I just returned from a great day of training with Roy Dean.  He was down for a seminar in Morgan Hill at the new Train For Life facility.  This new gym has a host of martial arts such as Japanese JuJitsu, Aikido, Judo and more - not to mention olympic lifting, personal training, and crossfit.  It is a gym for the 21st century. 

Roy is in town for three days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).  I offered a while back to help him out with Saturday and be his uke for the day.  He took me up on the offer and there I was on the mat today.

I would guess there was about 20 people at the seminar, most with a mix of martial arts backgrounds and the BJJ being mostly white belt level.  As usual, I found the participants at this location not only open to new ideas, but humble as well.  Good people.

Throughout the course of the day (we went from 9am to 4:30pm with a break for lunch), Roy covered a wide range of material, including: footlocks, open guard passing, armlocks, back attacks, and chokes.  In the Q&A at the end, he even touched on the omoplata and crucifix.  Everything he showed, as usual, was a high percentage technique.  I am sure all the participants left with something they could call their own.  I know I certainly did. 

As I thought about the day on the drive home, I started to piece together the items of note that I learned or honed:

• Roy gave me some good details on the timing of the sleeve choke (often called the Claudio choke for Claudio Franca).  Using this as someone passes, as opposed to forcing it from closed guard,  is a sharp addition for me.
• Roy had a great detail on going for the americana from side control when someone frames on your face.  The idea is to rotate your hips and place your whole body into the movement.  I love these little gems, so simple, yet they make a move so effective.
• I really liked Roy's back transitions to the rear naked choke, collar choke and armbar.  The key here was to roll your opponent to set up the move.  Too often I find myself telegraphing moves - his method of rolling to the attack will help increase my success I have no doubt.
  
• Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not do footlocks.  I have always believed that they hamper your passing game development and thus I decided to avoid them until purple.  For that reason, anything in the area of footlocks in new to me and therefore interesting.  I really liked Roy's footlock counter to the scissor sweep.  I may have to break my rule on this one! 
  
• Roy's section on the standard armlock from the guard was a great refresher for me.  So often I emphasize the foot on the hip as a tool to rotate the body, which it is, but that leaves out it's other job - to elevate the hips.  I really need to spend some time drilling this until it is automatic. 
• Lastly, his entry to the crucifix was very slick.  He uses his knees to open the angle to trap the leg.  Again, simple, yet one of the small things that will open that position up to me again. 

One final note of thanks to the gracious seminar host, Margarita, who was always there with a bottled water, some food, and even a fantastic smoothie from Robeks - all without a thought.  I would also like to thank Roy for sharing his insights with me throughout the day.  He's a class act.  Don't miss the next one! 

See you on the mat!