I'll admit, I wasn't in the mood to be doing anything that didn't involve me sitting in front of the tv. However, I had to take my own advice and know I would feel better after rolling.
We started with a Peter run warm-up sponsored by Corey. It consisted of jogging, push-ups, and tons of ab stuff. It wasn't necessarily the amount of exercises we did it was more so the exercises themselves. Not to bore you with the details but let's just say my legs felt like rubber.
So after our...energizing warm-up, we worked passing the guard. This was mainly for the new meat but it never hurts to review. Simple guard break with the knee in the butt, your far leg over theirs, underhooks, and pass. Simple, effective, often messed up.
I rolled with everyone except the new people. I didn't plan it that way that's just how it worked out. I did roll with Katie, Chris, Christian, Peter, and Corey. Corey and I rolled no gi and had fun doing it. I did end up latching onto his neck and felt like a douche afterward.
Nothing really out of the ordinary happened tonight. We're starting to enter tournament mode for the NAGA in Boca November 21st. I'm sure if I can just keep from doing something stupid I'll have a good shot at winning.
Possum out.
GracieFernandina.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tonight we begin with a bit of a recap. You are now officially reading the blog of a 4 stripe white belt. I'm pretty stoked about it too but please hold your applause until the end. I would also like to take this opportunity to use the relative safety of the Internet to mock our blue belts who never managed to get 4 stripes on their white belt. Sorry guys keep training though, it will come.
On Tuesday, Daniel came in for a special class. He wanted to drop in on us before he started his training tour to prepare for the Worlds. While there, Donny, Gracie Fernandina's lead instructor, received the 4th stripe on his purple belt. It was well deserved, coming off a gold medal finish at the No-Gi Pan Ams in NYC. Even better considering he's never competed no-gi. Obviously his amazing skill is due, at least partly, to Possum's awesome guard and menacing top game. Congratulations Donny we're all proud.
Tonight is the real highlight of the week, however. Wednesday night, as I was getting ready to watch a (finally) new Mythbusters, I received a Facebook message from Corey to give Donny a call because he needed someone to cover Thursday's adult class. I'll admit, I was as excited as a little girl. I couldn't dial the number quick enough. Turns out, Corey wasn't playing a mean yet admittedly awesome joke on me. Shortly after being sworn in by Donny, I began to let the power go to my head. This was going to be a long, long 24 hrs...for Ashley (She was commanded to address me as Professor Possum).
We started off class with a Peter led warm-up. I believe he read my mind and found every exercise I did not want to do that night and made us do it. If there's one thing I've learned though is never, ever, complain about the warm-up. So after toting around someone on my back and about 10 leap frogs we settled down for some technique.
Since most of the guys were fairly green, I mentioned the scissor sweep. This was completely spontaneous...ok it totally wasn't. I had it planned 10 seconds after hanging up the phone with Donny. So we started demonstrating the sweep and it goes a little something like this:
Good guy is on his back with the bad guy in guard. You hip out and rest on whichever hip you choose. In this case I choose the right. I bring my left leg across his belt and hook with my foot. My right leg sits on the floor against his leg. Your left hand grips his lapel on the same side as your free leg and your other hand grabs his sleeve. Yank them forward and scissor your legs. Simple. My slight variation involves grabbing the triceps instead of the wrist or sleeve. This also forces me to sit up a little and when I fall back it adds a little more umph to my yank (grow up!) forward.
The second sweep is a sort of half butterfly/ half full guard thing. With the bad guy in guard, your left leg goes between his legs like a butterfly hook. Your other leg comes down and traps their other leg. Sometimes, instead of just putting my free leg down to trap their leg I will place it on the back of their knee to keep them from standing. Either way, trap an arm on the opposite side of the butterfly and sweep to that side. It's important to be on your hip to do this. I've been able to do it from flat on my back as long as I can still move my hips.
Overall I had fun teaching. I tried to keep it short and even had everyone do a drill that helps set the scissor sweep into your brain but the guys weren't feeling it. I really hope I have the opportunity to do it again. I will be ordering all their black belts next week. Blue belts, let the ass whoopin begin. The rest of you, thank you for your patience, begin your applause.
Gracie Fernandina
On Tuesday, Daniel came in for a special class. He wanted to drop in on us before he started his training tour to prepare for the Worlds. While there, Donny, Gracie Fernandina's lead instructor, received the 4th stripe on his purple belt. It was well deserved, coming off a gold medal finish at the No-Gi Pan Ams in NYC. Even better considering he's never competed no-gi. Obviously his amazing skill is due, at least partly, to Possum's awesome guard and menacing top game. Congratulations Donny we're all proud.
Tonight is the real highlight of the week, however. Wednesday night, as I was getting ready to watch a (finally) new Mythbusters, I received a Facebook message from Corey to give Donny a call because he needed someone to cover Thursday's adult class. I'll admit, I was as excited as a little girl. I couldn't dial the number quick enough. Turns out, Corey wasn't playing a mean yet admittedly awesome joke on me. Shortly after being sworn in by Donny, I began to let the power go to my head. This was going to be a long, long 24 hrs...for Ashley (She was commanded to address me as Professor Possum).
We started off class with a Peter led warm-up. I believe he read my mind and found every exercise I did not want to do that night and made us do it. If there's one thing I've learned though is never, ever, complain about the warm-up. So after toting around someone on my back and about 10 leap frogs we settled down for some technique.
Since most of the guys were fairly green, I mentioned the scissor sweep. This was completely spontaneous...ok it totally wasn't. I had it planned 10 seconds after hanging up the phone with Donny. So we started demonstrating the sweep and it goes a little something like this:
Good guy is on his back with the bad guy in guard. You hip out and rest on whichever hip you choose. In this case I choose the right. I bring my left leg across his belt and hook with my foot. My right leg sits on the floor against his leg. Your left hand grips his lapel on the same side as your free leg and your other hand grabs his sleeve. Yank them forward and scissor your legs. Simple. My slight variation involves grabbing the triceps instead of the wrist or sleeve. This also forces me to sit up a little and when I fall back it adds a little more umph to my yank (grow up!) forward.
The second sweep is a sort of half butterfly/ half full guard thing. With the bad guy in guard, your left leg goes between his legs like a butterfly hook. Your other leg comes down and traps their other leg. Sometimes, instead of just putting my free leg down to trap their leg I will place it on the back of their knee to keep them from standing. Either way, trap an arm on the opposite side of the butterfly and sweep to that side. It's important to be on your hip to do this. I've been able to do it from flat on my back as long as I can still move my hips.
Overall I had fun teaching. I tried to keep it short and even had everyone do a drill that helps set the scissor sweep into your brain but the guys weren't feeling it. I really hope I have the opportunity to do it again. I will be ordering all their black belts next week. Blue belts, let the ass whoopin begin. The rest of you, thank you for your patience, begin your applause.
Gracie Fernandina
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sunshine State BJJ Open
Saturday marked the 2nd annual Sunshine State BJJ Open in Jacksonville, FL. Six of us from Gracie Fernandina entered while Donny and Daniel went to New York to compete in the Pan Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championships. When I say Donny and Daniel went to compete what I really mean is that they went to completely dominate their divisions. No surprise when you consider Daniel is a jiu-jitsu deity and Donny has been chewing through brown and black belts in competition. Tonight's post, however, is not about the relentless beat downs being offered by Gracie Fernandina's instructors. No, tonight is about those six (Christian, Ashley, Possum, Patrick, Katie, and Caid) who decided to open up a can of whoop ass at this local tournament.
Luckily for us Patrick filmed most of the matches however; unfortunately, there was some sort of mishap that occurred that erased most of the fights. There is a silver lining to this otherwise bleak situation, I, Possum, now get to describe in detail what went down. Consider it a behind the scenes look. Let us begin.
First to fight was Christian. He was in the super heavy division. Amazingly there were two others in the same weight class. His first fight was against a guy about his height but a bit lighter. He wore a orange and green belt and ridiculous hair cut. Before the fight I told Christian that there is no way in hell he will lose to someone with a hair cut like that.
Artist Rendition
The fight started and they tied up. Christian did a good job of keeping his balance. The other dude tried for a sweep and Christian capitalized. They both went down like the Titanic. Christian landed on top. From there he secured side control. After getting his points I yelled out "Cock the shotgun!" and he immediately popped to knee on belly. The kid escaped out of it and christian went back to side control. Shortly after he tried KOB again and this time it stuck. From that point on Christian proceeded to make an imprint of that boy's spine on the mat. The round only lasted four minutes but for the vast majority of that time Christian was introducing his knee to the mat via this kid's soft tissue. He won his first match with no points or advantages scored against him. Christian's highlight of the day was making this kid cry. Way to go buddy!
His second fight was against what I believe to be a 24 year old BJJ instructor from Brazil. This guy was supposed to be 14-15 years old but had a 5 'o clock shadow. The match started right after he put out his cigarette, and told his kid to get him another beer. They tied up but this kid was obviously not new to the game. He got the take down. Christian gained half guard. The man then went from half guard to full mount. There he stayed the whole match. Christian lost to points but put up a good fight and didn't get submitted. Took second place. Phenomenal for his first competition.
Next to fight was Katie. Katie seemed nervous for this fight and thought she needed a cool nickname like Possum. Using my incredible wit I dubbed Katie, Gumby.
The "officials" called for Katie's coach, so I went to see what they needed. They offered to let her fight all girls but they out weighed her by 30lbs or she could fight in her weight against boys. Never passing up a chance to make a boy cry in front of a hundred people we decided to fight the boys.
Katie tied up and it quickly went to the ground. She ended up in half guard. I'm screaming at the top of my lungs for her to "take the back" and she did. Once she took this kid's back it was over. She was making attempts to choke him but hadn't quite locked it in. Before we knew it this kid tapped. Katie didn't really have a choke but I suppose what matters is he thought she did. Either way Katie did what she had set out to do. Win a match? Nope. Make a boy cry in front of his friends, family, and tons of strangers? Yes!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see her second match but I believe it was a stalemate and they were stood back up. The boy got a take down and won on points. She ended up with the Bronze. Not bad for a girl.
Those were the matches I got to see that we don't have video on. I was trying to coach as many people as I could but those disorganized bastards, in their infinite wisdom, decided to have multiple Gracie Fernandina fighters go at the same time. I have video for the no gi matches of Patrick and Katie, and the Gi matches for Possum and Ashley. I'll post it as soon as I get it on the computer. Look for our next installment of the Sunshine State BJJ Open.
Gracie Fernandina.com
Luckily for us Patrick filmed most of the matches however; unfortunately, there was some sort of mishap that occurred that erased most of the fights. There is a silver lining to this otherwise bleak situation, I, Possum, now get to describe in detail what went down. Consider it a behind the scenes look. Let us begin.
First to fight was Christian. He was in the super heavy division. Amazingly there were two others in the same weight class. His first fight was against a guy about his height but a bit lighter. He wore a orange and green belt and ridiculous hair cut. Before the fight I told Christian that there is no way in hell he will lose to someone with a hair cut like that.
Artist Rendition
The fight started and they tied up. Christian did a good job of keeping his balance. The other dude tried for a sweep and Christian capitalized. They both went down like the Titanic. Christian landed on top. From there he secured side control. After getting his points I yelled out "Cock the shotgun!" and he immediately popped to knee on belly. The kid escaped out of it and christian went back to side control. Shortly after he tried KOB again and this time it stuck. From that point on Christian proceeded to make an imprint of that boy's spine on the mat. The round only lasted four minutes but for the vast majority of that time Christian was introducing his knee to the mat via this kid's soft tissue. He won his first match with no points or advantages scored against him. Christian's highlight of the day was making this kid cry. Way to go buddy!
His second fight was against what I believe to be a 24 year old BJJ instructor from Brazil. This guy was supposed to be 14-15 years old but had a 5 'o clock shadow. The match started right after he put out his cigarette, and told his kid to get him another beer. They tied up but this kid was obviously not new to the game. He got the take down. Christian gained half guard. The man then went from half guard to full mount. There he stayed the whole match. Christian lost to points but put up a good fight and didn't get submitted. Took second place. Phenomenal for his first competition.
Next to fight was Katie. Katie seemed nervous for this fight and thought she needed a cool nickname like Possum. Using my incredible wit I dubbed Katie, Gumby.
The "officials" called for Katie's coach, so I went to see what they needed. They offered to let her fight all girls but they out weighed her by 30lbs or she could fight in her weight against boys. Never passing up a chance to make a boy cry in front of a hundred people we decided to fight the boys.
Katie tied up and it quickly went to the ground. She ended up in half guard. I'm screaming at the top of my lungs for her to "take the back" and she did. Once she took this kid's back it was over. She was making attempts to choke him but hadn't quite locked it in. Before we knew it this kid tapped. Katie didn't really have a choke but I suppose what matters is he thought she did. Either way Katie did what she had set out to do. Win a match? Nope. Make a boy cry in front of his friends, family, and tons of strangers? Yes!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see her second match but I believe it was a stalemate and they were stood back up. The boy got a take down and won on points. She ended up with the Bronze. Not bad for a girl.
Those were the matches I got to see that we don't have video on. I was trying to coach as many people as I could but those disorganized bastards, in their infinite wisdom, decided to have multiple Gracie Fernandina fighters go at the same time. I have video for the no gi matches of Patrick and Katie, and the Gi matches for Possum and Ashley. I'll post it as soon as I get it on the computer. Look for our next installment of the Sunshine State BJJ Open.
Gracie Fernandina.com
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