Posts Tagged ‘Blue Belt’

Good luck to Warren, John, Nick and Serina from Submission Takapuna who are competing in the Trials tomorrow at the Tamaki Recreation Centre. Entry is $10 for spectators.

We wish all the Will/Machado students in NZ who are competing all the best as well!

BJJ

We continued to work on learning to roll lightly instead of fighting. It’s been great to have repeated classes lately with this focus. Trying to relax and think instead of powering over, to let your opponent get stuff and then apply your own technique. I feel like I am getting better but have a ways to go. I find it hard to make sure my technique is effective rather than moving with power through a defence or positional control. It’s such a partner oriented thing too. If your partner speeds up, it’s really hard not to respond in kind. I think that my new goal is to not worry what my opponent is doing if they go fast, they go fast and I will just let them for that roll, letting it happen rather than getting sucked into trying to stop them. Ego is a tricky thing and it sneaks up on you from all directions. Checking your ego at the door is an eternal process it seems.

It was good to run through the blue belt syllabus in one go and I surprised myself with how much I remembered. I could feel that I spent time in some parts remembering, rather then executing technique perfectly, so more reps for me I guess.

Well done to everyone who was awarded new stripes. It’s always awesome recognising how far everyone has come and how well the guys ahead of you are doing.

MMA

Continuing to work with the Thai Clinch has been really interesting, seeing how effective it is as a control reinforced John Will’s discussion of leverage. It can feel like you aren’t doing that much but when you’re on the receiving end you feel like you can’t go any where.

Sparing was fun and we were all conscious of sparring and not fighting in the same way as we worked on rolling not fighting in BJJ. Again the challenge is keep your technique good while being relaxed and flowing.

It was a great class and I walked out of with a lot to reflect on and having had a lot of fun.

Cam D

BJJ

Steve took the warm up and got us working hard and pushing ourselves.

Warren worked us through some sweeps tonight. First a hooking sweep using close body control, then a basic hooking sweep.

The first sweep started from full guard. You sit up and grab an under hook with your right arm and pin their elbow against their body with your left arm as you grab their back. Then you sit back down bringing them with you. Opening your guard and wriggling your hips while pushing with your legs to create space, you then over hook their legs with yours and putting your feet under their shins you stretch them. From there you are able to retract your left leg and insert your hook under their knee and wait. As they sit up trying to dislodge you, you rock back and onto your left side extending your leg to the ceiling and sweeping over. Warren pointed out to wait for a half second as you transition across to top position to make sure you don’t just get counter swept while bowling straight into mount.

After drilling this, we did the Basic Hooking Sweep. From full guard you establish a collar and wrist grip and then open your guard. As they extend their leg to pass, you pull your leg back to your butt, rotate your knee to the ceiling and then extend your leg and insert a well-tensioned hook in the back of their knee. Then you sit up towards them and rock back to your side again, pulling them forward onto you and extending your leg to the ceiling sweeping them over your blocking leg on the floor.

We then followed the same rolling patterns of the last classes for the last 30 minutes

Another full mat!

MMA

Mark started us off in pairs, one person boxing and the other parrying, ducking and weaving and moving away. We swapped back and forward on Mark’s call.

After this warm up, Mark demonstrated the technique. Parrying a left right combination, then ducking and weaving inside their guard while shelling pressing in against their chest having scooped up under their arms. From there you move to their left side and slip your right arm around their back, gripping their far shoulder. You put your left hand on their right bicep, controlling that arm and opening up the chest.

From this basic position we first used the left knee to the chest. Then we used our right knee in the back of their knee pushing down to take away their base. We then threw our left leg around them and pushed with our hips taking them down with us in mount.

The second combo was to after the left knee to do a right knee to the thigh. After getting a reaction that gave you position slightly behind them you did sit down take down, pulling back on their upper body with a straight left right leg extended behind them to trip them over.

We then did the same drill as we warmed up with but the defender went for the take down as well as bobbing and weaving.

The final round we did both sides boxing and looking for the take down.

