Training Log, Pan Ams Training, & Stuff I've Been Using in Rolling Lately

1.
1) I keep a training log.
2) I try to update it while eating dinner/before bed after each night of training. I don't do this religiously, but I try to update it no later than 24 hours after the rollsies on the mat (this is the best grappling related habit I ever started. I have nearly 2 years worth of data/trends recorded).
3) I track not only submissions but sweeps, what I get submitted by, and some other particulars like "head and arm control with gable grip" and notes like "conceded the underhook and got swept" as reminders to monitor my fundamentals like "knee elbow - combat base when breaking the guard" etc.
4) At any rate, each week or 2 weeks I look back at the trends.
    - am I finishing by armbars rather than triangles? am I finishing by armbars from the guard or from top position?
   - how often am I getting to the back?
   - am I working my guard passing like I should?
   - what takedowns have I been landing?
   - AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - AM I DOING THE THINGS I HAVE SET AS GOALS WHILE TRAINING/ROLLING?

**I used to put down 3-4 things I wanted to hit on the mats each night.
I can only speak for myself, but this is too much to effectively incorporate while rolling. I've found much better progress by setting goals like "get the kimura grip and sweep from however many positions as possible" and then the following week setting a goal like "get the kimura grip and sweep or transition to armbar". By setting a basic goal to attempt, then adding one component after a week I've made considerable progress in placing elements/tactics/grips into my game like the above mentioned "kimura grip to transition and/or armbar" (the kimura series mentioned above I started after attending a Dave Camarillo seminar - who btw, gives AMAZING seminars on not only a set of techniques but the theory and rationale behind them).

2. 
For the Pan Ams, I set forth some basic goals for my training:
Because I'm a Judo black belt, the ideal match for me is grip fight to takedown/opponent pulls guard b/c he feels uncomfortable in the grip fighting phase, pass guard, transition into dominant position, possibly finish if available - *preferrably collar choke from mount

As a result, my training has been broken into a general gameplan I drill during my 6 minute timed rounds:
1) grip fight, takedown, attack/pass the guard into dominant position (it later became clear I most often attained mount rather than the back).
2) on a daily basis, virtually all of my rolls I am aggressive in guard passing and fight for top position


3.
Things I've been using in Rolling Lately ---->
Terrere/Gerson Sanginitto Guard Pass


Tripod/head & arm control to knee cut through pass


Arm across/calf roll sweep and/or back take

(not a fan of the set-up, but this shows the sweep)


Happy Trainingz!

Tuesday Sucks, but a Kurt Osiander Leglock from Side Control Doesn't Suck

The inimitable Kurt Osiander shows a leglock from a position you should find yourself in fairly often.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't watch many technique videos, but when I do they must 1) address a common position (stuck in half-guard, armbar position, addressing the closed guard), and 2) be relatively simple in application.

As usual, Kurt Osiander's explanation is deceptively simple and easy to follow and addresses what should be a relatively common position/question for many a BJJ/Judo/Grappler/player.
--

3 Simultaneous Hockey Fights: New York Rangers Versus New Jersey Devils

Hockey, other than Rugby is one of the few team sports I occasionally watch.
As such, the fisticuffs from this recent game between the Rangers and the Devils is classic.
3 fights that happen simultaneously about 5 seconds after the puck is dropped.

I'm glad some sports are different than soccer and the NBA where "drawing fouls" is the norm.

Beating Kron Gracie: By Zak Maxwell at Abu Dhabi Pro San Diego 2012

Combatants:
Kron Gracie
- (son to the storied Rickson, purple and brown belt World Champion, Pan American Champion, Mundial medalist)
Versus
Zak Maxwell
- ( 2009 Brown Belt World Champion, Pan American and previous Mundial medalist)

Battlefield:
Abu Dhabi Pro Trials: San Diego 2012



Kron opens with a lapel grip to inside foot sweep (kouchigari), then quickly follows up with a 2 on 1 cross grip, he follows with some half-hearted uchimata and sumi gaeshi attempts, but ultimately results in pulling guard.

Kron quickly hunts for an armbar (jujigatame) then keeps the arm dragged across his body with a high/shoulder guard.

Maxwell makes space and Kron smartly goes to stand and base, briefly flirting with the idea of a loop choke..and they're back to their feet.
Kron against immediately controls a sleeve end grip and sets up his 2 on 1 cross grip with the power/strong hand over the back, grabbing the belt.

Kron pulls guard. Again, Maxwell has been largely reactionary (defensive perhaps?) up until this point.
Referee restarts them, Kron again gets the stronger 2 on 1 cross grip/over the back, but Maxwell pulls guard this time.
Kron stands to pass, eventually breaking open Maxwell's guard.
Maxwell begins quickly hunting for hooks and such with deterity in his feet/legs and find an omoplata while Kron is standing.
(One thing I have noticed about Kron which strikes me as different from other high level black belts is how often he pulls back/out of submissions etc. Also, why he so often ends up with his Gi pulled over his head or losing his sleeve/arm in matches: go back and watch some of his other matches and you'll see what I mean).

As Maxwell looks to transition into side control, he leaves/Kron creates a bit too much space and escaped, then immediately hunts for the takedown with an outside trip which he follows with an attempt to transition to the back. Kron's hips are a bit high and without the far side hook, Maxwell peels him off and looks to transition into side mount or knee on belly. As Kron defends the pass and goes to all 4's down, Maxwell spins and takes the back.

Sunday Morning Guard Pass: Terrere (and Gerson Sanginitto) Style

I watched the following video over at Graciemag yesterday morning.

I then used it about 30 min's later at open mat.
I like things that are relatively simple and apply to common situations in rolling.
Passing the guard and specifically this pass fit that criteria.
Enjoy!
It also has a lot of similarity to a guard pass taught by Gerson Sanginitto on his "Dynamic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" DVD/instructional he put out.

Ryan Hall & Using BJJ for Self-Defense (Against a Drunk guy)

In case you haven't seen the video circling the interwebz, check out Ryan Hall "putting the choke to heem, main," and using his BJJ for self-defense.

Baller.

Happy Trainingz!

End the Week by Warming Up, The Arm Collector, & Xande Versus Galvao

Still prepping for the Pan-Ams and still tired from the traveling to Brazil and the like.
Still on the grind.
On to some links for your Friday -

From over at Graciemag, a variety of Jiu-Jitsu warm-ups from the likes of: Saulo, Almeida, Nova Uniao and others.


An article about Giva "the arm collector" Santana and his current run in Bellator.
The guy has 13 wins by armbar in MMA.
Baller.

Xande Versus Galvao at the WPJJ Tryouts in San Diego