Gift Wrap to Collar Choke

Last night in class I jumped into a kickboxing class which I enjoyed. The coach is very skillful and I feel that I can learn a lot from him. I also like that in the class, everything was application. Hitting the bags or each other from the very start and ending in some light sparring. I think I'll try that out for awhile.

After that I jumped into Jiu-jitsu class. I was very late to the beginners class since we ran over time while sparring, so I didn't learn any knew submissions, but I did learn new open guard pass which I haven't had time to practice yet. I'll have to make some time for that later today.

This morning I drilled the Gift Wrap to Collar Choke I learned in the noon class the day before. In this video, I had a lot of slack in the dummies collar so I had to pull it out a few times. Also, it's hard to tell from this angle, but the hand that goes behind the head goes with the back of the hand against your opponents head.

This submission can be trained in tandem with the knee slice open guard pass.

Key points to remember.

1. Keep the leg that is over the opponent tight against the belt to prevent him from rolling
2. Once you have your collar grip, release the arm and thrust your hand through the gap
3. Keep your arms tight and flex with your chest to complete the choke

Armbar from the Closed Guard

Yesterday I learned a few new techniques and some improvements to one I already knew. This is the armbar from the closed guard. I knew this one already, but I got it cleaned up during the noon class. I definitely have been doing this wrong, since I was never able to pull it off when rolling. Hopefully I'll have a better chance of working it now.

Here are the points I remember

1. Pull the arm you want up until the elbow is above your navel
2. Reach around to monkey grip the bicep then anchor your arm to your body
3. With your free hand, grab your opponents gi above his shoulder and pull him down
4. Use your leg, from the side of the arm you captured, to turn your body
5. Bite down on your opponents back with your opposite leg to drive him down
6. Release the gi and push his head down
7. Throw your other leg over the head and bite down
8. squeeze the knees together as you thrust up with the hips

The Knee Slice Guard Pass

Last night in class, we worked the knee slice guard pass. This is the beginners version and my application needs work, but that's why I'm making these videos, so I can watch my progression. Also, so I can review later so I don't forget and can continue drilling.

Once I got into side control, I would drill the transition into an armbar if the opponent started rolling into me and taking the back if the opponent rolled away.

Coach brought up a lot of things to keep in mind for this drill. Here are some key points I remember from last night.

1. Stay low with the knees bent
2. Keep one foot in
3. One arm reaches in to make a frame
4. The opposite foot steps past the guard
5. Reach for the closet arm
6. Slice your inside knee over your opens leg
7. Pull up on the arm as you baseball side into side control

Onnit Warrior

Today I received an unexpected gift with my Onnit order. I got a very nice looking patch for apparently reaching the Warrior loyalty status. The patch also came with the following, very nice message:

"By now you are on the path to optimizing your life. You care about functioning at peak performance and have committed to a road less traveled. We define warrior as anyone willing to fight for their own happiness and the betterment of other, and you would not have achieved this status if those two ideals were not a part of your reality."

The sword represents commitments to the warrior way, the lightning bolts symbolize willingness to take action with passion, and the Nordic runes are for Earth and protection.

I know Onnit is a supplement company, and this is marketing, but it means something to me. I know Aubrey Marcus is committed to helping people and his passion is genuine, so is mine. I started getting committed to optimizing myself when I started listening to Joe Rogan. His speech about being the hero of your own movie really inspired me to take action and stop wishing I was a better me, and simply start taking steps in that direction, day after day.

I'm proud to have this patch. It means more to me since it was completely unexpected and it's actually a quality patch. I think this little token is really going to inspire me to stay committed to this path of self optimization. That little quote from the letter could not be more true and I plan to stay on this path for no other reason other than to simply be on it.

Morning Drills: 4-21-16

This morning I drilled getting to the armbar from side control. We worked that as well as specific training and rolling in the beginners class last night. I was moving slowly though since I had ate too much before class.

I like the armbar from side control. It's a quick movement and I feel like I can get good enough at it to pull it off in class. It's also easy to drill since I don't have to set the dummy up.

I also finally figured out how to make short videos of my workouts. These will be good to review my progress later on.

Morning Drills: 4-20-16

Yesterday my wife, son and I took a day off from work. We all just hung out at home and chilled. So I didn't do my usual morning drills or meditation. Instead I played video games with my son, but The Way of The Empty Hand is more than just training.

Once they went to bed at 7:30, I left to Silat class. I will be focusing primarily on Silat and Jiu-Jitsu for a bit. No more cross training in Kenpo. I want to see what the outcome will be of this decision. I really want my Silat to get back to where it was before.

This morning I drilled the kimura, sweeps from the full guard and foot locks. I also practiced another collar choke but I don't recall the name. I need to do a better job at remembering the names of these techniques. Maybe if I buy a video it will help.

I ended todays routine with a 20 minute meditation on appreciation. I'll be headed into the office today, so I won't have a noon workout. Though I intend to go to Jiu-Jitsu class tonight.

Morning Drills: 4-18-16

This morning I reviewed the techniques I learned from Saturday morning Jiu-jitsu. Unfortunately, I had already forgot the sweep from the half guard, but I did remember the butterfly guard sweep. I don't know how often I will find myself in a butterfly guard, but it's good to know at technique from that position.

The butterfly sweep is cool because you roll your opponent over his head as you do a shoulder roll yourself. Since rolling is a little disorientating, it might give you a chance to do a setup or transition quickly into a submission.

I also worked on triangle chokes and armbars from the full guard. Then I reviewed a Gi choke that I had trouble finishing when I was rolling last Thursday. I think I forgot to grab the opponent's lapel when I was attempting it. It's an easy choke to get with very little setup, so I want to drill it more so I can try it in class next time.

That's it. I ended my morning routine with a 20 minute meditation on appreciation.

Sunday Silat: 4-17-16

This morning I went to Silat class. It was a good class. We started off with Jurus on the triangle then switched to watching each other do Juru 1-3. It was interesting to see how each one of us does the Jurus slightly differently. Each person had a slightly different take on each Juru. Each variation was influenced by one teacher or another.

The most interesting point was brought up on Juru 2. I never really liked how we lean back just before elbowing, but the explanation we got today cleared it up. You're not leaning back for the elbow. There are actually two different movements happening. The first motion is a leaning away to pull the opponent in. You're then supposed to lean forward to attack or re-engage. Then there is an elbow motion that draws back then hits. They are not part of the same movement. They are essentially two different techniques.

It's amazing how much there is to learn in each Juru. That little tweak from today really deepened by understanding of Juru 2. It's also going to salvage what I was otherwise thinking was a wasted movement. There is so much hidden in these little forms. I really want to spend the next couple of days focusing on Silat and getting my application back up to where I feel it should be. I think that is what I will do for the next few weeks.

Saturday Rolling: 4-16-16

I did better than I thought I would today. When I first started these classes they were so tough. They still are but now I feel that I can do something. So I'm going to try to start making the all ranks classes more often.

Today the Professor showed us some sweeps before we started rolling. He showed us a sweep from the Z guard and another one from the butterfly guard. The butterfly sweep was new to me, so I have to make sure to practice that one first thing tomorrow morning.

Noon Workout: 4-14-16

Today I worked various random Silat drills. I started with the usual set. Jurus 1-3 and sambuts 1-3. I then worked some drills I recorded on the triangle followed by punching drills on the bag and walking punching drills. I got a good sweat in, but I think that was mostly due to the heat. I need to get more organized so I can get right into the drills and do them back to back. I also need to find a way to setup a camera in the garage so I can video tape myself to try to find corrections...

Stripes: 4-14-16

Last night I got my first stripes at Phenom. It was promotions week at school so I was hoping I would get 1 stripe, but I wasn't really counting on it. It still feels like I walked into the school just yesterday, but they gave me 2. Coach says I earned them. So I'm taking his word on it. I must be making progress. Honestly, I just feel lucky when I manage to work a technique on someone. I forget so much in the heat of the moment. When I drill here at home, there is no rush and no pressure, so I can carefully think about everything I learned in class and review everything I remember. When we roll in class, I just struggle to hold the other guy off as long as I can while I try to work whatever I happen to remember, which is usually 1 move.

This morning I drilled another armbar variation we went over last night. This one starts from the full mount with the opponent trying to push you off with his arms extended. You ride up on the chest until you're under his armpits. Then you pull one arm across as you go into S mount. The rest is the same. Grab the opposite tricep, toss your leg over, bite down on the head as you pitch your knees together and lean back. I also worked in a sweep from the half guard to review.

This mornings meditation was again on appreciation.

