MMA and me; day 65

Not too slacky today. Got my morning workout in, and last night's classes were great! In boxing we worked a lot of uppercut combos, so I'll get right into it. We started off throwing 5s and 6s. Making sure to "sit down" on the punches, and shift my weight to set them up. Next was a 1-2-slip-6. The key is not making too big a shift when you slip, which leaves you open to a big counter punch. Instead, a slight shift is plenty to avoid the jab, and also winds you up for the 6, which you throw by exploding your hips up, and your end position should be with your shoulder of the hand you threw the punch with, pointing towards your opponent. The following combo was a 1-2-3-roll-5. So after the 1-2-3, you roll back to the side the hook was thrown from, which sets your body up for the 5, and then just explode the hips up and finish. Last, we worked on a 1-2-shoulder roll-6. This is different from a slip, in that your shifting your weight but bringing your shoulder across, to block a the punch. Where in a slip, you're avoiding a jab, the shoulder roll blocks a straight. From the shoulder roll, you're in the same position as you are when you slip, so from there it's all about exploding the hips, and throwing that 6.

Grappling was all about stretching, getting our minds right, and then we got right in to it. We worked on pummeling drills in the Greco-Roman clinch, and also pummeling to an arm drag which results in taking your opponents back, enabling you to drag them to the ground. From the over under grip in the clinch, using your over hook arm, slide your hand down to their wrist, and push it down and away from you. Using your other arm, reach under and grab the elbow, and pull it towards you, and at the same time, slip behind them, trapping their arm as you lock your hands around them. From there, push forwards into them, until they push back, and trip them over one of your legs, landing in side control, where a plethora of submissions await. Next we worked on guard passing. From your opponents guard, posture up, and sit back. Locking out your elbows, place your hands on the inside of their hips, and lean over, putting a lot of pressure on their abdomen. Placing one knee behind their butt, and lunging the other leg out behind you, simply twist and lean back, until the guard is broken, and you can start looking to pass. So simple, but effective!