Thursday PM training w/ Professor Junior- Adaptation

When everything starts to go wrong in your life what should you do? Should you push a bad position and hope that by pushing hard enough you will overwhelm your troubles? Should you just freeze up and let the bad things happen? Should you look for an alternate way out of the problem? Change direction, and focus? Should you draw in your goals to focus on short term success instead of planning out the long run?
So it is with Jiu Jitsu. It's always good to have a plan A, and a plan B- but when it all starts going sideways, you need to adapt to what is happening, and react to it with smaller goals- like "I need to get my elbow out of there" or "how can I get him to transfer some weight off of my chest so I can get to my side" once you accomplish those small goals and regain a bit of control you can start planning your steps. This is why so many people compare BJJ to Chess. It's planning, adapting, reacting, attacking.
Last night we worked on some sweeps, and a sweet (but complicated) triangle from inverted guard.

I did some training with John, who is larger than me- he is quite good at using his size, and technique together and he pulled of some great subs- caught me in an armbar, and a choke- he nearly had a kimora, but gave up on it a little too soon. I wish I could say I was letting that happen, but really he was getting around me just fine. I think in his case I need to focus on making him reach so that I can get to the top. He storms my guard, and is one of few people I have rolled with that just seems to break right through. So I learned I need to develop some new engagements.

I finished the evening with a smaller guy and triangled him twice.  The first was almost identicle to the drill: triangle, armbar, then back to triangle and finish. The second was just straight triangle- he defended so I wrist locked him and sunk it in for the tap.

Not long for Broadway... AM training with Coach Boyle

The big news around Easton right now is the new 10,000 sq ft "Easton Training Center" which will be a full training center- BJJ, Muay Thai, Cross fit, Cardio- the works. the rumors say we will also have Showers at the new facility. Still, I was pretty much planning to keep coming to the school on Broadway since it is a bit closer than the new location. It's been nearly 2 years on the mats at Broadway, and the place feels like a home to me, but alas, my coach verified today Broadway is to close, and be replaced by the ETC. This raises some community questions for me, as it is widely publicized that MMA fighter Elliot Marshall will run the ETC. I like Elliot a lot, the few times we have met he has been awesome to work with- but this leaves me wondering where our current administrator will go. Professor King is a large part of the reason I started BJJ. Sure, Andrew "dragged" me in there for that first lesson, but honestly I had met Prof. Larry a few times before then and his genuine personality was definitely a factor in making training a permanent part of my life. I hope there are plans for him to continue in his role at the new facility- if they move him elsewhere, there is a good chance I would follow.

Monday AM training was the same drill focused workout I have come to expect and appreciate. I got my heart rate going, and learned a new drill. Excellent training partner once again- even more excellent than before because apparently he could be reading this (Ben) LoL

Interesting sidebar to Training Partner Ben, he will also be participating in the Boulder GORUCK in May. This is awesome because the more people I know who get involved the more driven I will be to train and be ready.

Also of note- the BEST MOTHER IN LAW IN THE GALAXY has gotten me a gift certificate to help me pick up my needed UA Coldgear for the Jan. Tough Mudder. Pretty psyched about that.

Jiu Jitsu Week Training Day 5 Intermediate Gi training with Professor Junior Fidelis (Denver)

Saturday I attended my usual 11am Intermediate class. Class went well, I got a lot of opportunity to put the techniques I worked on all week into practice.
I had a funny moment when I went for the cross guard- inverted triangle on Eddie. To review, Eddie and I are about the same weight, but where I am lanky, he is compact so he makes for an interesting challenge. I rarely get a choke to work with him because it is very difficult to get to his neck. So I get to cross guard- slip the bottom knee through and hook up strong with my over the top leg. I pull in the clench expecting the tap. It doesn't come. I make an adjustment of angle- clench- no tap. So now here I am WAY out of position to regain defense. I got control of both sleeves again, then "gave up" the inverted triangle- and drew my leg back through. I was able to then get my right knee to his left biceps in a modified spider. I gave that up for closed guard and started hunting for options again. This was a relief and gave me more confidence in "going for it" when the inverted triangle is available because I have some steps to get back to a safe position.

It was a good day training, I took some lumps, and learned some things. I didn't get hurt.