MONDAY, 10 JUNE 2024

Today's class had me, Sam, Eddie, and Brady.

Our focus was on back escapes, an arm bar from the back, and reviewing chokes from the back. We had two, five-minute rounds.

Student recap:

It was Edward, Brady, Prof and I. 

Brady forgot a key component of Gi BJJ, namely the Gi itself. Prof bailed him out with a Gi for a 12 year old and although a little big, it worked out fine. I was a little jealous, however, of him getting to sport Profs old white belt, the one with the blood on it. 

Scoop escapes and chokes when you have taken someone's back were practiced.  Never thought I would say it but I grew weary from continuously choking Prof today. Rolling was fun and Prof showed restraint, there's that word again, we will need to define it at some point.  For now, it just means that he didn't wrist lock me or apply a submission that him and Jason had worked out after spending weeks in a lab. Chad was a no show, but he did text this time.

All and all another good day of BJJ.

Tony (purple) = 2

Duy (white-3) = 9

Sam (white-2) = 19

Eddie (white-1) = 13

Chad (white-1) = 8

Brady (white) = 11

Caleb (white) = 3

SATURDAY, 08 JUNE 2024

I trained with Jason prior to the noon class.  We got in nine, five-minute rounds in 90°-plus weather (today's high temperature was 98°).

Today's class had me, Sam, Caleb, and Brady.  I covered the lasso sweep and the introduction to the De La Riva guard, focusing on entry and control with one sweep being taught.  Caleb is nursing soreness from many rounds of golf, so he did not roll.  Sam and Brady got in two, five-minute rounds.  

Student recap.  

NOTE: We have our first multiple student recaps, which may help fill in gaps.

Recap time- Lasso guard and De La Riva sweeps and things that can naturally develop off of them were explored today.  

Caleb, Brady, Prof and I were there. Edward and Chad (this is starting to be a theme on Chad's vacation weeks) were missed. Light rolling afterwards. Yes, I know what you are thinking it was controlled and light to medium. 

The words of "restraint" and "earned" were also explained as well as the decriminalizing of certain moves that are supposed to be employed on colored belts only. 

In keeping with the idea of restraint, I will not use any creative license to describe other things that went on.  Funny, however, Prof was a little run down from rolling with Jason earlier and how whenever he is not involved in rolling, exotic techniques and dark arts are not the order of the day. Although, he did show us another one while drilling that when employed will explode someone's elbow. 

All in all, another good day of BJJ.

Additional student recap/retort:

I'd like to emend the recap.  Sam got a well earned Pearson choke on Prof and then an equally well earned Pearson choke on myself that made my hands feel like I was in the army ant scene of Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Also the fan was knocked over, which I believe was a result of Eddie, though that may be a statement of controversy to some.

First student response:

Ah, thanks for the assist.  

I had forgotten some details. How Eddie knocked over the fan again, I don't know, but it's undeniable that he did.  I did choke Prof today. Again, we will need to explore the concept of earning...

Tony (purple) = 2

Duy (white-3) = 9

Sam (white-2) = 18

Eddie (white-1) = 12

Chad (white-1) = 8

Brady (white) = 10

Caleb (white) = 3

FRIDAY, 07 JUNE 2024

Today's class had me, Sam, Eddie, and Brady.

The X-pass and two follow up standing passes when an opponent defends the X-pass were studied and practiced today.  Eddie and Sam had two, five-minute rounds today while Brady and I observed from the sidelines.

Student recap:

Recap- great guard passing techniques involving grips and opening bags of potato chips were taught. Attendance was sparse as Duy and Chad weren't with us. Nonetheless, we plowed on. 

The dojo was invaded with a bit of a Viking berserker spirit today that seemed to affect one of the combatants during rolling.  He didn't heed the "flow roll" rules as a result.  No one was injured, young Brady was "tired" due to working till midnight. And prof was very restrained other than threatening an impossible Breadcutter during extra curriculars on someone who he has traumatized with said choke. All in all another good day of BJJ.

