First Practice

Did the first practice today had a lot of new guys show up, so we worked some basics.

The first mount escape is the regular shrimp. Flatten your leg, frame against their hip, bridge coming onto your side, shoot your hips back while maintaining pressure against their hip, continue to shrimp until your hip is out, connect knee to elbow, escape to half.

Next was the bridge and roll, leg fight untill you've trapped one leg, bridge upward, control one arm, bridge up and over. The final one was the leg trap escape into half. Shrimp control the pants, defend your neck, step inside leg over both legs, trap and pull ankle while bringing your knee up and under their leg. Trap in quarter guard, hip out, take half.

Armbar details were to make sure you get the perpendicular angle, keep your hip pressuring into their shoulder, lean over them, scrape knee across the face, pinch knees, submiiiiissssssiiiioooonnn.

107 degrees of hot

So I went to Spicer's gym to train some, it's got no ac and it's about 107 degrees.

First thing he covered was from top side control using good shoulder pressure and your chest/weight to push down their arm so you can get the underhook. He would smash his weight down onto the arm, and use his head to help isolate the arm. Next to deal with the arm framing my hips, he did a hip switch and smashed his hips down to get under that arm. He then replaced it with his knee, so that now the arm is between the knee closes to the head, and his arm crossfacing. From this position it was slide into kesa to throw the leg over to take s-mount.

Next was a side control escape that counters a n/s transition. When they move their hand down to block your hip to transition, you catch it stuff it between your legs, pinch and extend your legs out while framing against their shoulder and hip. Shrimp out, move to Eddie' bravo's pyramid position, try forreverse armbar. If that fails, hip out more, controlling their head, attack the triangle. (finish in Eduardo's method see above).

Last day at Elite

Brabo gi

Unravel the gi on the underhook side, pull it behind their head. Allow them to use an underhook to get on their side. Whizzer thru and grab the lapel. If there isn't a tight grip allow them to come up more, sprawl out. Grip the top side, pull up on the lapel and lean your head to your side NOT OVER THEM.

Handcuff armlock
Pull out the gi and wrap it over their wrist. Move your hips toward their head,
step over into mounted triangle, shift hips over and squeeze knees for the armbar, or roll thru for the triangle.

Gi monson or whatever.

Use the handcuff thing, pull your lapel out wrap it around their head. Straighten your arm, step over their head, move n/s hips forward.

Easy stuff but fun. Rolling was fun. First against Ross (he's like superman's great grandfather). Played closed, revisited the scissor sweep. It worked well, set it up using feet on the hips hand in the collar/sleeve, squeezed my knees, hipped out, perfect sweep felt good. Took back from mount, he kept grabbing my fingers and holding my sleeve. I tried to go for the ezekiel from the back but he just held onto my sleeve. He spun back to guard when I went for the armbar. Tried some other sweep from half, swept and passed.

Next up was Mike very cool purple who's been training at elite as long as I can remember, been training much harder recently. We started he pulls guard and I work to pass. He puts me back to full guard and I work on using Phil's low pass, defending the collar chokes, moving off the the side, grabbing the pant leg. Pass into half, I leave too much space he gets the underhook. I try to do the brabo buy he comes up too much. I switch to the reverse pass from half, control his leg, and do the "samurai"/roll over into the back position . We have to reset cause some white belts were going to sit on his head. We reset but he tries for the kneebar, I control the position and move into the 50/50, I was going to toehold but I like Mike too much+it was the last day . So timed out.

Last was nick the super brown belt. This guy is a monster and he's also a lawyer. (pretty sure there's a joke in there) We start out in his guard, I'm able to do much better, passed again only to have him recover and use his sitting guard to sweep me. It's kicking my ass. On bottom I try my usual tricks but no dice, butterfly and de la riva just negated, almost got x-guard to work on him but his passing game is too smooth. He was working knee ride (felt like my insides would rupture ) escaped to half only to have it passed into mount, where he would finish with a straight armbar. Next I pulled guard in an attempt to make something interesting. I worked my sweeps, and tried a collar choke he stood broke guard. Then it was back to Kyle trying to come under Nick and him basing, only to pass. Got choked with the n/s gi choke they showed, that was embarrassing. Tried passing his guard again, focused on slowing down and switching my hips like he does putting pressure forward. Again I got swept from sitting guard. He finished the round by trying to armbar me while I burnt myself out. He asked me to stay after and of course being the glutton for punishment that I am, I accept. I spent the next 20 minutes being his submission dummy, with him passing my guard. To quote Forrest Griffin in a recent interview, "It was like a kid trying to wrestle with his dad". Oh wells I still learned I'm a long way from being a legendary brown belt. I swear he needs to get his black belt before I get purple belt, how else will I feel like a phenom!?!?

Rolled with a white belt after, did my best to play Roger Gracie. Used Roger's kimura/"classica" sweep variation, passed into mount and finished with cross collar choke. Then talked shop with Einnor (joke) and Ryan, showed them all my cool shit I've been working on before I left. Other than that. It's adios Houston, viva la Waco. Also I think I'm getting promoted next weekend, Phil asked me to come down to Relson's seminar. This is when he loves to promote people. Oh well no more sandbagging.

From the last couple of days

Today I went to gi class, but missed the endurance class because I forgot to wash my gi on time . Eduardo Ramos is an Atos blackbelt visiting from Brazil that has been here the last 2 months, it's been awesome having him here. He's a smaller guy like me so he's got some slick technique. Today he showed a collar choke from guard that Phil calls the wave choke. I got to pick up on an extra detail about starting with four fingers in line with their spine then shoving their head to the side while controlling their head first. Next 5 fingers of space before you go thumb-in the collar, shift to your side, wipe the thumb-in hand around and under.

The next move is when they counter by getting a hand in and pushing with both arms. While pressing hard with your leg across their back under their armpit, shoot your hips up and over their shoulder, and lock your legs keeping your hips extended to prevent stacking (big important detail). Next grab their arm and put your hand across their face, leg across their face, squeeze knees, finish.

The last move was asked by a white belt who undoubtedly watched Saturday's UFC. It was the standard triangle from wrist control. Step one is to push the wrist across their chest between your legs, then shoot your hips up and slam your thigh into their neck, lock your ankles and pull down on their head. Next raise your hips move their arm across, immediately pull back down controlling their head the whole time. Grab the shin, put the foot on the hip, hip out, lock triangle, pull head/raise hips. Remembering always to control their head with one hand.

After I rolled with the purple belt from Australia who's name slips my mind so we can call him Chopper Reid. So we slap hands and right off the bat Chopper sits guard into closed guard. I try out Phil's lowstyle pass, hand fighting and jockeying my knees into position. He keeps trying to grab my knee so I figure it's best not to let him have it. Eventually I abandon the pass cause I suck at it , and proceed to stand with hands under the armpits to the knee in the middle. Chopper's got a hell of a strong open guard, I keep good base fighting all attempts to be swept. I get my grips I like and pass into half. I try for Eduardo's knee through pass from half then switching to the single under pass but no dice Reid has me on lock. I stand to try my standing passes but again no luck . (This is unusually frustrating because I'm usually able to pass purple belts guards easily as passing has been a year long obsession.) So I sit back for the ankle lock, I get pretty close but Choppy has a good grip on my collar and eventually he gets on top. Eventually after passing into half I switch to DHG sweep and come on top. I check the clock and realize it's getting close to dinner time, but Chopper does it for me saying he's done. Not my best roll, but after taking a week off to let my ear heal that's how it goes.

Today was nogi not a lot of people showed up, must be the hump-day blues. Well Phil (50 year old cop who's pretty jacked, one of my favorite guys at Elite.) was there as usual, so was big Swedish looking guy who I think is called Hunter, Mitch white belt from OSU who's getting a lot better, and a couple of random noobs not worthy of my notice (lol kidding).

