Finally took measurements as I continue my search for the "perfect fitting" gi. I guess this is subjective and based on my preferences. So far, I figured out my "preferred" measurements are:
wingspan - 66 inches (167.64) deviation can be up to 3 inches shorter (7.62 cm) fully shrunk, meaning this is the measurement from the first knuckle of my thumb to my wrist.
measured Black Ops and Inverted (surprised they were the same wingspan)
Sticking with 66 inches would be preferred (pre-shrunk)
pants - 44 inches (111.76 cm), deviation up to 3 inches
Inverted pants are 38 inches (96.52 cm) and they hit just above my ankle bone
Origin Black Ops pants are 44 inches and they hit just above the floor
from floor to ankle bone is 3 inches (7.62 cm)
A2 and A2L seems to fit the best depending on manufacturer
next measurements to figure out - skirt length and chest
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
December 30, 2014 class
Noon class
I've started a new job and have not been able to attend class much these past few weeks, I played hooky today to attend training.
Class was lead by Coach B. and Coach R.
Light warmups
Learned and drilled:
Scissor guard sweeps 1,2 and 3
1 - from guard, grip lapel, grip sleeve (same side), position opposite knee across stomach and hook foot onto back of opponent, base on elbow and pull opponent towards you to disrupt base of opponent, scoot your hips close to opponent and place head near opponents shoulder, use outer leg (leg not hooked on opponent) to sweep opponent and mount.
2. from guard, same as #1, as opponent is setting up to block your sweep by placing pressure on your leg, grab opponents other hand and pull diagonally towards you, place outer leg (the one not hooked) with pinky toe facing mat to set up for rotating your hips 180 degrees, then with leg hooked flower sweep opponent and side mount. A variation of this is to remove hand from lapel and reach over back of opponent and grip under arm (use "sloth grip").
3. from guard, same as #1, at the same time (same side) pull arm and push opponents leg out and side mount.
We drilled each of these and switched partners to practice each technique.
Quote of the day from Jonathan F. "your scissor guard is looser than a prostitutes bra", with that said he showed me what I was doing incorrectly and gave me tips to work on.
Great class!
I've started a new job and have not been able to attend class much these past few weeks, I played hooky today to attend training.
Class was lead by Coach B. and Coach R.
Light warmups
Learned and drilled:
Scissor guard sweeps 1,2 and 3
1 - from guard, grip lapel, grip sleeve (same side), position opposite knee across stomach and hook foot onto back of opponent, base on elbow and pull opponent towards you to disrupt base of opponent, scoot your hips close to opponent and place head near opponents shoulder, use outer leg (leg not hooked on opponent) to sweep opponent and mount.
2. from guard, same as #1, as opponent is setting up to block your sweep by placing pressure on your leg, grab opponents other hand and pull diagonally towards you, place outer leg (the one not hooked) with pinky toe facing mat to set up for rotating your hips 180 degrees, then with leg hooked flower sweep opponent and side mount. A variation of this is to remove hand from lapel and reach over back of opponent and grip under arm (use "sloth grip").
3. from guard, same as #1, at the same time (same side) pull arm and push opponents leg out and side mount.
We drilled each of these and switched partners to practice each technique.
Quote of the day from Jonathan F. "your scissor guard is looser than a prostitutes bra", with that said he showed me what I was doing incorrectly and gave me tips to work on.
Great class!
Thursday, December 4, 2014
December 4, 2014 class
Noon class
Professor led class
Drills - arm bar transitions
Techniques - side mount to lapel choke
side mount on opponents right side -
while applying pressure, roll opponent onto left side
left arm goes under opponents arm pit, grab collar behind neck( four fingers inside collar) and apply hip pressure with your hips facing opponents feet
switch your right hand to grab collar behind neck ( four fingers inside collar)
with left arm arm grab opponents left lapel (thumb inside lapel)
rotate hip pressure to where your hips are now facing opponents head
lock in the choke
Reverse for other side
Drilled - side mount escape | mount or submit
opponent starts in side mount, the goal is to escape and/or not get mounted
opponents goal is to mount or submit
Sparring - 5 minute rounds
went 3 or 4 rounds ( can't remember)
Goal: work on defense, not get arm barred, land a couple of submissions
submitted by americana once and triangle once
landed ezequiel and kimura, attempted triangle (close to submission) and modified bread cutter while stacking opponent(technique that R. showed me).
