MMA and me; day 62

Man, going for three classes in a day is dang exhausting. Since I can't go today, I went for an extra class yesterday, and am going for one tomorrow as well. Yesterday was an MMA class, and we worked exclusively on take downs. First was the single leg take down, where you lower your level and push forward with your rear leg as you drop to the knee of your front leg, reaching out to grab their leg on that same side. Wrapping your outside arm around the leg, and getting a tight grip with your other arm, you pin the leg you have wrapped up between your thighs, and stand up. Keeping your head pinned to their hip, you rotate towards their back, and push down with your head, until they fall to their back. Next was a double leg take down, which is initiated in a similar fashion, changing levels and exploding off your rear leg. However, instead of shooting for the outside, and turning the corner for one leg, you want to aim your forehead at their chest, and get your hands around the back of their thighs. From there, using your head for leverage, suck their legs in, and drive them to the mat. We ended with ten minutes of grappling, starting from standing, to work on take downs.

Next was kickboxing, and it was pretty similar to last weeks classes. First we just worked a simple jab, or 1-2 combos, depending on what our partner called out. We then moved on to more advanced, and unorthodox combos. First, a 1-2-high 9-low 10. After the 2, throw a switch 9, where you switch your stance and throw a high kick with what was your lead leg and is now your rear leg, then follow that with a low 10 to the thigh. I still need to work on opening my hips and really driving the leg down on the 10, but my 9 is coming along alright. Next was the 1-2-inside 9, low 10. Very similar to the previous combo, but instead of going high with the 9, kick to the inside thigh, and then as you bring the leg back from the 9, hop and throw the 10, almost simultaneously. It took me the whole round to get comfortable with this one, and I definitely need more work on it. Lastly, was the 1-2-inside slip-5-low 10. We did this one last week as well, but I think instead of an uppercut, it was a hook to the body, but this week we went uppercut. after the 1-2, you slip, but instead of to the outside, you go inside, setting up the uppercut, which in turn sets up the low 10. Another nice kickboxing class, but it was hard to concentrate, because I finally got to grapple next!

We worked on submissions from the snap down position, which is initiated from the head and arm tie up. From the tie up, swim your hand behind their neck, and with both hands, pull down, as you step back with your rear knee, and as they fall, get your chest on their back, and get a seat belt grip (under an arm on one side, around the head on the other). From there, the first submission was a guillotine choke, where you slide your arm that is on the head side, so your hand is on the front of the shoulder, and grab it with your other hand. Pulling up as you constrict your shoulders, and dropping your hips to the mat will force your arm or wrist under the chin, and force them to tap out as they get choked. Next was a D'Arce choke, which is a submission to go to, if you can't get the guillotine. From the seat belt grip, reach the arm on the side of the head all the way under their chest, and grab their tricep. Next, release the tricep, and grab the bicep of your other arm, and swim the hand of that arm over the back of your opponent. With the hold locked up, walk your hips up towards your opponent, compressing the neck, and then roll to the side opposite your hands, walking your hips towards your opponent, until they tap out. Lastly, we worked a Peruvian Necktie, which may get a little complicated, but I will do my best to explain. From the D'Arce position, instead of reaching under with the head side arm, reach under with the outside arm, until your hand is on the far side of the neck. From there, place your other arm across the back of their neck, and grab across the back of your other hand, that is under their neck. When your have a firm grip, throw your outside leg over their back, and step your other leg through to bring over their back as well. At this point, all you have to do is arch your back a bit, and they will tap out.

Really a fun day of classes. So glad to be back and grappling, it was a little rusty, but so much fun. No class tonight, but back for three classes tomorrow!