Cam D

BJJ

I got snowed under and haven’t done the blog as a long version so here’s the abridged account.

The warm up was more like a burn up…

Half Guard Escapes were the order of the day. The blue belt syllabus pass and a couple of tweaks on it.

We rolled using the same formula as Tuesday’s class: 3 people in rotation on three minute rounds, which again left me smashed. I have rolled with Howie for the last two classes in this way and his relaxed seemingly effortless sweeps and creeping death trap-like submissions continue to amaze me. It’s been great!

MMA

Mark got us going on Focus pad drills using punches and kicks. Working up phases and culminating in a 6 strike combo. Low jab to the body, cross, left hook, rear leg kick, front roundhouse to the head (or body if you’re inflexible like me), shin kick to the head.

Followed by sparring rounds, doing punching only and then switching back and forth between punching and submission wrestling mid round to Mark’s call.

Cam D

BJJ

Kodz took the training tonight and after the warm up re-introduced us to the half nelson lapel choke from the blue belt syllabus and then took us through a couple of variations that were more advanced.

For a detailed break-down of the basic choke go here.

The first variation was for when you failed to get the under-hook of the arm. You still grab the top lapel and wing it up and feed it to the bottom hand. You then control their top leg holding the pants or under-hooking the knee joint. Then you bring your back leg up from the floor and slide your knee between your arm gripping the collar and their shoulder, placing your shin on the back of their neck. Sitting down (rather than rolling onto your back) you pull back, up and around with your collar grip and push with your shin on the back of their neck, bringing the choke on.

The third variation was a crazy Kodz variation that most of us found really difficult either for technical, body shape or flexibility reasons (or all of the above). You get the same collar position but you must under hook the leg. Shifting your weight subtly forward, you then move upright quickly, leaning to your right, putting your back leg around and over their head, sitting back and putting the choke on by pulling with your grip and squeezing down and back with your leg. If you are confused by this description you fit in with most people actually at the training. A lot of us were looking contorted, awkward and perplexed. Kodz pointed out that these were advanced techniques and more to get us thinking than anything else. The basic technique was the essential part for most of us.

We initially rolled as normal for about three rounds. Then Kodz got us to pair up with people of similar size. Two of the three rolled for three minutes while the other walked. When Kodz called time, one person swapped out and the other stayed in and kept going. This carried on for a couple of cycles giving everyone one 3 and one 6 minute round. There was no leaving the mat while the drill was happening. By the end of that we were pretty beat. For a warm down, Kodz got us to number off in threes. Whoever’s number got called out had to scramble and defend the other two from pinning them, this was really funny!

MMA

Mark got us all geared up and lead us through a full sparing class. Hands only for one round, hands and feet for two, then adding clinching and take downs for two more. Then full MMA rounds including light strikes on the ground.

Mark discussed with us the differences between ring fighting thinking and self defence thinking, how to use elbows and knees on the ground in side control for example.

Jack and Simo continued charging hard with Warren and assistants preparing for their Fights at ICNZ 10. We cheered them on as they pushed through the last hard rounds.

Cam D

BJJ

Warren started us off with a solid warm up, getting us to work on our shrimping drills thoroughly and then switching out movements.

Continuing the review of the blue belt syllabus, Warren ran us through figure four from front control and then sweeping from half guard to the same submission.

Starting from north south (front control) we practised basing in and out and keeping our weight down. Then the technique required us to slide our left hand up under the armpit of our opponent’s right arm until the smallest part of the wrist was there. Then we crushed all our weight down on the end of their elbow, pinning them and exposing their arm. Keeping our weight down, we lock in the figure 4, grabbing their right wrist with our right hand and grabbing our right wrist with our left hand. Then we slide our left knee up their back, lifting them onto their left shoulder, but keeping the crush down on them. Quickly, we move our right leg and snag and drag their left arm behind us and kneel down. We are then able to pull their figure 4 arm into our chest and sit up, going to one knee by bringing our left leg up, then torquing the shoulder by rotating the arm anti-clockwise. It’s important to keep the arm close to your body and bent at a 90 degree angle at the elbow.