Professor led class
Drills - arm bar transitions
Techniques - side mount to lapel choke
side mount on opponents right side -
while applying pressure, roll opponent onto left side
left arm goes under opponents arm pit, grab collar behind neck( four fingers inside collar) and apply hip pressure with your hips facing opponents feet
switch your right hand to grab collar behind neck ( four fingers inside collar)
with left arm arm grab opponents left lapel (thumb inside lapel)
rotate hip pressure to where your hips are now facing opponents head
lock in the choke
Reverse for other side
Drilled - side mount escape | mount or submit
opponent starts in side mount, the goal is to escape and/or not get mounted
opponents goal is to mount or submit
Sparring - 5 minute rounds
went 3 or 4 rounds ( can't remember)
Goal: work on defense, not get arm barred, land a couple of submissions
submitted by americana once and triangle once
landed ezequiel and kimura, attempted triangle (close to submission) and modified bread cutter while stacking opponent(technique that R. showed me).
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
December 3, 2014 class
Noon class
Professor led class today and we started with warm ups, drilled side to side footwork and knee on belly transitions with a striking pad.
Notation: get a striking pad to work on these drills at home.
Quote of the day from Professor "If you can't do a technically correct arm bar, do not tell people you do jiu jitsu".
drilled arm bars and arm bar escapes
arm bar - grip opponents cuff (same side), opposite arm reach over and grab tricep of opponent, pull arm over your shoulder at 45 degree angle. same side that you are gripping cuff, place foot on hip with knee against opponents shoulder, opposite leg hook under shoulder blade to bring opponent off base, pivot and apply other leg over opponents head to finish arm bar.
arm bar escape -
once opponent sets arm bar while you are based on both knees, place knee furthest away from opponent up, apply shoulder pressure to opponent driving his legs into his head, base with free hand and then bring free hand towards arm being arm barred and hook it, elbow escape, use hand that was hooked to grab pant leg of opponent near the knees, use the hand that you just completed the elbow escape with to grab opponents shoulder / lapel or anything and escape into side control.
Sparring -
5 minute rounds - went five rounds, submitted by americana twice, arm triangle once. My focus during sparring was once again defense while being mounted working on tips I received this past week. I did try a wonky version of the worm guard, interesting how I was able to control my training partner with it :-).
With the new students in class, I pulled guard and let them work on passing.
Did not play offense today, sparring was spirited by all those that participated today. Great fun.
Professor led class today and we started with warm ups, drilled side to side footwork and knee on belly transitions with a striking pad.
Notation: get a striking pad to work on these drills at home.
Quote of the day from Professor "If you can't do a technically correct arm bar, do not tell people you do jiu jitsu".
drilled arm bars and arm bar escapes
arm bar - grip opponents cuff (same side), opposite arm reach over and grab tricep of opponent, pull arm over your shoulder at 45 degree angle. same side that you are gripping cuff, place foot on hip with knee against opponents shoulder, opposite leg hook under shoulder blade to bring opponent off base, pivot and apply other leg over opponents head to finish arm bar.
arm bar escape -
once opponent sets arm bar while you are based on both knees, place knee furthest away from opponent up, apply shoulder pressure to opponent driving his legs into his head, base with free hand and then bring free hand towards arm being arm barred and hook it, elbow escape, use hand that was hooked to grab pant leg of opponent near the knees, use the hand that you just completed the elbow escape with to grab opponents shoulder / lapel or anything and escape into side control.
Sparring -
5 minute rounds - went five rounds, submitted by americana twice, arm triangle once. My focus during sparring was once again defense while being mounted working on tips I received this past week. I did try a wonky version of the worm guard, interesting how I was able to control my training partner with it :-).
With the new students in class, I pulled guard and let them work on passing.
Did not play offense today, sparring was spirited by all those that participated today. Great fun.
Monday, December 1, 2014
December 1, 2014 class
Noon class
Was an off day today, started getting light headed during warm ups but decided to continue with class as I was already there.
Drilled:
arm bar to triangle to arm bar
arm bar to omaplata, sweep to arm bar
guard pass - "bulls horn" (not real name of course) - opponent on ground, I'm standing and have grips on both leg cuffs, opponent has grips on both my gi cuffs. My right arm goes under/over to control grip on arm. I move my left arm under opponents left leg to establish grip on pant leg. Break the grip while moving to my right and transition into arm bar by placing opposing shin under opponents arm pit and sit down.
Reverse process for other side.
Sparred three rounds, one three minute round and two four minute rounds - goal was to not get armed barred and work on escapes.
Went light in sparring as I was still light headed, tapped once to an americana, all other rounds went the duration without submission.
Landed an Ezequiel, attempted a tail choke, stuffed a couple of arm bars attempts.
Feedback:
While opponent is in side control, have arm under his arm (underhook), set hooks in with leg and take his back.
Was an off day today, started getting light headed during warm ups but decided to continue with class as I was already there.
Drilled:
arm bar to triangle to arm bar
arm bar to omaplata, sweep to arm bar
guard pass - "bulls horn" (not real name of course) - opponent on ground, I'm standing and have grips on both leg cuffs, opponent has grips on both my gi cuffs. My right arm goes under/over to control grip on arm. I move my left arm under opponents left leg to establish grip on pant leg. Break the grip while moving to my right and transition into arm bar by placing opposing shin under opponents arm pit and sit down.
Reverse process for other side.
Sparred three rounds, one three minute round and two four minute rounds - goal was to not get armed barred and work on escapes.
Went light in sparring as I was still light headed, tapped once to an americana, all other rounds went the duration without submission.
Landed an Ezequiel, attempted a tail choke, stuffed a couple of arm bars attempts.
Feedback:
While opponent is in side control, have arm under his arm (underhook), set hooks in with leg and take his back.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Sunday Open Mat
27 degrees outside but as someone once said " some people stay in bed and dream, while others get up and pursue their dreams".
What is my dream? To improve a little each day.
The only goal I had this morning was to not get arm barred, that failed miserably. I rolled 5 rounds and was arm barred 4 times and triangled once.
I felt great though as it was an opportunity for me to observe and roll with Coach and three purple belts.
The feedback I received was awesome in terms of what holes they saw in my game and some tips to work on improving.
Things to work on:
While mounted: focus on escaping!
use one hand to defend against chokes
use one hand to set up escape (place on upper thigh to create space)
think of your hands as "fish hooks"
once space is created, slide knee through space and hook opponents thigh
hip escape and slide other knee through to set up butterfly guard
Tail choke -
once set up, make sure to get a higher grip on lapel (opposite hand, the one not gripping the "tail" of gi).
What is my dream? To improve a little each day.
The only goal I had this morning was to not get arm barred, that failed miserably. I rolled 5 rounds and was arm barred 4 times and triangled once.
I felt great though as it was an opportunity for me to observe and roll with Coach and three purple belts.
The feedback I received was awesome in terms of what holes they saw in my game and some tips to work on improving.
Things to work on:
While mounted: focus on escaping!
use one hand to defend against chokes
use one hand to set up escape (place on upper thigh to create space)
think of your hands as "fish hooks"
once space is created, slide knee through space and hook opponents thigh
hip escape and slide other knee through to set up butterfly guard
Tail choke -
once set up, make sure to get a higher grip on lapel (opposite hand, the one not gripping the "tail" of gi).
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Techniques learned to date
Based on memory, these are techniques that were introduced, learned and drilled during the past few months.
Of course, I am not proficient with any of these techniques at this point however they are in my tool bag.
This list is created to jog my memory as there were a lot of techniques learned the past few months, I'm not sure I remember them all let alone the names. There are many variations to these techniques but for now, creating a list of techniques is the goal.
In no specific order:
Base
Posturing
Grips
Breaking Grips
Hand fighting (defense)
Closed Guard
Half Guard
Spider Guard
X Guard
De La Riva Guard
Side control
Mount
North / South
Kesa Gatame
Kata Gatame
Cross Face
Knee on Belly
Hip Bump
Hip Escape (shrimp)
Passing the Closed Guard
Passing the Half Guard
Passing the spider guard
Over wrap arm to lapel (not the proper name of this technique, I'm sure)
wrist locks
Grapevine
Flower sweep
a few more sweeps I forget the names to...
Arm Bar
Triangle
Kimura
Americana
Bow and Arrow Choke
Ezequiel
Guillotine
Rear Naked Choke
Cross collar choke
Palm up | Palm down choke
"Tail" choke
Clock choke
Baseball choke
Bread cutter choke
Omoplata
Barrackoplata ???
Takedowns -
Learned a few takedowns (around 10-15), don't remember the names, I'll notate these once I figure out how to describe them.
Of course, I am not proficient with any of these techniques at this point however they are in my tool bag.
This list is created to jog my memory as there were a lot of techniques learned the past few months, I'm not sure I remember them all let alone the names. There are many variations to these techniques but for now, creating a list of techniques is the goal.
In no specific order:
Base
Posturing
Grips
Breaking Grips
Hand fighting (defense)
Closed Guard
Half Guard
Spider Guard
X Guard
De La Riva Guard
Side control
Mount
North / South
Kesa Gatame
Kata Gatame
Cross Face
Knee on Belly
Hip Bump
Hip Escape (shrimp)
Passing the Closed Guard
Passing the Half Guard
Passing the spider guard
Over wrap arm to lapel (not the proper name of this technique, I'm sure)
wrist locks
Grapevine
Flower sweep
a few more sweeps I forget the names to...
Arm Bar
Triangle
Kimura
Americana
Bow and Arrow Choke
Ezequiel
Guillotine
Rear Naked Choke
Cross collar choke
Palm up | Palm down choke
"Tail" choke
Clock choke
Baseball choke
Bread cutter choke
Omoplata
Barrackoplata ???
Takedowns -
Learned a few takedowns (around 10-15), don't remember the names, I'll notate these once I figure out how to describe them.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Catching up to the present - a snapshot of the past few months
Documenting the few months based on memory:
The first few months were tough, there was not a single day that I was not sore. The training was and is real and that is what I love about BJJ.
I have never stepped foot on a mat prior to my first class and the learning curve is steep. My primary focus was to survive and learn to defend. As I become better at defending I will expand my focus on escapes.
I'm finding that I'm tapping to arm bars and need to figure out how to defend against this. The good news is I'm not getting choked out as much as before (so I guess I'm learning how to defend against chokes).
I need to figure out how to stop getting crushed by teammates that outweigh me by 100-150 lbs. or more.
Classes attended: 92 estimate, the majority of the classes were noon classes.
Tapped out: millions (meaning I was tapped out)
Injuries: chipped tooth, minor bruises, cuts and abrasions, one bloody nose
Seminars attended: 2, Julio Cesar and Megaton Diaz
Books read: 12
Grappling 101
BJJ white belt handbook
Jiu Jitsu on the brain
Beginning BJJ
BJJ: Blog Barf and Butterflies
Borrowing the Master's Bicycle
Bruises
My Mastery
Psychology of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Tapmonster
The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Globetrotter
Jiu Jitsu University
I stayed away from You Tube in terms of watching video presentations of techniques. I have however watched numerous documentary type of videos on BJJ.
Gi's purchased: 12
Academy Gi - A3
Inverted Gear (Panda) - blue, white and bamboo, all A2S
Platinum Gi - Fu Dog, A2
Hayabusa - Gold Weave, Blue, A2
CTRL Industries - Black Luxe, A2
Meerkatsu - Heavenly Gi, Black, A2
Tatami Estillo 4.0 - White A2L, Navy A3
Ground Game - Titan Gold Weave, A2
Origin- Black Ops (have not shipped), A2 top, 34x32 pants
Gave both Tatami Estelle's and Ground Game away.
