BJJ Grrl

Tim was in a relaxed mood tonight, so we rolled a lot. Tim kept stressing technique, nice easy jiu-jitsu, control, no headhunting, good jiu-jitsu.

Buddy #1 first. We played. He let me pass several times, and even go to knee-on-belly, before reversing me. I dropped myself in to several triangles, though he let me work out of those. Trying to remember that I know how to pass half guard by going backwards, instead of always trying to drive forward. This round felt good, nice easy jiu-jitsu, good pace.

Steve next. More of the same, though I did have to make all my own passes and escapes. And so I did. Good jiu-jitsu again, and active. He could get my back and his hooks in; I’d get Saulo’s “scoop”; he’d get to mount. Realized later I was dislodging both his hooks, so he was free to move around me; need to let him keep that one to control him.

Big Jesse next, and he let me practice tapping. Kimuras, RNCs, armbars, triangles — lots and lots and lots. He also nearly finished me off with a few body triangles. After a while of losing position straight off, I tried to pull guard; got my legs in place, but couldn’t close my guard! Then tried to fight to the top when we reset, but not much luck there. Did some things decent; did most things not quite well enough. Tim was also rolling this round, so this was a looong round.

We stopped for a water break, and I thought, “Oh well, no one’s getting promoted tonight.” Tim started to have us drill, but then sent us back to find another partner and another roll. I knew then that something was up.

Steve again. Tim’s still repeating no headhunting, nice easy jiu-jitsu, good positions. I nearly had a standing guard pass — couldn’t quite get past, but had all the pieces right.

End of that round, Tim promoted Yoshi the Energizer Bunny to blue belt. He was stunned and could hardly talk straight the rest of class.

Drilling. Sweep from half-guard. Get to your side. With your bottom hand, grip on their pant leg, palm up. The elbow there comes to your hip and stays there. Hips go back so your top foot can hook inside their knee. Bump your hips under as if you’re going to go to X-guard. Instead, do a sit-up toward your hooked knee and drive them that way (where they have no base). You come up on top, holding the pant leg of their far leg and hooking over their near leg. (Be careful of coming up too far and into their half guard!) Transition to side control.

We also worked a variation: once you’ve got them up and floating, kick your free leg around and drop them in your guard. They’ll probably go a little toward the side you were hooking. Hip out and come up to take their back.

Drilled with Steve. Very helpful, since he’s probably the closest to my size, which means that bump over at the beginning is easier to do. I’ve tried it on guys with 50+ lbs on me, and I really have a hard time getting under there unless they first give up the space.

One more roll, with your drilling partner. Hey, there, you look familiar… I finally remembered that we’re rolling gi, and that I can use mine and his. Got my lapel out after being unable to get his out. Didn’t do much with it at first until I got back to guard and managed to trap his arm with it. I want… a pendulum sweep. Had tried it the other night and concluded that my hips hadn’t been out far enough, so focused on that. Took a few tries because I kept messing something up, but did finally get it right and to mount. Squee!

All night long, I was also working that single-under pass. Even had one that went to the inside! Still flaring my elbows, as Jesse pointed out many many times.

Afterward, Tim was saying that while it’s good that we roll hard and aggressive so much, that sometimes you just need an relaxed but active night, to which we all whole-heartedly agreed.

Off tomorrow as usual. Will probably make it to Thursday’s class (will depend on cars — I’ll have turned my rental in at that point), and then taking off for wild & crazy adventures on Friday.