The half guard sweep involved us getting wrist control from half guard in the same way as from full guard. You must be grabbing the wrist on opposite side from the leg you control. Then you sit up, go over the shoulder and lock in the figure four. You then wait for the right time and allow your opponent to pass out of your guard. As they move round to side control you orient so they are north south, press their arm into their hips and rotate them over, from there you can crush and do the submission out lined above.

We drilled these techniques thoroughly and then spent 30 minutes rolling until the end of class.

MMA

Mark got us straight into it. Combos were the order of the day, working in pairs with focus mitts

1. jab, cross, jab, cross, four punch combo
2. jab cross, double jab
3. cross, jab, double cross
4. jab cross, front leg kick, cross
5. cross, jab, rear leg kick, jab

followed by 3 sparring rounds. The first just boxing, the second and third were punches and kicks for a few minutes and then transitioning to submission wrestling (starting form the clinch) for the next few minutes.

That was us but Jack and Simo were working their butts off with Warren and co at the same time. If you want to road trip to Palmy to see them fight at ICNZ 10, get talking to other people and make it happen!

Cam D

BJJ

Codz ran us through a warm up with a few differences including wheel barrow races to get those arms going.

Warren continued our charge through the blue belt syllabus with figure 4 from guard, from mount and in side control.

We drilled 50 times each side the movement from guard. From the open guard, shifting onto our side gripping the wrist. Sitting up and reaching over the shoulder and back under the arm we are already gripping. Grasping our own wrist and forming the “figure 4” then sitting back, cutting with our leg on the same side over their back to prevent them rolling. We got the tap once and then focused on repping out the positional shifts.

After that we moved to mount and drilled the top figure 4 50 times on each arm alternately. Using straight and locked arms we pushed our opponent’s arm to the floor, slipped our arm on the side under theirs and gripped our own wrist in the figure 4. Then we pulled the lock down into position by our knee before applying the torque for the tap. Again we didn’t get the tap just the position after first one.

Then we moved to side control. We started as if we had already locked the top figure 4 and they straightened their arm out of it. Our goal was to control their transition and, at the right moment, apply an arm bar then as it moved through the full rotation to the down facing position we pulled our arm through and applied the bottom figure 4. We drilled this 50 times as well.
With the bottom figure 4, it is necessary to switch our knee over their head and pin them down in order to apply the tap.

We then rolled two quick rounds to finish the class

MMA

Unfortunately I couldn’t make this class but Mark had them getting out the Thai pads as I left so I am sure it was awesome. It always is if I don’t go…

Cam D

BJJ

Mark took us through a basic warm up and then introduced the first technique for the class, The Lapel Half Nelson Choke. He explained that this is that last technique to finish our run through the blue belt syllabus that we have been doing over the last couple of months.

The choke is done from sidemount but we started from mount. This allowed us to get the feel for giving our opponent some space and letting them roll into a side position for us to take sidemount. As they rolled, our first priority is to under hook the near arm. This is a starting position that lets us control our opponent and presents us with several possibilities to exploit depending on our opponent’s response.

In the situation of the half nelson choke we have a good under hook but maybe not a perfect locked down control of the arm. Using the under hooking hand we grab the near (or top) lapel a fist distance or so down from their jaw and pull the jacket open. Sliding our left hand around and under the head, we feed the top lapel into it. Our top hand is still under our opponent’s arm and we slide it on top and behind our opponent’s head. Then we pull back and up with our bottom hand and press down on the back of the head with our top forearm in a scissoring motion bringing the choke on as the lapel wraps around the throat and neck.

We drilled this and then Mark got us to work from mount, to sidemount, to back control, making sure to get our seatbelt grip and applying the back choke as described in more detail here. We defended the attacking hand and used the resistance to tighten the choke before applying it.

He then got us to do a drill where the defender went 30% resting and getting the attacker to apply the technique appropriate to the opportunities presented. Those of us that knew the arm bar relevant to the situation could do that technique as well. This drill is all about practicing seeing the opening and grabbing the opportunity to apply a technique.

