SATURDAY, 29 MARCH 2025

Today's class had me, Duy, Chad, Brady, and Abner.

I taught the triangle choke and arm bar from a failed triangle choke.  I also taught the smash pass and basic knee slide.

We had three, five-minute rounds.

Student Recap (some edits made by me):

Abcap:

Class was attended by Brady, Duy, Chad (fashionably late btw), Prof, myself, and Prof's neighbors who spectated our training session.

We covered the triangle choke and how to execute it and explained alternatives if the choke is not enough to warrant a submission (Armbar and wrist lock. More on this later). We also covered the smash pass and smash pass from combat stance. 

Brady was my partner for these exercises and initiated some extracurriculars, in which I indulged. After a smash pass into side control I thought it would be nice to secure an Americana on Brady which left him appalled to say the least. 

Unfortunately, Prof did not see this occurrence; however, Brady said he would have been proud of me. Afterwards we reviewed escapes from side control into submissions or into open guard.

We then finished class off with some lively rolling. When it was my time to roll with Brady, I was able to get him into the triangle choke which we practiced earlier in the class. I forgot a crucial factor in the choke which was to walk myself backwards in order to stretch my opponent out and to remain flat on my back which led to Brady stacking me. I had a pretty tight lock on him, but it was still not enough. Then from the dark void emerged a voice...it sounded like Chancellor Palpatine urging Anakin. "Do it!" I heard. And so I obliged. I proceeded to then wrist lock Brady with quite some force. Brady then said something along the lines of , "I've never had a wrist lock gripped and ripped before" It was a good experience for all of us. 

Lastly, Prof indulged me a little bit more in the dark arts and did a couple of foot locks on me which I hope to emulate at some point in my BJJ career. 

All in all another good day of BJJ

Tony (purple) = 4

Josh M. (blue-2) = 28

Duy (white-3) = 32

Sam (white-3) = 24

Chad (white-1) = 30

Eddie (white-1) = 27

Brady (white-1) = 16

Abner (white) = 14

Caleb (white) = 7

Evan (white) = 2

FRIDAY, 28 MARCH 2025

Today was a regular class with me, Duy, Chad, and Brady.  We covered arm bar from guard, the arm bar from S-mount, and an Americana from the guard.

We had a round-robin of three, five-minute rounds, so everyone got to roll with everyone.

Tony (purple) = 4

Josh M. (blue-2) = 28

Duy (white-3) = 31

Sam (white-3) = 24

Chad (white-1) = 29

Eddie (white-1) = 27

Brady (white-1) = 15

Abner (white) = 13

Caleb (white) = 7

Evan (white) = 2

THURSDAY, 27 MARCH 2025

 Like Tuesday, Jason and I got in seven, five-minute rounds during his lunch hour.

TUESDAY, 25 MARCH 2025

Today was a simple training session with Jason.  We got in seven, five-minute rounds during his lunch hour.

SATURDAY, 22 MARCH 2025

Since four people cancelled, I went ahead and cancelled the scheduled class and had a simple training session with Jason.

TUESDAY, 18 MARCH 2025

Today was actually a taught class on my driveway.  Sam, Brady, Abner, and Evan attended.  We worked on back control, three rear naked choke variations, and one side control escape.  We finished with three, five-minute round-robin rolls (no Evan).

Sam's Recap:

Recap- well here goes. First recap in a while and certainly the first one since retirement. The theme in fact for today's recap will be that one word..... retirement.

 Chokes from the rear were demonstrated.  Escapes from seatbelt and basic hand fighting were also covered.

Roll time (3 sessions) was agreed to be Flo roll, as much as white belts can regulate things not progressing. I'll say that all of us did well in that area.

Things/people seem to have retired from:

Chad- participation in BJJ apparently (unexpectedly having to babysit the grand baby)? Really? Could you at least dignify us with something a little more......well a little more manly. (Had to get the tires rotated, change my oil, anything car related would have worked). All yard maintenance excuses could have been in play also. Dealing with roofing contractors waiting on my big screen TV to be delivered to my man cave. I mean come on Chad you got to do better.

Brady- bringing a valid belt. If this one comes across as an old man being salty then so be it.

As I understand the tradition and protocol of BJJ there are a few things you don't do. 

1. You don't change instructors and pretend you didn't. See previous threads on Jack. Suffice it to say, it doesn't end well.

2. You don't walk on a mat with shoes.

3. You trim your toe and finger nails prior to training and in general make an attempt to practice good hygiene.

4. You DON'T forget your belt and receive a colored belt promotion for the day because of it.  Brady did both and I didn't like it. Prof knew and it is possible that he was trying to antagonize me. Not sure on that one.

Now on to the one thing someone forgot to retire from- Prof forgot to retire from delivering Bread cutter chokes to me.  Was it available to him throughout our five minute roll? Yes. Did he have to secure it and apply it to me? Did he have to in a very understated way have to gloat about it? No. 

His son Evan participated and only time will tell if he follows in the dark arts or not. 

All in all a good day of BJJ.

Tony (purple) = 4

Josh M. (blue-2) = 28

Duy (white-3) = 30

Sam (white-3) = 24

Chad (white-1) = 28

Eddie (white-1) = 27

Brady (white-1) = 14

Abner (white) = 13

Caleb (white) = 7

Evan (white) = 2

SATURDAY, 15 MARCH 2025

My parents were married on this day in 1977.  It was a Tuesday and, apparently, Spring Break that year.

Anyhow, I had a gi training session with Jason, Josh Moss, Chad, and Brady.  Chad arrived late, Brady left early, and we did round robin matches for 20 rounds.  I ended with a nasty, visual calf cramp.

Tony (purple) = 4

Josh M. (blue-2) = 28

Duy (white-3) = 30

Sam (white-3) = 23

Chad (white-1) = 28

Eddie (white-1) = 27

Brady (white-1) = 13

Abner (white) = 12

Caleb (white) = 7

Evan (white) = 1