29 Sept 09

Today I shared a private with with Kathy C. (the owner of the gym where we train). I usually split the cost of a Coach Dan private with here and we take turns picking what we want to work on. Today was her turn and she chose to roll for the hour and have Coach give pointers along the way. About 15 minutes in to the private Nick N. (the other co-owner) showed up at the gym and Coach asked him to join us for some sparring variety. It was a good training session and I got a chance to work my back mount and harness game on both Kathy and Nick. I rolled with Coach a couple times as well, which ended the way it always does with me....tap fest '09 on my part :) At the end of the private all coach said to me was "good attacks, keep doing what your doing".

I'm a little torn on that one. On the one hand it makes me feel good that he thinks I'm on the right track, but on the other (my over analyze everything side) I wish he'd have said more. Stupid I know - but that's me!

28 Sept 09

Workout: Strength Training, Core Training

Jiu Jitsu: Tonight coach worked us on an oldie but goodie :) We worked the scissor sweep from the guard. The focus was setting the collar grip first, then switching hips, loading on the shin for the sweep and then executing it. Next we covered an alternate technique if your partner pushes into you to stop the sweep. In that case you move to your back again and slide your sleeve grip hand underneath your collar grip hand and execute a scissor choke. The second variation we worked on was going over your collar grip hand for a scissor choke. Last variation was breaking the posture of your partner by an over head grip break, taking the over hook and executing a scissor choke from there.

Rolling went great. I rolled with Chelle first and we worked on her attacks from solid positions. Next I got a brand new white belt that I went "trap shooting" on as coach would put it :) Third was blue belt Sergio who I took back and harness on right away and worked my attacks from there. He has a good defense game and I couldn't sink any subs on him but I got to practice my back attacks and positioning for five straight minutes. I could have switched to side mount and top mount several times, but chose to stay on his back because that was my position of choice for the night. Lastly, I got Manny (another brand new white belt) who I trap shot with again. It felt great to be healthy on the mat again!

27 Sept 09

No training today. Most of us graduated on Friday and many went out of town to celebrate. We'll be back next week!

14 - 25 Sept 09

14 - 19 Sept 09

No training this week. I came down with an insane chest cold that knocked me out of the running for the entire week.

21 - 22 Sept 09.

No training these two days because of chest cold recovery. I don't like taking my snot and coughing into the gym or the mat.

23 Sept 09 - Jiu Jitsu

I attempted to go to jits tonight and see how it worked out. It ended up being the best night I have EVER had on the mat. Coach worked us on a great basic with the armbar from the guard. I love basics so this started me off on the right foot :) First we started with the basic submission breaking it down into three separate parts. Next we covered a variation that involved your partner defending the armbar and stacking you. To counter this you use your none armbar side to grab your partners leg and sweep him to the side on which you've trapped the arm. Then you finish the armbar like a traditional technique (with a pant leg grab variation).

During sparring I pulled Chelle first. Good roll as always and we worked on moving to positions and securing them. Next I got purple Mark G. I was able to put Mark in my guard immediately and work the game that I am most comfortable with (my guard game). I swept him three times during the roll, took the mount once, and almost secured a solid Ezekiel choke on him. I chalked it up to me being in the zone and Mark having an off night since you usually works me like a rented mule - HA HA! Last roll of the night was with coach. I went for back which he let me have and started working my harness game. I had a solid sliding collar choke on him, but..being the awesome fighter he is he took his time and got out of the choke...as usual. I also got into the mount (which of course I know he let me have) and was able to pin him down pretty well with his arm across his chest and giving him the shoulder of justice (he told me this after the roll). He of course got tired of playing with me and crushed me in the end, but it was a great roll. Afterwards he told me he really liked my attacks and to keep it up. Yeah...I got a big head :)

24 Sept 09

No run

25 Sept 09

NPS graduation and reception (all day event). I actually started feeling better on Friday when I graduated from NPS.

13 Sept 09

Today was Devon Lickliders last day in DT's. He has been with me since the beginning out here and has been a wonderful friend, partner and soon to be SICK MMA coach :) We finished his time with us by going 100% live using safety gear...which didn't seem to help when I was getting slammed to the ground! He did great though. His transitions were awesome and he could move through all stops in ISR and disengage and implement his weapon when appropriate. We're going to miss you Lick!

11 Sept 09

Workout: Strength Training, core training.

