3 classes....

I'm behind 3 classes for this blog!!!

Well, I'm gonna try to remember each class and summarize them.

Only one school was open on Dec 31, 2008 and that was the school right across the street from UCF. I usually don't go there but I wanted to train so I went. This class was awesome....actually there was no class!!! It was just 3 hours of rolling with everybody.Fun, fun, fun. There was a lot of Black and brown belts there. I ended up being the submission dummy for the brown belts....lol. I didn't really learn anything new but I had some goods wars.All in all it was really fun and I would love some more open mat time like that.

Jan 7, 2009
This was my first class of the new year. We started the class off in the usual manner....running, jumping jacks, push-ups, stretching, etc. Then we got into some technique. The first technique was a throw. I forget the name of the throw but, it was basically a one arm shoulder throw or Ippon Seoinage. We then practiced some escapes from the north south position that were pretty cool.

The first escape
1. you grabbed the opponents belt or GI pants
2. then you pushed off to create space
3. you then swung your legs from side to side to get momentum
4. you then had two options
- Swing your legs all the way to one side an regain half guard
The second option is pretty difficult to explain but what end up happening is you get to a sweep position.

The second escape
1. keep your elbows on your chest
2. then push up to create space
3. now you have to move one of your arms across your body
4. turn your body and grab his leg at the same time
5.you are now in a single leg takedown position

After the techniques we did specific training( sparring only using the moves we just learned). Which is always so hard because your opponent knows exactly what your trying to do...lol.

Once we lined up to end class I was pleasantly surprised at receiving my third stripe!!! I was very happy. Getting closer to that Blue belt!!!

After class I rolled with some pretty good Blue belts Jeff and Eric. They both beat me up but It was fun :) I love rolling with the higher belts...its almost like you take a little bit of something from each person you roll with. It makes you better. Or like Renzo Gracie says, " If you are the nail enough times you will eventually be the hammer." I'm definitely the nail right now....lol.

Jan 8, 2009

This was a competition class...I love the competition class!!! I always get such a good workout.

Like always we had a wonderful warm-up and then went straight into technique.

The first technique was a throw and is very hard to describe but it was awesome....I'm gonna be practicing this throw.

The next technique was the Omaplata setup/escape/counter. This was some good stuff. Especially the counter to the Omaplata escape. You attempt and Omaplata...the person rolls escaping the Omaplata...then you roll and tuck his arm in and BAM the triangle is right there!!!
There was also an Arm bar counter that was very good as well.

Then in my favorite part of class start rolling. We roll for 3 five minute matches. Each match with someone new. My first match was with a Blue belt. We went back and forth and when the time expired no one had tapped. The second match was with a very tall 2 stripe white belt. He had the control in the beginning but once I got on top I got side control and finished him with a kimura. I felt bad because I think I cranked on it a little too much but he was fighting it and it just kinda happened. He was fine though:) In my third match I faced another tall white belt...he had only 1 stripe though. He seemed very strong but he didn't have much technique yet. I let him work a little and then finished him with a GI choke from the bottom.

After all that class was over and the rolling continued:) I ended rolling with a Brown belt named Wesley. This guy is good....he always seems to beat me up effortlessly. Whats good though is he teaches me something new every time and shows me where I faltered. I had some lessons on keeping my base that were very informative.

Whew!!! That's it folks...my last 3 classes. Next week I'll post after each class.

Anyway...take it easy everybody and keep training!!