Hai (other blackbelt who co-runs Elite) today taught a counter to the double under pass. First and foremost was to break the grip by controlling the wrists pulling as you open your knees and press down with your thighs trying to get your ass on the mat. From here you can either go to the grasshopper style of guard and sit up for guillotines or go to the sweet new entry to the crucifix or reverse omoplata position.

Once you've broken their grip control their left wrist with your right hand pushing it against your hip. Get on your left hip with your right shin across their neck. Next spin to your left on your onto your face pulling your right leg out coming up into either the crucifix or all the way up to the turtle position with your legs figure four to get ready to transition into the reverse omoplata.

In rolling today for me it was all about creativity and throwing up as many submissions as possible. I got to roll with Phil first. Worked on Eduardo's flying/diving/rolling kimura to take the back from the feet in Phil's open guard. Worked pretty well, just need to make sure I slide all the way around to get my hook in or come to my knees before him. Guillotines from the top and using my hips to float over ala Marcelo to lock it up, used the style of guillotine in Matt Arroyo's video, worked pretty good. The rest was Phil working his half guard passes, while I tried to sweep.

Next up was the Swedish Hunter. Hit the triangle on him Anderson Silva style from guard twice. Played the 50/50 and used it as a sweep but I think I tweaked my knee with it coming up wrong. On top I passed to my good side (I've gotta remember to use a different pass toward a different side.) In side control I tried to pop up into a side control triangle but had to switch to the omoplata when the angle was wrong, couldn't finish so I swept with the omoplata sweep. Then just got a n/s choke, made sure to keep my head low and use my chest to keep his head turned and squeezed with my back.

Rolled with a random noob and tried to teach him to escape mount without being a spaz-tard and giving your back. He didn't catch on very quickly.

Rolled with Mitch next. He's getting better stopped my guillotine with good hand fighting, and defensive positioning. I need to make sure I'm getting on my side to really finish that guillotine. I tried to do the classica style sweep, but had trouble moving his arm across my body and getting his leg. I pulled off some sub but I forgot what.

Finished off with a new guy and just tried my craziest things, diving kimura to back take, side control to omoplata to triangle. I mainly played catch and release.

After class I wet over the 50/50 to toe hold that Eduardo showed with Hai. While in the 50/50 control their wrist that threatens the heel hook on your leg, put your foot on the biceps. Grab their free foot at the toes, push it down to their butt, figure four and finish. You can add leverage by putting your free leg over their head to push off, but leaves the heel hooks vulnerable. Here's a video of Eduardo doing it, it's at the end.

Today was Ed's last day at Elite. He's an Atos Black belt. Today I got to go to the early class and man was that awesome.

First Ed showed another defense to the double under pass. Break their grip by pulling on their wrists, open your knees, heels to the floor. Then scoot back, grab the belt move their head to the side, be on your elbow, grab under their thigh, lean to your side where their head is, pull up on their leg, move into side control.

Second move. Break, grab the belt, grab their tricep near the elbow, pull and push with your leg, make sure your other leg is ready to come up and triangle, shoot up your hips/cross your ankles, squeeze your knees, pull down on the head. Raise your hips, move their arm across, crunch back down, control the head, grab the shin, foot on the hip, angle, submissssssioooon (ed draws it out, makes me smile).

Next is if they're strong. Same grab the belt, now it's two arms on one. Keep your elbows to your body, back straight, use your hips, and push with your leg. Finish the triangle as shown above for submiissssiiooooon.

Got to roll with some blue belt dad first, felt bad for beating him up infront of his daughter but eh. Worked my sweeps and used ezekiel.

Next up was Ashley purple belt. I decided to not use my strength or athleticism and focus on technique. I got tapped with a wrist lock and over hook armbar. Wasn't able to pass but used the De La Riva and RDLR to sweep and get into my good positions. Good technical roll.

Next up was Gus, brazilian purple belt. Real tough guy. We had a Mundial level of energy roll. It was a huge fight from My open guard, constantly using my hips and constantly regripping. He was able to use the torrendo style pass. Then it was defense time, he's got a killer side control pressure. I eventually worked my elbow down and regained half, moved to DHG and swept. I was freaking tired by then. Defended his submissions and sweeps, used a step over pass. However he's rolled with me enough to know my passing tricks, and countered with a collar pull style armdrag. Then it was back to Kyle on bottom trying to sweep with DLR.

