Last Saturday was a particularly 'special' one. From my point of view, at least. I got married to the now Mrs Flaminginho (for the benefit of any confused readers, it's pronounced 'flamming-inyo,' Portuguese for 'Little Flamingo.' Pretty intimidating, eh?) on the following Monday, but at a small stag-do/bachelor party was how I spent the Saturday, rolling with my jiu jitsu buddies.
Once again training at the fantastic Ministry of Martial Arts with our instructor (Braulio Estima brown belt) Lee Catling, we covered the half guard, or more specifically, submitting your opponent whilst in his half guard.
Generally, when I find myself in someone's half guard, I immediately look to escape. But Lee explained to us that rather than just focusing on trying to gain a more dominant position, we could also get a variety of submissions from what on first impressions may be a less than fortunate situation.
Demonstrating on his 'uke,' Lee first showed the class that flattening out your opponent was first on the agenda. Your opponent will generally try to get an underhook on the same side as the leg they are trapping, whilst also posting up onto their elbow. Flatten out by pulling on said elbow, and then with your head against their opposite shoulder, push them down and stay 'heavy' on them now that they are flat on their back. Take care not to be to high on their body when pushing them down with your head, or you're liable to get rolled over and end up with them on top of you. We practised this basic technique several times with our partners to get used to the movement before taking things further.
Once Lee was confident that us students had that technique down, we tried a little something else. This time, rather than flattening out our partner, we were to get a 'whizzer' before they got a deep underhook. We would then grab hold of our opponent's opposite lapel with our 'whizzing' hand, so to speak, then with our other hand, grab the material high on the other side of his/her neck and take a cross choke.
After this, Lee showed us what to do should your opponent mange to get their trapped arm out of the whizzer. Drag the arm over, grab them close and flatten them out to trap said arm, and take a gable grip behind their head and squeeze tight for a shoulder crush. Lovely.
Another option is to feed the arm you used for the whizzer under his/her head, and your other hand over their head to take a gable grip and apply a d'Arce choke. Another variant of this would be to do it as a kind of arm triangle/Brabo choke. Yummy.
After this, Lee showed us what to do should your opponent have a deep half guard and is sat up high. Pull his/her gi loose on the same side as your trapped leg and feed it to your opposite hand behind his/her back and over his/her opposite shoulder whilst posting out wide with your free leg. Quickly take the hand that pulled loose the gi originally, feed it between your bodies with the PALM FACING UP and grab the loosened gi from the other hand. With that hand now free, grab the material of the wrapped lapel on the opposite side of his neck and bring your elbow down for the choke. DO NOT flatten him out! That way you can use your bodyweight/gravity you make the choke a lot tighter and with little effort. Make sure your partner still on his/her side, people!
There was another variation after this that Lee demonstrated, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is. I know, I'm such an exceptional blogger. But for any folks reading this that were present for the class, or are so spectacularly clever that they have other suggestions as to how else one might choke the granny out of one's enemy (yes, that word again [see last blog post]) from this position, then I'm all ears. Speaking of which, my ears are pretty swollen...
Anyway, until next time, have fun rolling and I hope to see you on the mats soon.
The Fat Flamingo
Thursday 21 April 2011
Friday 15 April 2011
Grappling With 'Man Flu'
Hello once more, ladies and gentlemen. Flaminginho here, reporting from JiuJitsuLand with rather clogged sinuses, glazed eyes and a soupçon of self pity. I have what many would call 'man flu,' but as far as I'm concerned, a bloody awful cold. But the point of today's post isn't to solicit sympathy, but to ask your thoughts on what you would consider proper etiquette when training BJJ when feeling sick, or more specifically, with a contagious viral disease.
I started feeling rather under the weather as of Saturday last week, with the symptoms getting gradually worse over the proceeding days, precluding me from training Judo on Monday, BJJ on Tuesday, and then judo again on Wednesday. To say that I was 'jonesing' for jiu jitsu by Thursday would be a massive understatement. So, as any addict in his 'right' mind would, I convinced myself through selfish denial I was well enough to go to training at Ministry of Martial Arts in Rayleigh.
Turning up to Lee Catling's class with a fresh packet of Halls Extra Strong Mentho-lyptus lozenges (already half-consumed) and a gut-full of Lemsip*, I knuckled down for some serious grappling.
