MMA and me; day 288

So I have made a few discoveries in my first few months as an instructor. One, I really like teaching class, and I feel very blessed to be able to do something like this. Two, only coming to the gym for those classes (instructing) is NOT a sufficient method of staying in shape, with no other supplemental exercise. Three, and this one is more of a decision I made after number two became apparent, I will be coming in an extra day during the week, likely Wednesdays or Mondays, depending on what I got going on that week, and earlier on Tuesdays, or maybe hitting up AMMA and getting in some mat time with different partners, because that can only help me get better.

Anyways, yesterday was a great day in the gym, and in gi class we worked on a couple of sweeps from bottom half guard, the old school sweep, and what I can best describe as the narrow base sweep.

For both, it is important to establish a solid base, and most urgently, a same side as your half guard under hook. From flat on your back, reach across their body to frame up their face with your arm on the same side as your half guard. Doing so while shrimping towards that side, creates the space you need to pummel in for the under hook, while also posting up on your other arm and creating a solid post.  Now, if your opponent has a wide base, like most wrestlers do, you are presented with the opportunity to dive your arm that you are posted up on, deep under their far leg, and rolling them over your body. It is very necessary that you get your head deep in against their hip, or you run the risk of getting choked. As you roll them over you, kick your leg free of theirs (or you will be in their half guard and have to work to pass) under hook their head, C block their legs, and you are in side control, ready to go to work.

Sometimes, as you follow your under hook (as we are all taught to do) your opponent is forced to follow you around by walking their knees towards you, or risk letting you take their back. As they do so, you can take advantage of their knees being close together and drop your under hook from across their back, to their far ankle, and reach for their far knee with your post arm, while switching your hips to drive your shoulder into their ribs, and pulling in their far leg to drive them over onto their back. Again, make sure to kick your legs free of their legs, and towards their head, as to avoid landing in their half guard.

Great class, but I am feeling fat and doughy. Time to get that fire back.

MMA and me; day 286/287

So I only had one class last week, since we as a gym were really focusing on getting two of our fighters ready for their fights on Saturday. They both won in dominating fashion, ad a big congratulations to both Batman and Jeremie! On Tuesday, we worked our technique drills as usual, and then went to work on a new choke, the bow and arrow. From back control, with the usual over under grip, using your over hook, grab the far lapel, and release your under hook to post up behind you. Using the post, start to shrimp your hips away from the over hook, until you are almost completely out to the side. From here, roll back slightly, and kick your leg that is behind them, around and over their head, until the bottom of your hamstring is pressing against the side of their face. From here, you want to get a push pull action with your grip on their lapel, and your leg. If you keep them slightly elevated, you can get full pressure with your leg, while pulling with your grip, until they tap. If they flatten out completely on their back, you will have a harder time finishing the submission, so try to keep them in a semi reclined position while you work the push/pull.

Thursday was a lot of straight rolling, helping the fighters, and working with a couple new guys, but no official class. Can't wait for tonight, and I hope to see some new faces!