MMA and me; day 160

Got to work on some boxing after a grappling workout to start the day. All of the combos we drilled began with a jab, jab, straight, and finished with a right turn, straight, hook, straight, left turn, jab, jab. So first we worked high catch counter, to catch 2. Second was a catch body rear hook, catch body lead hook, rear uppercut, lead uppercut, hook, straight, roll 7. Next was catch lead body hook counter, catch rear body hook counter, catch lead body hook counter. We then worked a pull counter into a double slip, and then double hook straight. Lastly was the Guzman slip series. Here's what the breakdown looked like
1) 1-1-2-high catch-2-3-2-catch 2-right turn-2-3-2-left turn-1-1.
2) 1-1-2-catch body 4-catch body 3-6-5-3-2-roll 7-right turn-2-3-2-left turn-1-1.
3) 1-1-2-catch body 3-6-2-3-2-catch body 4-5-3-2-catch body 3-6-2-3-2-right turn-2-3-2-left turn-1-1.
4) 1-1-2-pull-2-3-2-jab slip-straight slip-3-3-2-right turn-2-3-2-left turn-1-1.
5) 1-1-2-jab slip-6-2-3-2-straight slip-5-3-2-right turn-2-3-2-left turn-1-1.

The biggest things I took away from class were to stay relaxed, stay balanced, and on the last set of punches after the left turn, keep turning to change your angle of attack on your opponent so they stay disoriented. Great class!

In jiu jitsu we worked shrimping and rolls, and then went right into a couple of different guard passes from standing over a downed opponent. First was the matador pass, where you cup the back of their heels, and swing them to one side as you step to the same side. Quickly swing them to the opposite side, but don't step in that direction. Instead, swing your inside arm over your head and C grip the top of their knee, and slide your inside foot to their hip. Drive the knee of that same leg into their sternum, and dive for a far side under hook for control, and there you go. Next was for if the matador pass isn't working, or you want to change things up. Again with the heels cupped, swing the legs back and forth a bit, then separate them, and pin their right knee to the mat by placing your left hand on it and pushing down, quickly sliding your left knee over the inside of their right leg, and trapping it to the mat. From here, swim your right hand under their left leg, reach way out with your left arm, and swing it around in front of you, spinning to low judo and clearing your leg from theirs, and ending in a reverse cradle with your hands clasped under their legs. Lastly, if neither of those was working, and they were particularly flexible and have their knees nearly flat to the mat, swim both hands under their legs, and run their hips over the top of their head, putting them on the back of their neck, but keeping all of your weight on them. From here, it's almost like a variation of the matador pass. You press and turn like you're going one way, but then you quickly throw their legs in the other direction, and land in low judo, but keeping pressure on them the whole time, and ending with your ribs on theirs, pushing all the air out of their lungs. The final thing we worked on was the seat belt grip from back control, and transitioning from side to side with arm bars, back to back mount, back to arm bars, etc. etc. A really fun class, and I am starting to feel really confident on the mat. Especially after having rolled with my gorilla of a brother for the first half hour or so yesterday. That boy is pretty damn strong!