Blink and over a week goes by without a new post. Last week, we worked on taking the back from guard, and a couple of chokes from the transition. On Wednesday, a lot of the guys were rolling 50%, moving through their gameplans and staying injury free for the tournament tomorrow. As a result, those of us not competing worked positional drills for 1/2 hour and then sparring.
Oh man. My conditioning has always been... let's call it an opportunity for me. Training four days each week, I was able to reach a point where I was able to go pretty much all class long and then collapse in a heap at home. Now, making it in to train once, maybe twice, it's killing me. I had a ring for sparring on Wednesday, and fortunately, the upper belts were all going light, with a bunch of newer white belts mixed in. I was tired at the end, but not dead.
Okay, so the transition to back control starts from guard. I want to have strong control over my opponent's arm at the cuff. I'll use both of my arms, as well as my legs, to pull that arm deep across and over my shoulder. So, if I'm working my opponent's left arm with my right, I'll reach across with my left to help pull him over my left shoulder.
I'm going to swim my left arm over the back of his shoulder and under his head. This is important, because I'm going to use that head control to keep him close so that he can't sneak his left arm back through to square up. I also found myself using my right arm to push on his left shoulder. This pushed him further around and helped me get behind him.
At this point, depending upon how deep I got that head control with my left arm, I can scootch more to his side and finish the choke just as I would an RNC. I found, though, with this, that it has to be deep or it's a crank (and a pretty nasty one). After working it several times, it was pretty clear to me when I had my partner's neck in the pocket as a choke, and when I didn't. Either way, this would be one to be careful with (in my opinion).
If I don't have the choke, I can keep moving to the back, getting back control by securing my hooks. We also learned a few variations on chokes you can do from back control other than the RNC. Using the gi lapel for example.
It was a good class. Bing's a technical blue belt and a good coach.
Good luck to all the Foster BJJ guys competing tomorrow, and to James Foster in the Black Belt Superfight against Fabiano Scherner.
Don't forget, if you're looking for BJJ gear, check out Razorback Jiu Jitsu. Douglas sells the full range of Atama gear, including the Mundial #7, and if you use the coupon code "STEVE" you'll save 15% off of your offer.
Oh man. My conditioning has always been... let's call it an opportunity for me. Training four days each week, I was able to reach a point where I was able to go pretty much all class long and then collapse in a heap at home. Now, making it in to train once, maybe twice, it's killing me. I had a ring for sparring on Wednesday, and fortunately, the upper belts were all going light, with a bunch of newer white belts mixed in. I was tired at the end, but not dead.
Okay, so the transition to back control starts from guard. I want to have strong control over my opponent's arm at the cuff. I'll use both of my arms, as well as my legs, to pull that arm deep across and over my shoulder. So, if I'm working my opponent's left arm with my right, I'll reach across with my left to help pull him over my left shoulder.
I'm going to swim my left arm over the back of his shoulder and under his head. This is important, because I'm going to use that head control to keep him close so that he can't sneak his left arm back through to square up. I also found myself using my right arm to push on his left shoulder. This pushed him further around and helped me get behind him.
At this point, depending upon how deep I got that head control with my left arm, I can scootch more to his side and finish the choke just as I would an RNC. I found, though, with this, that it has to be deep or it's a crank (and a pretty nasty one). After working it several times, it was pretty clear to me when I had my partner's neck in the pocket as a choke, and when I didn't. Either way, this would be one to be careful with (in my opinion).
If I don't have the choke, I can keep moving to the back, getting back control by securing my hooks. We also learned a few variations on chokes you can do from back control other than the RNC. Using the gi lapel for example.
It was a good class. Bing's a technical blue belt and a good coach.
Good luck to all the Foster BJJ guys competing tomorrow, and to James Foster in the Black Belt Superfight against Fabiano Scherner.
Don't forget, if you're looking for BJJ gear, check out Razorback Jiu Jitsu. Douglas sells the full range of Atama gear, including the Mundial #7, and if you use the coupon code "STEVE" you'll save 15% off of your offer.