Learning New Things

I actually made it to BJJ several times this week, and learned a ton.  

(1) Spider Guard:  I learned some great sweeps that I had never seen before.  

• The Airplane:  Get your grips.  Get your feet on your opponent's hips.  Use your grips to pull them in and toward your head while using your feet to hoist them in the air.  If you do it right, they should not be able to touch the ground no matter how big they are.  Pull in one of their arms, push on the other, and let your leg on the sided you are pushing to slip off the hip.  They fall into your guard and you use the momentum of them falling to come up to mount.  Not only awesome, but tons of fun to try out.

• Knee Across Sit Up Sweep:  I actually don't know the name for this one, but that is the action.  So...Anyway, you have spider guard grips.  Get your leg lasso.  Drop your foot from the tricep.  If your opponent moves to get side control (i.e., starts to try and smash the hell out of you) move your shin across their hips and pull them toward you as you lift that shin up.  Keep that leg lasso tight, and with the shin across they should be loaded up well enough (stuck) that you can simply sit up and come to knee on belly or side control.  **Caution** Make sure you get out of that leg lasso as soon as you come up, as it is an illegal bicep cutter if you hang out too long.  

(2) Side Control Escape:  Due to my complete and utter lack of any open guard defense, I end up in side control.  A lot.  I have a really hard time getting out of it, and it is very frustrating.  On Saturday, the hubs and I went to open mat and we discovered that I didn't know one of the most effective methods to get out of side control:  the reversal.  Also, we discovered that my basic side control hip bump escape is terrible because I am not explosive enough.  I know that seems pretty obvious, but it wasn't.  

• Side Control Reversal Escape:  My husband is not small.  He's got a foot and about 50 pounds on me, and he is a blue belt.  He is the perfect person to practice side control escapes with.  If I can get him off of me, I can get a 130 pound woman off of me in a tournament.  When your opponent has you in side control, rather than framing up into their neck and hips, wrap your arms tightly around them.  Grip your own hands between their shoulder blades (gable or s-grip is best), and walk your hips as close to theirs as possible. Once your hands are tightly secured, bridge your hips.  Pay attention to your opponent's pressure, as this bridge will cause them to push into you.  When you feel the push, bridge with their momentum to get them to roll completely over.  You want as much of their weight off the ground and onto you as possible.  **Caution** As you come to the top, make sure your weight is not too far over their chest, or else the roll will just keep going.  I was practicing coming directly up to knee-on-belly to stop the roll, and that seemed pretty effective.  

(3) Turtle Bump Escape:  Due to my small size and general tendency to freak out and play defense, I also end up in turtle a lot.  For a very long time.  I've gotten so good at protecting myself in turtle, that I don't remember how to get out of it.  Friday morning, my coach decided it was time for me to start getting out of turtle, and matched me up with a 230 pound wrestler.  I still hurt.  

• Turtle Bump Escape:  If your opponent gets their far arm in between your arm and leg, grab it and pin it as close to your body as possible.  You've just removed a base that they can use.  I know that seems obvious when I say it, but I had never thought about it like that.  When I am in turtle, every fiber of my being is focused on keeping them from getting any arms or legs in anywhere.  Once that arm is pinned, all at once, as forcefully as possible, use your legs to push off the mat and explode toward the side you have pinned.  Be ready to scramble and turn to kesagatame or side control.  **Caution** Be very aware of where your arms are.  This can turn into a crucifix submission for your opponent very quickly.  

All in all, I think I had a great week at the gym.  I really focused on being present and pushing myself the entire time.  One night, I was tapped less times than I got submissions, and that is a first.  I was also transitioning from one submission to another without thinking, which has also never happened for me.  

I think this sums it up: