Seminar with AJ Agazarm at Gracie Barra Mission Viejo

Wayne and I went to an AJ Agazarm seminar at Gracie Barra Mission Viejo. Here are his notes:

• Defense to single leg-over hook (half wizer and wrist control. 
• Loop choke from sprawl-feed cross collar, weave wizer hand to back of head, tuck head roll to superman.
• Single leg takedown- wrist control, step if needed to shoot for front leg clamp leg with knees, foot sweep.
• Sweet spot, step over back leg bend over leg clamp leg with chest, flare knee to feed collar to hand pop up, drive forward
• sweet spot-guy kicks out leg break down pull back up, Thai clench drive forward.
• Open guard pass-grab belt with same side arm with knee in middle, grab knee from underside switch to top grip, kick trap leg out go into side control, grab back neck lapel after letting go of knee.
• Baseball bat-elbow pressure, trap arm on ground windshield wiper it to keep trapped and choke.

3rd Stripe Blue

Just went back to class after about a month off due to my right AC joint/shoulder injury. It was awesome to see Jay back training too. My shoulder is a tiny bit sore after training but it feels great to roll again. Totally forgot to take a promotion picture with Dominic but oh well... I'm not really a photogenic person so I just took a picture of my belt instead! ;)

PS. I need to work on preventing guard passes, it was easily passed several times tonight.

Sprained Right A-C Joint

My right shoulder was really hurting and I had my chiropractor check it out. He says that I have a sprained Right A-C Joint, with possibility of fracture (need to rule out with x-ray). However, he doesn't believe that it's a fracture therefore x-ray was not done, and that I should let the shoulder heal for about 3 weeks before continuing BJJ.

I'm pretty disappointed because I know anytime I take time off the mats my BJJ starts to suffer. I'm also frustrated knowing that I can't train for so long.

I'm looking for any advice, suggestions, or strategies to help me maintain if not improve my BJJ while having an injured shoulder?

Tips from Alby

• If you cross your legs wrong in half guard, you can get kneebar-ed. If the outside leg is straight, your opponent can grab it roll over and finish with a kneebar. Therefore, you have to prevent your outside leg from being straight and tuck the ankle into the other leg.
• Triangles are everywhere. He got me in the inverted triangle twice!

More small tips

Put your forearm on your thigh to prevent your opponent's leg from touching your hip, if their leg can touch your hip then they're closer to retaining guard.

Advice from Alex

Don't waste energy defending (being passive), keep attacking, it's the same amount of energy but it keeps your opponent's weight off you.

For the leg that needs to shoot up for a triangle, PIN IT DOWN! Overhook like Sam showed and pin the leg down so your opponent doesn't kick it up for the triangle.

Passing Concepts

General De La Riva Guard Passing Concepts:

1. Unlock opponent's DLR leg hook.
2. Free ankle from opponent's.
3. Control opponent's legs to pass.

Standing DLR Pass (Starting grips = opponent's lapel and opponent's pants leg. Make sure for the lapel grip, your elbow is on top of your knee): 

1. Unlock opponent's DLR leg hook.
2. Pass opponent's pushing leg through and in between your leg.
3. Kick out your leg from opponent's ankle hook.
4. Kick out and pass your leg while maintaining control of opponent's pants leg into knee on belly.

Kneeling DLR Pass (Starting grips are the same as the Standing Pass):

1. Unlock opponent's DLR leg hook.
2. Kneel down to unhook your opponent's ankle hook.
3. Stand and kick out and pass your leg while maintaining control of opponent's pants leg into knee on belly. *NOTE* When passing here, the lapel grip changes into a fist pressure to prevent your opponent from moving.

(Sam's) Smash DLR Pass(Starting grips are the same as the Standing Pass):

1. Unlock opponent's DLR leg hook.
2. Pass opponent's pushing leg through and then smash down on it, overhooking the passing with a pants grip, while underhooking the opposite leg.
3. When ready control the pants grip and hop over.

General Spider Guard Passing:

1. Tuck your elbows to your stomach.

 Side Control Spider Guard Pass:

1. Tuck your elbows to your stomach.
2. Under grip the pants legs (maintain high posture).
3. Obtain a sleeve grip (this will dictate the passing side).
4. Under grip the pants leg o the sleeve grip side.
5. Step to side of the passing hips.
6. Yank and stretch out opponent into knee on belly.

Step Over Spider Guard Pass:

1. Tuck your elbows to your stomach.
2. Under grip the pants legs (maintain high posture).
3. Hip into your opponent and sit on their hips.
4. Step over your opponent and now you will be laying on their hips.
5. Underhook opponent's arm (to prevent them from taking their back).
6. Then pressure and pass into side.

Coping With The New Schedule Change

My school changed its schedule after Labor Day, which forced me to change my life schedule. Now I'm trying to make it to work earlier to so I can get out earlier. As of right now I'm attending the advance classes Tues/Thursday at 6pm.

Last Thursday, Justin went over some sweeps from De La Riva:

• De La Riva with a far side grip on the sleeve. Rock your opponent over, smash the knee, and go parallel while twisting their body. Slowly slide your leg to obtain mount.
• De La Riva with close side grip. Roll on your shoulder and loop your leg through their legs, then use your momentum to swing your leg over their arm and your leg goes behind their leg, lastly kick and take their back.

Sweeps from Situp Guard:

• Situp and grab a single leg while gripping the close side sleeve. Grab a lapel and rock your opponent over. Maintain control.
• Situp and grab a single leg while gripping the close side sleeve. If your opponent posts, swing under almost like deep half and roll them.

Luis helped me with the Berimbolo. I didn't know what exactly to do after rolling the shoulder. Luis says it's key that I grab their belt and after rolling over my shoulder I have to pass their leg to take their back. However, if they fall I can get up and turn that into a sweep.

Yesterday, Dominic showed us some Torreando (bullfighter) style passes:

• Basic style is to grab their pant legs, smash them down, and then pass.
• More advanced is grab their pant legs, throw them to the side, as you take a couple steps. But make sure to stabilize with your other leg (height of opponent's shoulder).
• X-pass: Starts with a pants leg and lapel grip. Throw one of their legs through and pendulum your leg and pass. NOTE: your opponent can not be holding onto your ankle. Your arms will end up as an X.

Interesting practice was guard defensive without hands. I need to practice this more.

4 Lines of (Guard) Defense Concept

1. Feet
2. Knees
3. Arms
4. Elbows

Reflections

• Work on getting better grips and stronger wrists.
• When mounted, consider the Americana instead of the front choke.
• Remember Dominic's back defensives, the key concept is to turn facing the opponent's knees. Well, this might depend on their grips, because they could take your back(?)

Steve thinks my BJJ is fine and cannot discredit it. I think he also thinks I'm "quiet" and states keep coming to class.