The first half of the lesson was aimed at beginners, and after a light warm-up, the order of the day was focused on techniques from the closed guard. Lee and his uke (accomplished brown belt) Tom Wilson demonstrated the basic armbar, with a focus on an easily forgotten detail: ensuring a proper arm-drag before breaking your opponent's posture. With the target arm pulled across your opponent's body, use your legs as well as your arms to break him down and pull him close, ensuring you control the head. Something all beginner's should know, but many times forgotten in the heat of 'battle' against an unwilling 'participant.' We then continued by quickly opening our guard to place one leg on the opponent's hip to push and swivel to the side, bringing our leg opposite the target arm high across his back, and then re-closing our guard into a diamond/high guard. The proof that this is done effectively is by kindly asking your uncomfortable partner to try removing his/her trapped target arm, whilst waving your own arms smugly in a 'Look, no hands' manner. If your offended partner can't pull out his/her arm, you've done it correctly. Well done you. We then went on to complete the armbar, which I don't think I need to explain to you genius people out there. Or if you don't fall into that category, then YouTube that shit, dummy! Not really, I love you too, you dribbling buffoon, you. xx
For the next technique, we went for the same posture-breaking shenanigans, but then going for a 'flower sweep,' with a hand fed through your partner's legs and wrapped round the back of the thigh close to the knee, as opposed to grabbing his pants. Done correctly, you should achieve the mount with your opponent's arm still trapped between your bodies. My training partner William Wayland showed me an awesome choke from this advantageous position, which is not only effective, but could prove humiliating to your opponent as you choke him with his own arm. Which is what jiu jitsu is all about, right? Anyway... it involves wrapping your arm around the back of your enemy's head (please think of your partner as your 'enemy' whilst doing this, if only to make ME smile) ensuring you keep your weight on his trapped arm. Make sure you use your left arm if his right arm is trapped, and vice versa. With your arm now wrapped around the back of said head (ooh, that rhymes), grab his wrist, pulling his own arm across his neck. Now feed your other hand through this tight 'loop' also across his neck and grab your own forearm. Pull his wrist and apply pressure with your other forearm... and watch with gleeful satisfaction as your 'enemy's' head swells with trapped de-oxygenated blood and his eyes bulge pleadingly for mercy. Which, again, is what jiu jitsu is all about.
Lee then showed us a couple of arm locks following once more the aforementioned arm-drag and posture-breaking. Once posture is broken, you grab round your partner's head with one arm, but the with the other arm you should get an underhook, ensuring your upper arm is between his trapped arm and opposite armpit. With this underhooked arm, you should be able to pull it closer towards your own ribs, locking out his trapped arm against your body and to his great discomfort. If he should somehow manage to pull this arm out, remember you still have his other arm to attack. Put your foot on his hip, push to swivel and bring your other leg high across his back to keep his posture down, whip the foot that was on his hip across the back of his head to trap his remaining arm, then with your hands lock his elbow out against your shoulder. This works even if he doesn't pull his first arm out, and is especially satisfying as both of your enemy's hands (yes, I'm sticking with 'enemy') are trapped and he can't tap, forcing him to shout "Stop!" "Mercy!" or "I beg clemency, master!" much to you and your classmates' delight.
For the final technique, Lee demonstrated a scissor sweep (which you should all know by now, children), again following that arm drag, and finishing in the mount with your enemy's arm still trapped. You can follow this with an armbar, triangle, or move to side control with a possible adjustment to the trapped arm (if necessary) to a shoulder crush. Or whatever comes easiest to you, clever cloggs.
At this point, some of the students left for home while we had a brief break in preparation for the second half of the class: sparring. I took this opportunity to blow out the unwelcome mucus clogging up my conk (no, that isn't a typo, potty brain) and suck on another lozenge. I noticed a few enquiring eyes looking my way as I loudly blew my nose, and hoped I looked more like a hay fever sufferer (which I am) rather than one of 'the infected.' Gathering my strength, I hit the mats and started with what was supposed to be a gentle, non-resistance roll with a younger and very 'enthusiastic' member of the class.
After fives minutes, Lee called "Time!" for a quick water break, then another roll. This time, it was to be a bit more rigorous. I then rolled with super-heavyweight William, which was a bit more of a challenge. I could feel my energy beginning to sap, and I began to question whether coming to class with a cold was one of my better ideas. Before I knew it, Lee called time again and we were to switch partners again. Two partners later, and I decided to bow out, coughing and dribbling at the sidelines to watch the rest of the prospective recipients of my bug continue rolling and choking each other.
At the end of class, Lee once more drilled into us the importance of not going too hard at it when sparring. The purpose behind sparring is not about winning, but about learning. All too often, students end up getting injured because of they or their partner's ego getting the better of them and insisting on getting that triangle or insisting on not tapping (at least not in time), purely out of sheer obstinance. And injury means time off the mats, which means no jiu jitsu.
