MMA and me; day 200

Wow! 200 days in the books, and here's where I stand after beginning this foray into getting in shape by trying my hand at mixed martial arts; lost nearly sixty pounds, and six inches off my waist. Been awarded a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, and competed in two grappling tournaments with a record of 2-2, and one second place finish. I can't wait to see where I'm at when I get to day 500! Thanks to everyone for their support and love and kicking me in the butt when I needed it.

I was only able to make it to jiu jitsu tonight, and with only one other student, we went back to working on lock flows. We covered what we did yesterday with the flow that was kicked off with the key lock, and after going over that a few times, we moved on to a leg lock flow. From a standing position, reach over then under one of their legs (for the purposes of clearly explaining, I'll go from the left leg, using your right arm) and pin it to your side, while simultaneously driving your opposite side knee in between their legs, and to the mat on that side of their body, while rolling to your hip on that side. Throwing your top side leg over, and with that foot, either keep the bottom of it flat and tight against their chest, or flush to the mat and tucked under their body. The reason for this is if you do not, you are leaving yourself wide open for a toe hold, and you really don't want to do that. Pinching your knees together, pull their top side knee in tight on your hip with your top side hand, then slide it up to the toes of the foot, and bring it up to 12:00, and push away from you until they tap, this is a compression lock. For a little extra oomph, flex your quad muscle on the leg your pushing their leg into, it makes it much more painful.

From the compression lock, scoot your hips away from them to create a little space, and bring your other hand around their top side leg, and over your own wrist, and then attempt to turn their toes into their behind for a toe hold. Make sure to keep your tops side foot against their chest, or under their body, or once again, you will get a toe hold slapped on you.

As you fall back to your hip, reach your elbow out and around their heel, and grasp your hands together for a heel hook. Slide your arm down until your radial bone is against the base of their heel, for a short heel hook, just to add another option. Be very careful with these, as the slightest increase of pressure in the wrong way can completely tear someones knee apart.

From the heel hook, scoot your hips back out to create space once again, and swim your hand under their Achilles tendon, digging your radial bone into the area where the tendon meets the bone, keeping your palm flat against your chest. Scoot your hips back in tight to bring your behind up against theirs, and pinch your knees tightly together, and then while propping yourself up on your other elbow, rotate away from your other arm on the point of that elbow, as if you were attempting to look at something behind and above you, until the rotation and pressure forces a tap, from the Achilles lock, or straight ankle lock.

Lastly, kick your top side foot out until it is facing away from their head, and bring your bottom side leg behind you, until you are also facing away from them, and lean back on the Achilles hold, arching your back and extending your hips, until they tap to the half crab. From this position, kick both legs forward, release the Achilles hold, and reach under their knee with both legs and again, lean back while arching your hips. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on their quad muscle, and though at first it doesn't hurt that bad, if you really lean on it, it feels terrible!

Another amazing class, and I am really starting to understand, and apply the concept of lock flow. Chain after chain, always keeping them on the defensive. I LOVE IT! Here's to another 200 days!