Tony (purple) = 2

Duy (white-3) = 9

Sam (white-2) = 17

Eddie (white-1) = 12

Chad (white-1) = 8

Brady (white) = 9

Caleb (white) = 2

WEDNESDAY, 05 JUNE 2024

Today's session was a no gi open mat.  Duy, Sam, and Eddie came in to train and get added time in, with everyone getting 6 or 7 five-minute rounds.

Sam fell victim to something Jason and I have been trying on each other with limited success. I may have positioned Eddie in front of the mirrors such that I could look at myself, or check on his level of distress, as I applied a RNC.

Tony (purple) = 2

Duy (white-3) = 9

Sam (white-2) = 16

Eddie (white-1) = 11

Chad (white-1) = 8

Brady (white) = 8

Caleb (white) = 2

Student recap:

Recap-Eddie hit me twice today; kind of surprising the tactics he employs at times. He hit my shoulder with his face as I was attempting to pass his guard and then he proceeded to hit my hand with his face the second time I tried to pass his guard. 

Everyone got in 6-7 rolls today and in general it was fun with a few exceptions. Prof apparently is trying to teach all of us (me) a good wrist lock defense game by employing them frequently. He also did something dirty to Eddie and hammed it up in the mirror with a mischievous grin and then he applied an "unknown" sub on me. He was "in his element".  All in all another good day of BJJ.

TUESDAY, 04 JUNE 2024

Today was a training session between me and Jason.  We had eight, five-minute rounds.

Jason had a sneaky set up to a toe hold that I did not see coming.

MONDAY, 03 JUNE 2024

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

We started with a question on the cross collar choke, with one palm up and one palm down. Based on "typical" responses from opponents, we transitioned into a Kimura, returning to secure the choke attempt, transitioning to Americana, and also achieving a back take. So, really four techniques.

Then, I had Duy and Chad work on situational sparring by working on escapes/achieving submissions from positions for one minute from side control, full mount, and 90 seconds from half guard and opponent on back.

Tony (purple) = 2

Duy (white-3) = 8

Sam (white-2) = 15

Eddie (white-1) = 10

Chad (white-1) = 8

Brady (white) = 8

Caleb (white) = 2

SATURDAY, 01 JUNE 2024

Before the regular class today, I trained with Jason at Casa de Compton.  We got in 10, five-minute rounds.

Today's class had me, Duy, Sam, Eddie, Chad, and Caleb.  I announced that, due to nearly an hour of rolling with Jason that any free rolls with me were likely to be less than cordial since, like Freddie Mercury, "I want to break free."

We started off standing with kumikata to warm up our hands.  We then focused on side control escapes, complete with a few rounds of positional escapes vs. a resisting opponent.  

Student recap:

Recap time- new techniques were taught, new techniques were tried . But, before we get into it , I would be remiss is I didn't mention that Edward recommended that we buy our wives Ginny and Ann gis for the purposes of collar grabs and keeping them off balance and yanking them around. I was shocked at this and didn't know what to think. 

Now that we have that out of the way, I joined select company today. I had prof in well earned side control again and wanted to try a new technique he taught us which is lifting our head to drop our weight on the opponent. I followed his instructions to the letter like the good Uke that I am and he slapped me.  So, my timing may have been a bit off as I was accused of synchronizing the weight drop as he was verbally explaining technique to the rest of the Ukes so that I could hear his voice change. 

Apparently, I joined Nicholas Nix as the second person to be slapped at AFR as he was slapped by Ethan a decade ago. So that basically makes me a black belt in my mind.  

Chad enlightened us on a squirrel tattoo design that sounded promising. Brady was out getting a tattoo which is another unexcused absence. Caleb learned to bridge which I can't say will be a good thing for me going forward. 

All in all another good day of BJJ.