2.19.08 #29

Trained with Buttercup

Back to circuit training with butter to prepare me for the WFC tournament that Sun Scion is sponsoring on March 22. Today we did two 5 minute circuits that kicked my ass. They consisted of:

shoulder raises (front and side 10Xs each)
bear crawl - up and back
push ups - 10
squats - 50
lunges - up and back
flutter kicks

After that we spent about 30 minutes working takedowns. I had a few problems and outweigh butter by 30 pounds or so. I have issues with my wrestling transitions, as well as, dropping my head into bad positions. I also need to work on exploding closer to my opponent. It was good work today, even though I wasn't completely motivated. I have 4.5 weeks to prepare. I plan on getting much better with my cardio and my takedowns!

2.13.08 #28

Wednesday Gi with Joey

Tonight was an old school bjj class. We spent 40 minutes doing drills - forward rolls, break falls, shrimps and shrimp with a partner. Me and those shoulder roll drills do not get along. I am still spinning from those rolls, I feel like I have been on the tea cup ride for the last hour. After our 40 minute of drills, Joey showed us an arm bar from side control. Slip the opponents arm under and through your leg, secure the arm, make sure you have overhook on the far side and keep your hips on the ground - so you can't be swept. Swim your leg over the head, smash the head, bring the other leg and take the arm to the chest, arm bar. After that, we got 10 minutes worth of open mat. I rolled with Brian (two stripe white belt). Brian was a good roll, I got to work on some positions and submissions. I tried the move of the night twice tonight, but without finishing either time. All in all, a good night of class.

We signed on to be the title sponsor the WFC's BJJ Tournament March 22 at the USF Sun Dome. So myself, Mike C, and Lloyd will all be entering that. So looking forward to committing hard to my training and my diet during the upcoming weeks in preparation for the tournament.

2.8.08 #27.5

I went and watched class at Gracie Tampa South - thanks to my friend, Mr. Ringworm. Ferret taught half-guard sweeps. Watching class is not near as much fun as participating. Hopefully, my ringworm will have cleared up enough for me to go to class and actually roll on Monday.

2.6.08 #27

Joey taught class and we worked attacks from the mount. It was a good class for reps. We did 10 reps each side working s mount arm bar. Then we did 5 reps each side working americana. We finished with 5 reps each side for the guillotine. After that we drilled for a few minutes. I went 3 times on the bottom and the object was to sweep or put your opponent back in guard, I swept my first two opponents and the third I put into half guard. My two attempts on top, were short lived. I was not too happy with my attacks - like usual.

2.1.08 #26

Buttercup invited me to work with him during open mat at GT on Friday night.  We got started about 6:40 or so and spent more then an hour on the mat.  It was a good night of rolling, for Butter.  I outweigh him by twenty-five pounds and still can't answer his offensive explosiveness or deal with his stingy defense.  I wasn't disappointed with my time on the mat, I feel like I had some little wins throughout our rolls.  I was able to explode out of Butter's side control a few times, not always going back to neutral, but I am still working on the escape.  I think it is coming along nicely.  I was also very happy with a few sweeps I had from bottom half-guard.  I was able to take mount a few times and even maintain long enough to bug Butter's neck - not being able to mount any real attacks was a bit of a disappointment.  The closest attack I had all night was a gift wrap to back, which Butter quickly worked out of and thirty seconds later was able to get his last submission of the night. The key point to take away from last night is still relax. I am still too tense, too strong and get spastic trying to work into submisions at points. I am going to have to continue to work on pace and relaxing while still working.

It was great to be back on the mat after being out almost ten days, due to month end at work.  Adjusting to my new schedule at work next week is going to continue to stand in the way of regular training, but I am going to figure out a solution.