North/South Kimura Sequence
1 month ago
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Sore Upper Inner Thighs
Wowzers. Haven't been this sore in a while. Walking bull-legged. It's from yesterday's back maintenance and guard pass drills with the Brown. Well...I'll just say that it's REALLY hard to keep a grown man in between your legs when he's trying desperately to escape.
Light Drilling w/ Ryan Hall
No no no... I wasn't drilling with Ryan Hall, so if you came here to read about that, go ahead and leave. Instead this post is about some light drilling work I did with a Brown Belt yesterday w/ a Ryan Hall video link with heated discussion about his loss to Bruno Henrique at the Houston Open last weekend.
Here's the link: http://www.grapplingweekly.com/ryan-halls-contraversial-loss-to-bruno-henrique-at-the-houston-open/ (discussion on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grapplingweekly/posts/232217980200950)
A few friends from NOLA BJJ competed at the Houston Open and watched Hall's match. My thoughts? Rules are rules I suppose. But I wonder if Bruno considered conceding the fight to Hall. The dude got beat, official results notwithstanding.
Oh... about my light drilling. It was the second time on the mats since early December. Showed up for the 7:30am class and the only other person who showed was a Brown I know only in passing. The doors were locked so after 30 mins of waiting we decided to sneak into a gym located nearby and drill a bit. I was hesitant at first, but hey, he's a Brown. I'm just following my elder's lead! (Actually, I'm older than him by 3mos) We warmed up with sweeps from half guard. The sweep allowed us to get into a groove and sweep back and forth. Then he showed me a new choke from mount. Basically feed your gi lapel under the guys head and pass to opposite hand. Dismount to side control and finish in modified north-south. Pretty slick, although I'm not sure I will be able to control a guy during the transition from mount to side to north-south. Regardless, it was good to see a new technique again.
We finished with drills. He worked back escapes while I attempted to sub. Initially we were going to switch off, but while demonstrating a one armed choke, I think he crushed my windpipe. I heard it pop and I still can't swallow right. So... no back escapes for me. Instead I worked guard sweeps/subs while he attempted to pass. Worked up a decent sweat over 15 mins. Although he's only 160lbs or so, I couldn't control him from the back at all. He escaped each time, except for the last attempt when I choked him when he raised a hand to clear his hair. Got lucky. I swept him twice. Sweep off a pass and omoplata. He passed several times. Once I got stuck under his half guard. Miserable. He felt like 250lbs. How do people do that? Finally, out of exhaustion, I gave up the pass.
Before leaving I stopped back at the gym. Doors were open and folks were starting to arrive for class. Hmm... I guess the schedule changed when I was gone. Had to get to work so I couldn't join the class. Now I have a copy of the new schedule. I guess things like that happen when you stay away from the gym for months. . .
A few friends from NOLA BJJ competed at the Houston Open and watched Hall's match. My thoughts? Rules are rules I suppose. But I wonder if Bruno considered conceding the fight to Hall. The dude got beat, official results notwithstanding.
Oh... about my light drilling. It was the second time on the mats since early December. Showed up for the 7:30am class and the only other person who showed was a Brown I know only in passing. The doors were locked so after 30 mins of waiting we decided to sneak into a gym located nearby and drill a bit. I was hesitant at first, but hey, he's a Brown. I'm just following my elder's lead! (Actually, I'm older than him by 3mos) We warmed up with sweeps from half guard. The sweep allowed us to get into a groove and sweep back and forth. Then he showed me a new choke from mount. Basically feed your gi lapel under the guys head and pass to opposite hand. Dismount to side control and finish in modified north-south. Pretty slick, although I'm not sure I will be able to control a guy during the transition from mount to side to north-south. Regardless, it was good to see a new technique again.
We finished with drills. He worked back escapes while I attempted to sub. Initially we were going to switch off, but while demonstrating a one armed choke, I think he crushed my windpipe. I heard it pop and I still can't swallow right. So... no back escapes for me. Instead I worked guard sweeps/subs while he attempted to pass. Worked up a decent sweat over 15 mins. Although he's only 160lbs or so, I couldn't control him from the back at all. He escaped each time, except for the last attempt when I choked him when he raised a hand to clear his hair. Got lucky. I swept him twice. Sweep off a pass and omoplata. He passed several times. Once I got stuck under his half guard. Miserable. He felt like 250lbs. How do people do that? Finally, out of exhaustion, I gave up the pass.
Before leaving I stopped back at the gym. Doors were open and folks were starting to arrive for class. Hmm... I guess the schedule changed when I was gone. Had to get to work so I couldn't join the class. Now I have a copy of the new schedule. I guess things like that happen when you stay away from the gym for months. . .
Sunday, February 12, 2012
UNIJJ 5th Anniversary
Today was the fifth anniversary open mat and party for the University of Jiu Jitsu. I haven't been on the mats in 2.5 months so I purposely showed up late and stayed on the side lines as long as possible to avoid the temptation to over do it. The last thing I wanted was to hurt myself on my first "day" back.
To say the mats were crowded is an understatement. I'll update this post on Monday with pictures, but...let's just say I've never seen anything like it. Packed to the max. It was good to see everyone again still training hard. Several White Belts are now Blues. A couple Blues are now Purples. A purple is now a Brown. To quote Mr. Miller, "Time keeps on slipping (slipping...)..."
I jumped in with another Blue about my age and weight for the last six minute round of the session. Survival was my goal. As Professor Matthias from NOLA BJJ advised, i went 50% and played defense. Well...sort of. I went 50% at first and tried to play defense as best as I could. I recall getting into some trouble quickly. He had me cross-faced but hadn't secured side control. Felt smashed and claustrophobia alarms started going off. Eventually he secured the side control and advanced to knee on belly. I recall escaping to turtle and rolling out to open guard. Open guard to x-guard sweep. Then pass to knee on belly. He turtled out and I set up the back attack but he rolled out again to guard recovery. From guard he set up a front gi choke. But it wasn't the typical front gi choke. He looped a forearm around the head and smashed a wrist blade across the face. Same move three times and third time was a charm. He had it tight and I tapped thinking he left me with a fat/blue lip fo sure...
Shortly after resetting from the tap, I laid back into open guard. Got a spider grip left side. That used to be my go to side for sweep off a pass, but given that I'm 50% (at best) on the left Tricep and otherwise weak on that side, I wasn't sure if I could hold the position. Well, it held. I got the sweep without too much trouble and immediately transitioned to the arm bar. He tapped verbally as I arched my hips. But I cold tell something was wrong. He was holding his upper arm and said his shoulder dislocated. Said it's the seventh time in his life and third since he started training BJJ. Master Saulo and Professor Santos looked concerned and told us to sit out the rest of the round. He quickly reset the dislocation and said he's ok now (just can't tell his wife about or no more BJJ for him...).
Hmm... Hurting my training partner upset me. Was I too aggressive? Did my ego and pride take over allowing me to crank too hard on the arm? Would a more skilled fighter have cotrolled the sub setup and provided more time for the tap before injury? These and other thoughts have been running through my mind all afternoon/evening.
Injury to my teammate notwithstanding, my first five+ minutes on the mats in 2.5 months couldn't have felt better. I didn't gas. My neck seemed safe the entire time. I felt...well, fantastic. Can't wait to resume training next week.
After the open mat, Master Saulo and Judo Sensei Lizumi gave rousing talks about the virtues and martial arts and the master-student relationship. I'm proud to be part of the UNIJJ team and, God willing, look forward to many more years of safe training.
To say the mats were crowded is an understatement. I'll update this post on Monday with pictures, but...let's just say I've never seen anything like it. Packed to the max. It was good to see everyone again still training hard. Several White Belts are now Blues. A couple Blues are now Purples. A purple is now a Brown. To quote Mr. Miller, "Time keeps on slipping (slipping...)..."
I jumped in with another Blue about my age and weight for the last six minute round of the session. Survival was my goal. As Professor Matthias from NOLA BJJ advised, i went 50% and played defense. Well...sort of. I went 50% at first and tried to play defense as best as I could. I recall getting into some trouble quickly. He had me cross-faced but hadn't secured side control. Felt smashed and claustrophobia alarms started going off. Eventually he secured the side control and advanced to knee on belly. I recall escaping to turtle and rolling out to open guard. Open guard to x-guard sweep. Then pass to knee on belly. He turtled out and I set up the back attack but he rolled out again to guard recovery. From guard he set up a front gi choke. But it wasn't the typical front gi choke. He looped a forearm around the head and smashed a wrist blade across the face. Same move three times and third time was a charm. He had it tight and I tapped thinking he left me with a fat/blue lip fo sure...
Shortly after resetting from the tap, I laid back into open guard. Got a spider grip left side. That used to be my go to side for sweep off a pass, but given that I'm 50% (at best) on the left Tricep and otherwise weak on that side, I wasn't sure if I could hold the position. Well, it held. I got the sweep without too much trouble and immediately transitioned to the arm bar. He tapped verbally as I arched my hips. But I cold tell something was wrong. He was holding his upper arm and said his shoulder dislocated. Said it's the seventh time in his life and third since he started training BJJ. Master Saulo and Professor Santos looked concerned and told us to sit out the rest of the round. He quickly reset the dislocation and said he's ok now (just can't tell his wife about or no more BJJ for him...).
