I missed last Friday’s class due to a trip out of town and will miss this Friday as well, so I was a little less prepared for warm-ups this Monday. We often begin our warm-ups wth a lot shrimping, but this class it felt like it lasted an eternity. Although toward the end I believed I worked out a kink in my shrimping technique.

Today in class we worked on how to counter someone when they block your scissor sweep (from the guard) by inserting their elbow in. The counter ultimately led to a triangle. Consequently, we also worked on triangle techniques. Including a variation where you can use your own arm as a lever to increase the squeeze when your opponent pulls their arm out.

Today in class I discussed with Smiley (lead instructor) and Big K my hesistancy in applying pressure to some submissions (e.g., knee-bars, shoulder locks and any submission where carelessness could lead to serious injury). I know that I also have to work on technique, but I also notice that I am hypersensitive at certain points even when practicing technique slowly. Smiley compared it to Judo and stated that to hesitate on certain throws actually endangers your partner, which I can attest to. In Judo, sometimes you can have a person go too slowly because they are afraid to hurt you and it feels worse to be thrown by them. I don’t want to fall in that category. Smiley also told me about a guy who was 265 lbs and was very hesistant to apply techniques on many smaller opponents. He accidently broke another student’s ankle by not properly carrying through on a technique because he was afraid to follow through.

I need to be careful, but I also need to follow through properly so I don’t injure myself and others…

As far as sparring is concerned, I am using my gi now and I am being trounced.

It is a totally different world between gi and no-gi.

Yesterday (Monday) we worked on three sweeps and an omoplata all from the spider guard. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as that goes. However, as I explained in earlier posts I am picking up a lot of technical information pretty quickly.

At the end of class I rolled with Big K (blue belt) again and this time we rolled for a pretty long time before he was able to obtain the tap (over 10 minutes). I was less tired so I was able to put up a good fight. I have absoulutely pinned down the fact that endurance effects my game. When I have a lot of it, I stay out of trouble pretty easily with most people. However, when it begans to wane I can literally feel myself giving up good positioning and I end up getting submitted. This time via triangle. However, at the end Big K sat up and said, “That was some good rollin’. Damn good rollin’!”

Note: As I have been doing this for about 3 years now and have trained in a few different places I am beginning to actually ’see’ and experience the journey of being a BJJ practicioner. I am beginning to fully realize the different styles of teaching different schools have, the different games their members play and how each adds value to my BJJ.  This is the third school I have trained in and I have been a guest in other acadamies as well. Not as many as some of the hardcore BJJ, MMA and submission grappling guys but I am starting to recognize I am on a ‘path.’

Class went well on Friday. We worked on re-establishing the guard after a person passes your guard. I’ve seen people do the 360 degree roll to regain guard, but this is the first time that I have practiced it. One of the good things about Smiley’s MMA (Combat Athletix) is that the moves are broken down in parts and we practice the moves in chunks leading up until the full technique.

However, toward the end of drilling, my drilling partner, Big K, accidentally kneed me in the mouth. He told me that he heard it. I didn’t hear it but I felt it as it connected with my lips, teeth and jawbone. I tried to shake it off and play it off like it didn’t hurt like I normally do, but I had to collect myself a little this time. Once we resumed, Big K soon told me that I was bleeding. It turns out that I had bit through my lip on the inside and outside.

Once I nursed it a little, needless to say I put in my mouthpiece. I have recently started the dirty habit of not putting it in until I spar at the end of class, but I will put it in from the beginning of class from now on.

After that, Big K ran a tap clinic on me for about 10 minutes. I was able to use the guard pass that we learned from the previous class with relative ease and for the first 2 minutes or so I was pretty acrobatic, passing the guard, spinning to north-south, but soon I fatigued and Big K had his way with me.

My endurance is building up and I am getting used to the training format so soon I think I will be able to carry energy all the way into the sparring sessions so I can perform the way I know I can.

Until next time… 

I wore the gi for the first time this Wednesday. I hadn’t worn one since December of last year and that was for one day at Jax BJJ. I wasn’t ready for the increase in temperature (at least 10 to 15 degrees) and felt sluggish the entire session after the warm-up. However, I’ve experienced it before with Judo and know that it’s only temporary.

We worked on a Granby Roll, a guard pass drill where the man on the bottom has to hold on to his belt and not use his hands while the other person tries to pass and also another slick way of passing the guard. Class was relatively small today with about six people and after about an hour most of the class had to leave (probably for work, etc.). I worked out with the same blue belt that tapped me out last time (Big K) and he taught me a lot of defenses to side control.

I am really enjoying these classes and feel as if my knowledge is increasing at warp speed. We cover a lot of different techniques but also have ample time to drill each one. There is a good balance between warming up, technique and drilling and grappling at the end.

I have had a total of four sessions since I started attenting Smiley’s MMA (Combat Athletix). For the first time in a while I feel a real sense of progression. Being able to train more than twice a week makes me feel as if I can achieve a lot more. I think it has been over two years since I have trained at least three times in one week (at an academy).

In class we worked on the x-guard again. We concentrated on a few sweeps and an arm bar from the x-guard. Smiley had to show me a few variations on the sweeps, etc., because for some reason I couldn’t do it exactly the way he demonstrated it. Smiley attributed it to body types as every one eventually has there own unique way of performing movements. I think my flexibility hinders me the most. 

When it was time to roll I felt I performed a lot better. I was able to obtain a takedown and gain positional dominance on the first partner I rolled with. I was taller (3 inches) and heavier (50 lbs)though. I was able to pull off a grapevine reversal from the guard and switch from side control to mount pretty successfully. However, I am noticing that I am having a little bit of a problem in gaining the submission even when I am able to dominate positionally. He defended against my mount chokes and kept me from obtaining his back even after I gained an underhook from the lockdown.