Based on my body type, ectomorph (tall and skinny), I am on a quest to find a gi that fits perfectly. Learning that each manufacturer is a little bit different in terms of sizing it is a challenge to find the perfect fitting gi. With that said, with my limited experience in BJJ, I'm not exactly sure what a "perfectly fitted gi" means. I'm really not caught up on the branding of a gi although aesthetics matter to me, fit is paramount on this quest.
Do I really believe this or is this my excuse for my Gi addiction?
I'm going to review each Gi from a white belt's perspective in a future blog.
The first few months were tough, there was not a single day that I was not sore. The training was and is real and that is what I love about BJJ.
I have never stepped foot on a mat prior to my first class and the learning curve is steep. My primary focus was to survive and learn to defend. As I become better at defending I will expand my focus on escapes.
I'm finding that I'm tapping to arm bars and need to figure out how to defend against this. The good news is I'm not getting choked out as much as before (so I guess I'm learning how to defend against chokes).
I need to figure out how to stop getting crushed by teammates that outweigh me by 100-150 lbs. or more.
Classes attended: 92 estimate, the majority of the classes were noon classes.
Tapped out: millions (meaning I was tapped out)
Injuries: chipped tooth, minor bruises, cuts and abrasions, one bloody nose
Seminars attended: 2, Julio Cesar and Megaton Diaz
Books read: 12
Grappling 101
BJJ white belt handbook
Jiu Jitsu on the brain
Beginning BJJ
BJJ: Blog Barf and Butterflies
Borrowing the Master's Bicycle
Bruises
My Mastery
Psychology of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Tapmonster
The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Globetrotter
Jiu Jitsu University
I stayed away from You Tube in terms of watching video presentations of techniques. I have however watched numerous documentary type of videos on BJJ.
Gi's purchased: 12
Academy Gi - A3
Inverted Gear (Panda) - blue, white and bamboo, all A2S
Platinum Gi - Fu Dog, A2
Hayabusa - Gold Weave, Blue, A2
CTRL Industries - Black Luxe, A2
Meerkatsu - Heavenly Gi, Black, A2
Tatami Estillo 4.0 - White A2L, Navy A3
Ground Game - Titan Gold Weave, A2
Origin- Black Ops (have not shipped), A2 top, 34x32 pants
Gave both Tatami Estelle's and Ground Game away.
Based on my body type, ectomorph (tall and skinny), I am on a quest to find a gi that fits perfectly. Learning that each manufacturer is a little bit different in terms of sizing it is a challenge to find the perfect fitting gi. With that said, with my limited experience in BJJ, I'm not exactly sure what a "perfectly fitted gi" means. I'm really not caught up on the branding of a gi although aesthetics matter to me, fit is paramount on this quest.
Do I really believe this or is this my excuse for my Gi addiction?
I'm going to review each Gi from a white belt's perspective in a future blog.
Wow, I finally decided to document my journey
I've finally decided to document my journey as I venture down the rabbit hole known to me as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). I'm documenting my journey primarily for myself so I may record my training and all other thoughts on BJJ.
If anyone else reads this and actually finds anything of value then that would be awesome.
I'm 48 years old and have been training six months. I'm currently a two stripe white belt, I signed up for my first class nine months ago and had to take three months off due to a work project. So realistically I trained in two, three month blocks.
I think the outline for this blog is to:
1. Training Journal - techniques learned, drills practiced, sparring (rolling), techniques attempted during rolling, things to work on.
2. Gi's - reviews on Gi's that I own
3. BJJ apparel business - thoughts on my journey to start and run a BJJ apparel business.
I will add to this if I decide to expand this blog, but for now, this will do.
Here goes, let's see what happens going forward.
If anyone else reads this and actually finds anything of value then that would be awesome.
I'm 48 years old and have been training six months. I'm currently a two stripe white belt, I signed up for my first class nine months ago and had to take three months off due to a work project. So realistically I trained in two, three month blocks.
I think the outline for this blog is to:
1. Training Journal - techniques learned, drills practiced, sparring (rolling), techniques attempted during rolling, things to work on.
2. Gi's - reviews on Gi's that I own
3. BJJ apparel business - thoughts on my journey to start and run a BJJ apparel business.
I will add to this if I decide to expand this blog, but for now, this will do.
Here goes, let's see what happens going forward.
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