Hmm... Hurting my training partner upset me. Was I too aggressive? Did my ego and pride take over allowing me to crank too hard on the arm? Would a more skilled fighter have cotrolled the sub setup and provided more time for the tap before injury? These and other thoughts have been running through my mind all afternoon/evening.
Injury to my teammate notwithstanding, my first five+ minutes on the mats in 2.5 months couldn't have felt better. I didn't gas. My neck seemed safe the entire time. I felt...well, fantastic. Can't wait to resume training next week.
After the open mat, Master Saulo and Judo Sensei Lizumi gave rousing talks about the virtues and martial arts and the master-student relationship. I'm proud to be part of the UNIJJ team and, God willing, look forward to many more years of safe training.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Homestretch
Tentatively plan to return to training in two weeks. Strength and conditioning going strong, but I'm still having trouble with the left tricep. 25-30lb skull crushers on the right tri compared to 12lb on the left. Bench pressed 15 reps of 65lbs this morning (yes...that was a challenge). Although still weak, I can now stand up in base from a left side post.
I'm looking forward to being a spectator at San Diego's Grappling X tourney on 2/12. Pans are in the back of mind too, but still a long way from knowing if I'll be comp ready by the end of March.
I'm looking forward to being a spectator at San Diego's Grappling X tourney on 2/12. Pans are in the back of mind too, but still a long way from knowing if I'll be comp ready by the end of March.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Slowly Improving
Symptoms receding. Numbness almost gone, but I can induce tingles by changing posture. Tricep getting stronger, but I still can't post on my left arm. Can't imagine a push-up. Only working out ~4hrs per week. Still can't jog or jump in place without inducing symptoms. Strangely enough my weight is still down a few pounds since the injury. Hopeful that I can return to the mats sometime in February.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I'm Not Alone (in SD)
Wow. Stopped by the gym today for the first time in over a month. Pleased to run into someone I deeply respect, yet hardly know. Explained that I hadn't quit, but had a setback. Turns out he struggles with the same issue. Herniated c5-c6. Understands what I'm going through. He's the second Professor in two cities to look me in the eyes and, I could tell, really understands and cares. He asked me to go with him tomorrow to see his neck specialist. God I love this journey.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Discharged!
Saw the surgeon again Friday. He discharged me and said I'm on my way to recovery. Told me to resume PT/strength & conditioning this week. Suggested I stay off the mats until symptoms are gone. Said it could be a month. Maybe longer. Maybe shorter. I asked him a 1000 questions and made sure he understood BJJ. Instructions still the same. Train if it doesn't hurt and I don't have symptoms. Rest if it hurts or my fingers go numb.
Still...I can't imagine getting back on the mats anytime soon. Pain is pretty much gone, but I get nerve aches in my shoulder, tricep, and forearm. Index finger still dead numb. Tricep is extremely weak too. Went to PT this morning (dang it felt good to do some activity again) and could barely lift four to seven pounds with skull crushers (tricep isolation exercise). I was doing 20lbs with my right arm no problem. I can't post on the left side at all. A single push-up is absolutely impossible.
Oh! Oddly enough I lost weight since early December. Weighed in at 219 this morning (clothed). No exercise plus lots of holiday food and drink equals 5-6lb weight loss. Go figure.
I'll be hitting the gym 3x per week for PT/strength & conditioning. When the numbness goes away and I have sufficient strength in my tricep I plan to get back on the mats. Until then...keep training my friends!
Still...I can't imagine getting back on the mats anytime soon. Pain is pretty much gone, but I get nerve aches in my shoulder, tricep, and forearm. Index finger still dead numb. Tricep is extremely weak too. Went to PT this morning (dang it felt good to do some activity again) and could barely lift four to seven pounds with skull crushers (tricep isolation exercise). I was doing 20lbs with my right arm no problem. I can't post on the left side at all. A single push-up is absolutely impossible.
Oh! Oddly enough I lost weight since early December. Weighed in at 219 this morning (clothed). No exercise plus lots of holiday food and drink equals 5-6lb weight loss. Go figure.
I'll be hitting the gym 3x per week for PT/strength & conditioning. When the numbness goes away and I have sufficient strength in my tricep I plan to get back on the mats. Until then...keep training my friends!
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