10 Sep 09

Run: 3 mile hill run

9 Sept 09

Well, this week did not start off on the right foot as far as workouts go - but I shouldn't complain becuase at least I'm healthy and can actually get to a gym :)

Monday (7 Sept) - No strength, core or jiu jitsu workouts. Tianna's birthday was on Sunday and we let the kids pick where they want to eat. Well, she ALWAYS picks Taco Bell and that place just doesn't like me. I tried to eat just one taco, but it still came back to haunt me. My stomach turned upside down and was in complete revolt when I woke up on Monday morning. I started to feel better during the day, but opted out of jits and socialized at the neighborhood Labor Day BBQ instead.

Tuesday (8 Sept) - I woke up on Tuesday with the same "don't move to fast or else" feeling in my stomach so once again I opted out of my run. Better to be cautious then make a mess on the road during my run :)

Wednesday - I actually got to the gym this morning! It was a good strength and core workout that felt right.

Jiu-jitsu - Tonight Coach worked reversing the mount. We started with the basic upa reversal. Next he worked "option 1" which was your partner posting their leg out on the same side that you were trying to reverse to - so we brought our same side knee to our elbow, moved our hips out, and put them in half guard. Next was "option 2" where your partner attempted to take S mount when you tried to reverse. We countered this by moving to our backs again and forcing them back into regular mount...at which time you tried the other options :)

Rolling was good tonight, although my stomach was starting to yell at me by the end of drills. I rolled with Chelle first. She's getting really good at finding a superior position and keeping. I'm proud of how good she's become on the mat :) Next I rolled with Sergio (blue belt). I took back off the scramble and kept him there for the whole fight. I attempted several subs (RNC, sliding collar choke, Reverse Eziekel) but that little son of a gun has a good defense. My focus was to keep my position (to include getting a body triangle) and always work from the harness. It was a great fight. Lastly, I rolled with Coach and once again (like always) he worked me like a rented mule on the farm! His speed and pressure was more last night though. It certainly felt like he was making me work WAY harder than he has in the past...although the end result is always the same :)

After I rolled with Coach my stomach finally gave up and decided to punish me for to much activity when I wasn't feeling 100%...sooooooo, I went into the bathroom and puked my guts out for about 5 minutes. Yeah, good times. Lesson here, don't be stupid! If you're under the weather just stay home. Jiu jitsu will still be there when you get back :)

6 Sept 09

Today was the end of this training week for me. It has been another great week and I feel very accomplished having hit all my workouts (save for Jits on Wednesday due to school). I have a little pain in my left elbow again that I need to take care of and make sure I ice down after each jits sessions though.

Today during DT's we did a review of last weeks workout:

Helmet drill

4 point drill

4pt to dive disengagement

4pt to escort position

4pt to escort position to wrist weave

Wrist weave to harness

We ended with another five minute drill were your partner picked a point on the "4 point" drill and you had to work the entire cycle all the way through again.

4 Sep 09

Workout - Strength training and core

Today was a good Friday workout. In addition to the strength training I snuck in a 30 minute cardio workout on the elliptical just for a little something extra this week :)

3 Sep 09

Run - 3 miles (hill run)

Today I had my first 1 hr training session with a Battata purple belt named Jason M. He's an NPS student like myself who received his purple belt in Alaska through Gracie-Barra and now trains with Battata up in Santa Cruz. We hooked up through mutual contacts and are drilling and rolling in the morning (just Thursday until the end of the quarter) for more practice.

He is a phenomenal purple belt with lots of strength to go with his technical ability! We worked a butterfly sweep from double hooks in today sweeping to a side mount position. Then we worked a variation when your partner bases out and you shuck out the side, take the back, roll and end with a sliding collar choke.

We rolled two 6 minute rounds after we drilled. He is one strong and technical fighter let me tell you. I told him I was working half guard which he summarily passed and pummeled me several times because of my "work in progress" techniques :) When I had him in closed guard I did really good against him and almost tapped him with an Ezekiel choke (his word - not mine!). At the end he had some cool tips for me to focus on and even agreed to work half guard stuff for the next couple of training sessions.

Awesome way to start a day!

2 Sep 09

Yesterdays run was good. I did a 3 mile hill run. I'm in the process of getting my road legs back after a long break from running after the Big Sur.

Today -

Workout: Strength training and core workout

- Great workout today. I was able to hit the whole workout without elbow or knee pain. Feeling good lately!

No BJJ tonight though. Like usual at the end of every quarter something has to give. Tonight it was jits. I stayed home to work on a final, but still would have rather been on the mat :(