in the house so I can hang and work on grip strength...daily I'm stretching and shooting for triangles on the floor, what the heck is going on?

Hi, I'm Terry and I'm a full-fledged addict.

See you after class...

Just too easy...

Just a quickie before tonight's class, a comment on Wednesday's...

Ever run into a technique that as you try it a few times you think to yourself, "No way...no way this works. How have I not seen this before?" Just to discover that yep, it works. And it works at 100% against a resisting opponent. This happened for me with a half-guard pass tonight. This, along with the side control escapes I learned really seem to be clicking and have improved my game this week.

Now, hear me, when I say "improved" I don't mean by much but I can notice it takes blue belts longer to submit me than it did, say...a month ago.

This was me then..."No, no! Don't hurt me!!

 Most likely I won't submit them and they eventually will get me or time will run out but it's not CONSTANT tapping.

I happy with this progression. It's making my defense much better (comment that was made by Blue Belt J that kicks my ass) and making me more comfortable escaping mount, back mount, side control, etc. If I can get relaxed in those positions I'll be able to progress with my attacks at a later date. Hopefully...

Tonight's open mat so expect me to come back and admit I've learning nothing after being throttled all night. See you then...

Overcoming through technique

Welcome back readers....(silence)...hello? Anyone out there..? No?

Last night was the first night back after last week (life gets in the way sometimes) and I was looking forward to it as, for some reason, I love training with the gi jacket. I guess for a beginner like me it gives me more stuff to hold onto while trying not to be attacked...or maybe it just makes me feel like the ninja I always wanted to be growing up.

The gold ribbon really sets it off

Anyway, I was excited. 

We worked on escaping side mount when the person on top has the underhook (a common position for yours truly)..basically, for any non-jiu jitsu playing readers, it's almost the worst position you can be in. I typically hate this position because there are a few guys in my academy who are similar rank to me but MUCH MUCH stronger and former wrestlers to boot so this position is impossible to break for me using brute strength. I usually end up just defending and defending until I get submitted. I've got a couple of escapes that work from time to time but needed more and needed to understand how to attempt to overcome someone who is so much stronger than me. (I'm about 6'2, 190lbs).

Thankfully, I have an amazing professor at the academy, a Relson Gracie black belt who sees the value in showing proper technique over and over and over again. The escape we worked last night was one we've gone over before but there was a very important piece that I hadn't grasped the first time. 

Pull...don't push. In this case it's with your bottom (inside) shoulder that you pull underneath you to create the base. Combined with a rooted, planted foot, the transfer of energy through a good connection and proper alignment you can't be broken down and it allows for space to be created to establish guard or escape underneath.

It was like someone showed me how to walk. Instantly my game changed. Changed to point that I was not worried about being in side control when we rolled afterward. Confident that given the right timing I not only COULD, but WOULD escape and improve my position. Also, it allowed me to do so being "mellow" (thanks Blue Belt J who kicks my ass). 

One major point that my professor pointed out was that Helio Gracie was NOT some huge, buff wrestler. He was a much smaller man than most and it never stopped him from destroying bigger opponents. Our sport and art is not based on having to be bigger and stronger, it's based on technique, that when applied correctly, essentially nullifies the "brute factor" (pending trademark). 

The GM himself...at around 90 years old.

So what do I take from this? When a technique is not seeming to work for me...ASK WHY NOT. Take the time to go to the professor, express that it's not working against larger opponents and get to the essence of the technique. It's truly a game changer. 

See you after next class...