Tonight's class was focused on a foundational movement drill for top control.  We started the drill in a typical side control position and worked around the body, making sure each movement was precise and had purpose.  This was great for me since I feel that my movements around the body are haphazard. 

I am always aware of the danger leg (the one that can put you back in guard), but other details have been lacking.  In addition, I find that too often I learn a specific move from a specific position, but cannot connect it to anything else I know - leaving islands of understanding.  Stated another way,  I don't really have a clear, automatic route to my control positions.  This drill I hope will solve that after a few months of drilling.  On to the drill...

Position 1: Side Control Top

Begin on your opponents right side in side control.  Left hand over the opponent's head, controlling their neck with your elbow.  The other hand controls with hip/leg, protecting from guard replacement (ie. the danger leg).  The lower body is sprawled squarely with your upper body weight chest to chest with your opponent.

Position 2: Switched Hips

Switch your base to face their hips, your left hip is now on the mat.  Use your outside leg (right) for base and kill the near side arm by scooting back into them (ie. drive your rear up towards their right armpit).  Your inside knee remains tight to their body and your toes of your inside foot are on the mat driving forward pressure. 

Position 3: Mount

The hand near their legs pushes the nearside leg away (towards their feet) and then pulls the other knee to your right side.  While hovering and driving with forward pressure, swing your right leg over for a mount with your foot landing flat on the mat loudly.  Be wary of the bridge, but when you feel safe, secure the far elbow with a same side grip, pulling yourself into high mount. 

Position 4: Switched Hips (opposite side)

To dismount, your right elbow moves to the right side of their neck.  From here, drop your right hip to the mat while keeping pressure with the back of your left heel on his right hip or quad.  Imagine squeezing your right knee and your left heel together.   You should be able to hold this position with good control.  From here, dismount by swinging your left leg back.  You should end up facing the hips of your opponent.  It is the exact mirror of where you were before mounting.

Position 5: Side Control Top (opposite side)

Bring your right hand to the mat, protecting against the danger leg while you sprawl your legs back to return to the beginning side control position we started with.  Remember to remain on your toes, hips low, driving down and in, chest to chest and your high elbow on their neck, driving their head offline if possible.

Position 6: North South with Elbow Control

Bring your left knee to their left hip, now that you are safe, move your left arm to the far side of their body, being sure to trap their right elbow with the crook of your elbow.  Trap their left elbow by gripping it with your right arm.  Pulling up, slide your left knee underneath the near side arm to a solid control position.  Your weight is on their chest, head low, and your right leg is out for base.  I also liked keeping a base hand planted on the far side.

To move to North South, use your right hand, press their left hand/wrist/elbow to their body and sprawl your chest on it, trapping their arm.  As you sprawl, keep low and sag your weight to the near side of their head.  Also be sure to trap both elbows, optionally grabbing the belt.

To continue around the head, simply raise your hips a bit and walk your torso to the other side of their head.  Then sprawl out again to pause in this control position, feeling your weight.  Next begins the movement back to where it all began.

To get there, bring your right knee up and beat their right elbow.  As you drive that knee up into their armpit, your right hand controls their left elbow.  As this point, you are now facing their head, controlling both elbows.  Be sure to keep your head and chest low with pressure.

Lift the opponent up a bit on their side, using your left hand to pull up on their elbow, driving weight into them.  Your right knee slides from their shoulder to their hip, never leaving their body.  Once it reaches their right hip, replace it with your right hand, bring your left elbow next to the left side of their neck and sprawl out with pressure, chest to chest.  You are now back in the beginnining position, ready to begin the circle again.

I am super excited to work this drill.  I really need a lot of work on this to make it automatic so I can roll fluidly.

Disclaimer

This above is just my recollection and notes from class and I hope they are accurate.  I write this down mainly to help me remember all the little details.  If it helps you out, awesome, but please don't mistake this as me trying to teach this material - I have a long way to go.  I do like sharing it with others in the bjj community and I sincerely hope that it gives people an idea of just how detailed Dave is in his instruction.  Every day is more gold so join us if you can.