When I heard my next opponent's name I wanted to cry. It was Nick the resident Kyle killer brown belt grappling savant. His game is perfectly designed to make me tired. We start in his guard I try to sneak in a quick loop choke almost getting it, I swear if I could just control his hips a little better. Oh wells he gets a sitting guard sweep when I tried to do a step over pass. Now I'm in his world. I work my hardest knowing his weakness but also his strength, which is to come under him. I use my grips and hooks, almost getting the x-guard sweep, but his superior hip movement won the day. Then it was just Nick on top working. His whole top game is focused on using his hip movement to counter yours, always getting you flat, and making you carry his weight. I tapped with a wrist lock again, then with a guillotine when I rushed to pass and tried to counter with a wrist lock of my own.

Ended the day asking Ed about countering Torrendo passes. He told me just to cross collar put the foot on the opposite knee, pushing on the knee pulling on the collar in an armdrag style. Use it to attack the omoplata, triangle, armbar, or take the back.

I'll miss Ed he was awesome to train and roll with. His guard game was smooth, and top game passes really helped my game. Obrigado my friend. I hope to go down to Brazil and visit him in Sao Paulo and Daniel Moraes in Rio. Peace, people.

50/50, toe holds, heel hooks, and calf crushers.

From the 50/50 with your right leg inside

1. Control their right wrist with your left hand.

2. Use your left foot to push on their right biceps.

3. Toe hold their "free leg" or heel hook the near side leg.

From Turtle Calf crush

1. Open nearside elbow with inside wrist grip.

2. Insert hook, use it to grapevine their near side leg.

3. turn toward their foot and grab their foot.

4. sit back, figure four your legs, extend your hips pull on the foot.

Escaping the 50/50.

Start with the same control as before with the foot on the biceps.

2. Switch your right leg across to the other side.

3. sit up controlling their head

4. Head and arm control/sprawl and pass.

This is Eduardo Ramos last week at Elite, after this week I'm also going to my cousins wedding then only two or so days left at Elite before it's back to Waco till December. Sad news, but I got some good training in this summer and have upped my game as well as diversified it.

Roger's half guard sweep, "classica" style.

Here's a description of the method for Roger's version of the "classica" sweep. This one is better when you're taller than your opponent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBmdZc-JE20&feature=player_embedded

1) *you are in halfguard at this point* Stuff your opponents far-side hand to his hip in the crease between his hip and his pelvis (basically at the top end of the V in your groin where your groin connects with your hip) so its inside his "seated A frame" --> if that makes sense, I just made it up (not outside on the edge of his hip where he can move his hand around)...also, use an overhand grip with your thumb

2) Break his posture if its not broken

3) Reach over the shoulder of the stuffed arm so his head is in your rib/hip region and clamp down with that elbow/arm to keep his head down.

4) Try to grab his belt with your overhook/clamping arm...if you can't reach, grip the material in the middle of his back while maintaining the clamp pressure.

5) Turn into him and give a little "mini-shrimp" away so you have some space between you and him and in order to load him for the sweep by creating real resistance in the opposite direction (if you fail and he sprawls, threaten with the kimura to retain the position/finish with the sub if it goes in your favor)

6) When you have that resistance/space, then you begin the sweep by pulling him over your body (with your belt/gi grab over his back) and by rotating your hips/legs in the sweeping direction, you also simultaneously press up on his hip with his trapped hand so his weight isn't directly on you anymore (you are flat on your back at this point but his weight is "floating over you" bc you are pressing up on his hip...you can't stall here because you have to use his momentum to hit the sweep)

7) So at this point he should be floating over you with his momentum going in the direction that you are pulling. Maintain the grip on his wrist and pull him over the top of you diagonally in the direction where he has no base because his hand is glued to his hip. You will end up doing a backwards roll in that same direction to complete the sweep.