After grappling with him, a blue belt asked me to show him some takedowns. I showed him a number of techniques I use to take people down. It was a little different for me because I had to actually think about what I do to achieve a takedown. After a while takedowns become second nature and a lot of it has to do with timing and balance. What may seem impossible to achieve is pretty easy if the person you want to throw is in the right stance or slightly off-balance and that is what is hard to convey.

After that, I rolled with the same blue belt and we went for quite a bit of time before he was able to get a double arm bar. I felt pretty safe in his guard and from escaping his previous arm bar attempts I thought I was safe. The last time I was double armbarred was about 3 years ago. I will have to start being more cautious in that area (and less cocky).

Until next time….

I arrived in Jacksonville last Tuesday. I was scheduled to be here last Saturday but one delay after the other kept that from happening. Anyway, after a busy week we are finally getting settled.

I was able to squeeze in one practice session at Smiley’s MMA last week. I had a good time and there were at least 20 to 25 people at the practice. Hopefully, I will have some time soon so I can tell everyone about it. I also want to make sure it’s okay to blog before I begin.

I haven’t been to Jax BJJ yet. Hopefully, I can visit next week…

BJ Penn vs. Sean SherK:  BJ Penn of course!

Sherk had trouble with GSP and Matt Hughes because he had a shorter reach than these guys and because he couldn’t handle their strength. I believe BJ Penn has more core strength than Sherk (although they use it differently) and he has better hands than the “Muscle Shark.”

Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine:  Silva

I believe their awkwardness nullifies each others fighting skills. Wanderlei is a better Muy Thai fighter and striker but Jardine’s unorthodox style catches fighters by surprise. Wanderlei’s tendency to throw “party punches,” to borrrow a phrase from Eric Apple, allows others to catch him with straight shots. However, Wanderlei’s ability to recover is what I think will save him.

Wilson Gouveia vs. Goran Reljic: Gouveia

Goeveia has talent and skill and I believe that he will easily overwhelm Reljic who appears to be a “bread and butter” fighter. He uses the basics and is keen on defense. I wish I had more info on Reljic but I give the nod to Gouveia who’s Muy Thai skills can give a novice fits..

Tito Ortiz vs. Lyoto Machida: Machida

Although I really want Ortiz to win, Machida’s style just doesn’t lend itself to being an easy victory for Tito. Machida will win the stand-up battle and he won’t give Ortiz the type of strikes he can expect from every other fighter he’s fought. Machida’s BJJ is also under-rated. Unless he can hold Machida down for three rounds he’s not going to win. Although I wish Ortiz would win because I believe that he is absolutely right about Dana White and so he can be very marketable when he leaves. It will give whatever organization he goes to a lot of credibility and will help break the UFC monopoly.

Thiago Silva vs. Antonio Mendes: Silva

Silva is over-rated (at least for the UFC). I believe he believes he is better than he really is (e.g., his victory “over-celebration” when James Irvin knee blew out). Although he is undefeated. However, I can’t find anything on Mendes so I will give Silva the nod based on familiarity and his propensity to win by luck.

Ivan Salaverry vs. Rousimar Palhares: Salaverry

Salaverry has been one of my favorite fighters, who never fights, ever since I saw him tap out Tony Fryklund. He is always gracious and a ‘class act.” His opponent is an unknown talent from Brazil. He’s rather short in comparison to Salaverry and Salaverry’s stand-up is pretty good so I have to go with Ivan.

Rameau Sokoudjou vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura: Sokoudjou

Nakamura’s Judo has not worked for him in a long time. He is also a 185 pounder at best. Sokoudjou has a good history of sending PRIDE fighters into parallel universes and with Nakamura’s penchant for wearing costumes, I am sure he has a spacesuit for his journey.

Rich Clementi vs. Terry Etim: Clementi

As much as I would love Etim to show “No Love” to Clementi and send him packing, he always manages to pull out the victory. I see no reason why Etim should win. Clementi’s after victory antics with Melvin Guillard and his refusal to tap gloves with Anthony “Rumble” Johnson rubbed me the wrong way. He’s one of those guys you love to mildly dislike ( It’s not that serious).

John Koppenhaver vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida: Yoshida

I am sorry but I cannot see Koppenhaver lasting long in the UFC.

Jason Tan vs. Dong Hyun Kim: Dong Hyun Kim

Kim fights like Lyoto Machida and he is 6″3″. I think he is going to give Jason Tan a ‘beatin.” They didn’t fly Kim in for nothing…

JiuJitsu365: I watched a pretty interesting show called “MMA Live” on ESPN.com. It was pretty interesting after you get past the first three minutes where the host says “MMA Live” about a hundred times. The co-hosts were Kenny Florian and Franklin McNeil (a sports writer). Both Florian and McNeil were a little awkward at first, but they worked out the kinks near the end of the broadcast. It is a shame that it is online and not a regular show on ESPN but it will do for now.  

Oh by the way, Franklin McNeil makes a comment about women’s MMA which I think is garbage. I think his thought process also highlights why women’s boxing never could build up steam.

Here is the link: MMA Live Episode 1, MMA Live  Episode 2

When I used to box (many years ago) sometimes I would play around with the lead hand down defense.  I would use a lean and a shoulder to block or avoid incoming blows (e.g., Pernell Whitaker). I usually did this when the head trainer, Frank, would turn away for a moment. However, I would never use it in an MMA or kickboxing match.

In the latest installment of the “Iron Ring,” a show that proves I will watch anything that contains MMA, a fighter named “Boogie” keeps his hands down with disastrous consequences.   For him….