Hope to see you on the mat!

Paul

 

Wow, tonight's class was great on so many levels. The focus was side control escapes.  Of course it all begins with posture, so Dave spent quite a bit of time talking about the correct posture and establishing that position early.

Once we had the fundamental concept down, we worked the primary escapes: going to the knees or recovering guard, depending on what hand position your opponent is using.  I really liked the way Dave taught guard recovery.  A new detail for me was using the outside leg to hold the opponent and even act as leverage to recover the position.  Simple and very effective.  The other cool thing was our movement to get to the knees was the same one we used in the last two classes as a warm up.   I think that gave us all a nice lesson in how that warm-up is really applied on the mat.

At this point Dave touched on what I found as the most valuable part of the class - his idea of Jiu-Jitsu Radar.  If your opponent is in front of you, in between your arms, he is in your radar.  The goal is to keep them there - if you lose them, they are likely on your back.  Not good.  So Dave has a great drill to practice this with an opponent where a willing partner walks around you in a circle while you keep them in your radar.  I think this is a fantastic way to warm up - I'll definitely be using that a lot.

During the rolling at the end of class I tried to focus a lot on this radar concept and it felt great.  I of course have a lot more work to do to make it natural, but it is a solid addition to the game.  I think if anyone gets really good at these fundamental movements/transitions they become a lot harder to deal with.

I have to say that if you can make these classes, sign up now.  Dave is giving a detailed. step-by-step masterclass in the fundamentals of bjj.  It is structured and organized.  This is a real rarity in bjj circles and it is giving me an opportunity to review all the basics from a completely fresh perspective.  It is so nice to just be a student of the game again, and my mind is racing.

The other great thing is the new training partners.  Roscoe and I had a chance to drill and roll today for the first time.  I loved it.  He definitely pushed me on all aspects of my game.  He is technical, strong, and doesn't give an inch.  His early posture is really strong as well and even on top I struggled to get into an attacking mode.  I know I will benefit greatly from working with him in the coming months as he gives me a level of skill to shoot for.  I hope I can give something back to his game in the process.

You never know how things are going to turn out at a new school, and like anyone I was a bit nervous about the change, but this is just really fun.  Lots of new faces, fantastic instruction, and a technical (but not too serious) environment.  It is exactly what I need at this point in my development.

 

Tonight was the 1st class at Dave's new academy in Pleasanton.  The mats were pretty crowded with about 20 guys showing up, about half of which I had trained with at my bjj club.  It was great to see a bunch of friendly faces.  All in all, pretty good for a first day with no marketing.  That says a lot about Dave's reputation - This is gonna grow fast.

We started the class with some standard warm-ups.  Light jogging, forward rolls, snake moves, jumping jacks and more.  After about 10 minutes, we moved on to Jiu-Jitsu 101.  This is a progression of moves that compose a simple cycle of mount escape, guard opening, guard passing, mount and repeat.  It allows each person to work the progression in a smooth flow.  As much as I had already done this, I still picked up some great little details, as follows:

• When mounting, keep upper body pressure on your opponent.
• When controlling from side control, face the legs to strengthen your posting leg base.
• In taking mount, control an elbow to enable a climb to high mount.
• When bridging to escape mount, use the off hand to drive a high underhook.

After working this sequence, Dave moved on to explain the 50/50 drill.  This is essentially isolation training a specific position and working with limited resistance.  The goal is for each person to gain confidence while working slow enough to notice the movements of their partner. 

With the drill explained, we worked two positions.  First was escaping mount.  Second was opening and passing the guard.  I love these drills and it always reminds me how far I have to go in this art.

To close the class Dave talked a bit about his philosophy and his idea that "Control is the ultimate expression of Jiu-Jitsu" really hit home with me.  Whenever I find myself flailing around trying to work a technique I'll remember that statement, slow down, and think.

Overall it was a big day.  I learned a lot and can see that a new door opened for me and my training partners.  There will be new techniques, a new philosophy, new challenging partners, and a new environment.  This will make all of us stronger - without a doubt. 

Looking foward to Thursday when we will cover side control...