MMA and me; day 263

Normally I don't get in to the gym on Mondays, but this week I had the time, so I made the best of it. For MMA class, we started out working on ground and pound. We gloved up, and worked on transitioning between all the positions; high judo, low judo, cross body side control, mount, north/south, knee ride, V knee ride, and all the while landing 3-5 punches, straight 1-2s or hammerfists. Next we moved on to working the kick shield with low kicks. For me this was good for working on getting to that outside angle and really driving through with the kick. Not kicking to the shield, but a spot 2-3 feet past it. We then switched up to Thai clinch knees to the body, making sure to work on the push pull technique that can really make them that much more impactful. Also, circling away from the direction you are steering them with your clinch is big, as it gives you a lot of space to wind up the knee and make it all the more devastating. We finished off with take down drills against the wall, and since it's been a minute since I have done this, I struggled at first. One person had their back on the wall, and everyone else lined up to take them down, one at a time. My cardio is not terrible right now, but if I plan on having success next month, I had better improve!

In no-gi jiu jitsu, we worked on our drills, station to station; keylock/straight arm lock/kimura, triangle drill, kimura drill, swinging arm bar, shoulder rolls, S mount arm bar, step over drill, headstand, shrimping in place, snap arm bar, S mount arm bar. I helped one of the new guys, and we mostly worked on the keylock flow drill, and the kimura drill. The key lock flow was a simplified version of one we have worked before, so I will just focus on the kimura which I have only done sparingly. With your opponent in your guard, if they posture up and put one of their hands on the mat, with your same side hand, grab the wrist of their and that is posted on the mat, pushing it away from you at the same time. Sit up, and with your other hand, bring it out, around, over their head, and over the arm you just grabbed, and grab your other wrist. From here, switch your hips so you are on the hip opposite the side you have the kimura locked up on, and get your top side leg as close to across the back of their shoulders, while using your other leg to post on the mat, creating a solid base. After this, all you do is crank the arm up and behind their back for the tap. Very fun class, and very important to keep the skills fresh.

So I realized on my way home, that it has now been two years exactly, since I first walked in the doors of Shoreline MMA. When I first started, I was out of shape, hadn't competed in anything like this since high school, and weighed 240 pounds. I have competed in four grappling tournaments, with a record of 7-2, a silver, and two golds, and weigh 185 pounds. I have met people that will be in my life for the rest of mine, and are like new family members. Thank you to everybody who has helped along the way, and encouraged, motivated, pushed, and challenged me. You have helped me find the self I barely knew I had inside, and for that I will be forever grateful. I love you all, and I am very excited to see what the next two years have to offer!