I thanked Lee for the class and assured him I would be at the upcoming Braulio Estima seminar, and said my goodbyes, feeling much the worse for wear, and a little guilty that I may have infected the rest of the class with my 'lurgies.' Which, after that rather lo-o-o-o-ong tangent, brings us back to the initial subject: Should students still go to class with a cold?
A rundown of the common cold can be found here, but in brief they are a pain in the arse and highly infectious. But are we being a little 'soft' in our reaction to it? Should a cold disrupt our training, or should we just get on with it and 'sweat it out'? If a student should attend BJJ class, should we tell him/her to sling his/her hook, avoid him/her at all costs, or should we stop being 'soft' and grapple nonetheless?
I personally think what I did last night was in all honesty selfish, because I couldn't bear to miss out on any more training. I think karma has dealt me a punishment today to bring my yin and yang into balance again (or whatever mystical reference is apt), because I feel bloody awful and wish I never went at all. But I'm curious as to your thoughts...
Don't forget to check out my charity page for Cancer Research UK at the South East BJJ Open, details of which are also on Facebook.
Anywho, ciao for now, and hope to see you on the mats soon.
The Fat Flamingo
*Disclaimer: I am in no way sponsored by or endorse these companies. I wish.
I started feeling rather under the weather as of Saturday last week, with the symptoms getting gradually worse over the proceeding days, precluding me from training Judo on Monday, BJJ on Tuesday, and then judo again on Wednesday. To say that I was 'jonesing' for jiu jitsu by Thursday would be a massive understatement. So, as any addict in his 'right' mind would, I convinced myself through selfish denial I was well enough to go to training at Ministry of Martial Arts in Rayleigh.
Turning up to Lee Catling's class with a fresh packet of Halls Extra Strong Mentho-lyptus lozenges (already half-consumed) and a gut-full of Lemsip*, I knuckled down for some serious grappling.
The first half of the lesson was aimed at beginners, and after a light warm-up, the order of the day was focused on techniques from the closed guard. Lee and his uke (accomplished brown belt) Tom Wilson demonstrated the basic armbar, with a focus on an easily forgotten detail: ensuring a proper arm-drag before breaking your opponent's posture. With the target arm pulled across your opponent's body, use your legs as well as your arms to break him down and pull him close, ensuring you control the head. Something all beginner's should know, but many times forgotten in the heat of 'battle' against an unwilling 'participant.' We then continued by quickly opening our guard to place one leg on the opponent's hip to push and swivel to the side, bringing our leg opposite the target arm high across his back, and then re-closing our guard into a diamond/high guard. The proof that this is done effectively is by kindly asking your uncomfortable partner to try removing his/her trapped target arm, whilst waving your own arms smugly in a 'Look, no hands' manner. If your offended partner can't pull out his/her arm, you've done it correctly. Well done you. We then went on to complete the armbar, which I don't think I need to explain to you genius people out there. Or if you don't fall into that category, then YouTube that shit, dummy! Not really, I love you too, you dribbling buffoon, you. xx
For the next technique, we went for the same posture-breaking shenanigans, but then going for a 'flower sweep,' with a hand fed through your partner's legs and wrapped round the back of the thigh close to the knee, as opposed to grabbing his pants. Done correctly, you should achieve the mount with your opponent's arm still trapped between your bodies. My training partner William Wayland showed me an awesome choke from this advantageous position, which is not only effective, but could prove humiliating to your opponent as you choke him with his own arm. Which is what jiu jitsu is all about, right? Anyway... it involves wrapping your arm around the back of your enemy's head (please think of your partner as your 'enemy' whilst doing this, if only to make ME smile) ensuring you keep your weight on his trapped arm. Make sure you use your left arm if his right arm is trapped, and vice versa. With your arm now wrapped around the back of said head (ooh, that rhymes), grab his wrist, pulling his own arm across his neck. Now feed your other hand through this tight 'loop' also across his neck and grab your own forearm. Pull his wrist and apply pressure with your other forearm... and watch with gleeful satisfaction as your 'enemy's' head swells with trapped de-oxygenated blood and his eyes bulge pleadingly for mercy. Which, again, is what jiu jitsu is all about.
Lee then showed us a couple of arm locks following once more the aforementioned arm-drag and posture-breaking. Once posture is broken, you grab round your partner's head with one arm, but the with the other arm you should get an underhook, ensuring your upper arm is between his trapped arm and opposite armpit. With this underhooked arm, you should be able to pull it closer towards your own ribs, locking out his trapped arm against your body and to his great discomfort. If he should somehow manage to pull this arm out, remember you still have his other arm to attack. Put your foot on his hip, push to swivel and bring your other leg high across his back to keep his posture down, whip the foot that was on his hip across the back of his head to trap his remaining arm, then with your hands lock his elbow out against your shoulder. This works even if he doesn't pull his first arm out, and is especially satisfying as both of your enemy's hands (yes, I'm sticking with 'enemy') are trapped and he can't tap, forcing him to shout "Stop!" "Mercy!" or "I beg clemency, master!" much to you and your classmates' delight.