We then rolled for 30 minutes to finish the class. Next week Mark told us we we’ll be running through all the techniques in the blue belt syllabus and seeing what people know, so revise your techniques and be ready.

MMA

We started off doing grappling to warm up, light work with gloves on to get the feel for it.

Warren walked us through escape from mount and guard while being ground and pounded.

First he walked us through the elbow escape from mount. Those of us on the bottom then got to shell up while keeping our head off the floor, while our partners gave us reasonably firm ground and pound to make us feel the strength of the shell and add realism to the escape.

From that position we first did bridge trap and roll. In this MMA variation we made sure we shelled up and then bridged hard throwing our opponent forward. Reaching back and linking our fingers around an arm, we waited for them to move it back and then sucked it hard into our chest. We then waited for them to try and sit up or withdraw the arm and then bridged hard straight and then rolled over into the guard position.

The next variation was the person in guard then sat up and landed shots on the person holding them in guard while they shelled up protecting themselves. While shelling, they pulled their opponent forward and down with their legs and, when they fell forward, controlled them with double over hooks. Then we broke our guard, shuffling our butt back to create space. Using our legs still in open guard, we wrapped our feet under our opponent’s shins and used that control to stretch them out flat. We then unhooked our right leg pulled it back and under our opponent’s leg, inserting our hook under their knee. Pulling our knee towards our head and taking their weight off the floor, we then rolled to our right, sweeping them over and putting us in mount again.

We drilled this cyclically for a while.

Then Warren demonstrated elbow escape from mount. In MMA we are being punched by our opponent so you are a lot more cautious about protect yourself than a grappling tournament. So while shelling we bridged hard then used our elbows to shove our opponent into a low mount. From there, we insert our elbow between their knee and our body and then shrimp to our side, pushing with our body away from our elbow and at the same time bringing our same side knee up to meet our elbow. This pops our leg out on that side. In the first version of this we fully cleared our leg out and then switched to our other hip allowing us to pull our other leg out, switching our hips back to clear the leg completely and regain full guard.

Version two had us leave our hook under the back of their knee and then switch hips to get the other hook in. Getting double under hooks with our arms, we can then pull our opponent’s weight forward onto us using our hooks and arms and then sweep them over.

This was a really great class for some core technique which is essential knowledge for MMA, but also for the fundamentals of hip movement and creating space which are so core to a BJJ approach to MMA.

Cam D

With John Will back in town, Submission Porirua was once again able to crash the GSW Seminars. With the growth of Will / Machado BJJ in Wellington, Geoff Grant was hosting two seminars back to back. First one was catering for the white belts followed directly by the coloured belts seminar.

The white belt seminar finished on a high for the Submission crew with its first ever Blue Belt being awarded. Andrew Douglas joined us not long after we first opened the doors in March 2008. His dedication and passion is obvious in every class.

It was a well deserved promotion and I would be confident in saying that the rest of the 3 & 4 stripes will be breathing a big sigh of relief.

Well done to Andrew.

Wow what an awesome John Will Seminar! Our two trainers from Submission Takapuna were awarded their Purple belts! Warren Lambert and Mark Corkhill took over the ownership of Submission, Takapuna when Glen Tarrant moved to Porirua and set up a new school down there. Warren and Mark have been successful in creating a fun and enjoyable mat! A huge Congratulations to Mark and Warren what a year it has been and now you can finish the year off with an awesome new belt.

Mark and Warren had just received their Purple Belts from John Will

Congrats to John Lamb who received his Blue Belt from John Will.  John has been a loyal member of Submission and we are glad to have him back on the mat after having to take time off for a serious injury.  Sadly we are going to be saying goodbye to him again at the end of this week as he heads to South America for a year.  Good Luck with your travels John!  We look forward to seeing you on our mat again.

John Lamb with John Will after receiving his Blue Belt

Mark Corkhill, John Lamb and Warren Lambert with their shiny new belts.