For the final technique, Lee demonstrated a scissor sweep (which you should all know by now, children), again following that arm drag, and finishing in the mount with your enemy's arm still trapped. You can follow this with an armbar, triangle, or move to side control with a possible adjustment to the trapped arm (if necessary) to a shoulder crush. Or whatever comes easiest to you, clever cloggs.
At this point, some of the students left for home while we had a brief break in preparation for the second half of the class: sparring. I took this opportunity to blow out the unwelcome mucus clogging up my conk (no, that isn't a typo, potty brain) and suck on another lozenge. I noticed a few enquiring eyes looking my way as I loudly blew my nose, and hoped I looked more like a hay fever sufferer (which I am) rather than one of 'the infected.' Gathering my strength, I hit the mats and started with what was supposed to be a gentle, non-resistance roll with a younger and very 'enthusiastic' member of the class.
After fives minutes, Lee called "Time!" for a quick water break, then another roll. This time, it was to be a bit more rigorous. I then rolled with super-heavyweight William, which was a bit more of a challenge. I could feel my energy beginning to sap, and I began to question whether coming to class with a cold was one of my better ideas. Before I knew it, Lee called time again and we were to switch partners again. Two partners later, and I decided to bow out, coughing and dribbling at the sidelines to watch the rest of the prospective recipients of my bug continue rolling and choking each other.
At the end of class, Lee once more drilled into us the importance of not going too hard at it when sparring. The purpose behind sparring is not about winning, but about learning. All too often, students end up getting injured because of they or their partner's ego getting the better of them and insisting on getting that triangle or insisting on not tapping (at least not in time), purely out of sheer obstinance. And injury means time off the mats, which means no jiu jitsu.
I thanked Lee for the class and assured him I would be at the upcoming Braulio Estima seminar, and said my goodbyes, feeling much the worse for wear, and a little guilty that I may have infected the rest of the class with my 'lurgies.' Which, after that rather lo-o-o-o-ong tangent, brings us back to the initial subject: Should students still go to class with a cold?
A rundown of the common cold can be found here, but in brief they are a pain in the arse and highly infectious. But are we being a little 'soft' in our reaction to it? Should a cold disrupt our training, or should we just get on with it and 'sweat it out'? If a student should attend BJJ class, should we tell him/her to sling his/her hook, avoid him/her at all costs, or should we stop being 'soft' and grapple nonetheless?
I personally think what I did last night was in all honesty selfish, because I couldn't bear to miss out on any more training. I think karma has dealt me a punishment today to bring my yin and yang into balance again (or whatever mystical reference is apt), because I feel bloody awful and wish I never went at all. But I'm curious as to your thoughts...
Don't forget to check out my charity page for Cancer Research UK at the South East BJJ Open, details of which are also on Facebook.
Anywho, ciao for now, and hope to see you on the mats soon.
The Fat Flamingo
*Disclaimer: I am in no way sponsored by or endorse these companies. I wish.
Saturday 9 April 2011
Clinton Combats Cancer For Cash
I will be competing at the South East Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Open on the 2nd October, and of course hope to destroy the competition. Or at least cause them mild discomfort. But rather than just put on an extraordinary display of jiu jitsu expertise (no, really), I also hope to promote awareness of cancer, and also raise some money for Cancer Research UK, the world's largest independent cancer research charity. Every one of us has been affected by cancer in one way or another, be it a friend or relative who has suffered through the disease, or those of us unlucky enough have had it ourselves. Recently, my partner's stepfather sadly died of cancer after a valiant and determined fight. Last year, my mother's boyfriend lost his battle with cancer, and before that I have lost two uncles to that terrible disease. BJJ star Braulio Estima also lost one of his finest students, Steve Fan, who sadly passed away earlier this year. This prompted Braulio to compete in the 2011 European Open, and despite needing surgery to his neck after a freak training accident, he went on to win the Open and dedicate his victory to Steve. All this, not to mention all my friends and family out there that are going through hardship even as I write this, has inspired me to do something, albeit small, to contribute to combatting this awful destroyer of lives. So I'll be competing in a hot pink gi (or 'uniform,' for all you muggles out there) and sporting a matching mohawk to grab as much attention as I can. I look a prat at the best of times, but come October 2nd, I will be looking especially prat-tastic. So please, PLEASE, donate some cash towards a very worthy cause, even if it's just to see me get beat up whilst looking like a fat flamingo. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now via the links below: |
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