Noon Workout: 4-13-16

Spent more time on the triangle today. I am trying to invest more time into Silat since I have noticed my skills degrade in the art and I have always leaned heavily on Silat for my fundamentals.

Today I did Juru 1-3, Sambut 1-3 and Sepak 1-5. I plan on reviewing the miscellaneous videos I have recorded and incorporating the various drills I have picked up into my regular routines.

I completed by noon set with a 20 minute meditation in equanimity.

Morning Drills: 4-13-16

Last night we drilled taking the back from the mounted position, so that is what I drilled today.

To drill it, I would put the dummy on one side and then get into position. It's almost like the S mount except your front foot is flat on the ground. You wrap under the arm and head and pull your opponents head onto your knee. Then you just stay tight as you lean back. If all goes well, you should be able to roll to take the back. The dummy was very cooperative, so it worked each time...

After that, I drilled a cross choke variation for when the opponent is keeping his hands close to his chest and collar. To start, you snake one hand under his arms to grab the collar. You then go into S mount and adjust for a deeper grip. The opposite hand then grabs the other side of the collar for the cross choke.

That's it. I wrapped up the morning routine with a 20 minute meditation on appreciation.

Noon Workout: 4-12-16

Today I switched focus to Silat and ran Jurus on the triangle followed by 3 minute punching drills. I got through 1-5 to complete a 30 minute workout. Then followed that up with a 16 minute heart mind meditation.

Silat is such an amazing art. The amount of focus and emphases on body mechanics is unlike anything else I have found in any other art. My only gripe is that they don't spar. Sparring for me is so important. I need to be able to know that I can apply what I have learned in combat. I also learn a great deal from my mistakes when I get hit. I learn where I leave myself open and what works and what needs more work...

That said, I have been noticing bad habits forming from my time sparring. I focus too much on the hook punch, to the point where I miss other opportunities. I also have picked up several strange habits like, ducking and spinning away when pressed, raising my shoulders and a weird shoulder roll to block a punch when I am late on my defense.

I really wish I had the solution to my dilemma. I honestly feel like I am reaching a tipping point. My mechanics are suffering overall. I need to return to my base on focus on my fundamentals for awhile. So I plan on spending more time this week drilling Jurus, punching and kicking drills.

Morning Drills: 4-12-16

In class last night we drilled armbars. So this morning, in the garage was armbar central. Coach made a lot of good points last night. He went over common armbar mistakes and what to focus on while practicing the drill. Let's see how many I can remember...

1. Stay heavy while in the S Mount
2. Stay up on the ball of your rear foot
3. Control the arm you want and hold the tricep of the opposite arm
4. Don't leave back until the leg is over the head
5. Bite down on the head with your leg
6. Pinch the knees together
7. Point the opponents thumb up
8. Push up with the hips

I think I kept most of that in mind while I drilled on the dummy today.

Morning Drills: 4-11-16

More Jiu-Jitsu this morning. I drilled triangle chokes from the guard, sweeps from the guard and getting to the armbar from the guard. I followed that up with a 20 minute meditation immediately followed up by jurus on the triangle.

This is going to be my last workout for the day until I get to class tonight. I need to go into the office today. So I won't get the chance to workout at lunch.

The weekend was full of junk food and beer. I really need to work on my willpower and turn that stuff down. There is always a healthy option. My goal is to get to 14% body fat. If I want to do that, I need to be more disciplined. Currently I am floating around 16%, but trending down.

Commitment is the key. Eat right, think right and drill your techniques.

Stay the Course

It's hard being the new guy in a Martial Arts school. Especially when you're a total beginner. Learning requires repetition and you're going to make mistakes. Sometimes you may feel like you'll never get it right. Other times you may get discouraged when someone seems to get it effortlessly. You might start to think that it's just not worth the effort. It's hopeless.

From experience, I can tell you that it's best to stay the course. I've had many beginner moments. I've started over a few times in new fighting styles. It doesn't help that I'm a very slow learner. Painfully slow. But at some point, a breakthrough always happens and things start to click. You may not even notice when you start to get better. One day you'll just realize that you're better than the new guy. For me, the magic always happens when I start to notice patterns in the application. That's when the light starts to go on for me.

I recently started Jiu-Jitsu. I have no other ground fighting experience. So where I am at right now is complete and total beginner. My experience in standup really doesn't help. I'm clueless. I've learned a few techniques but still struggle to pull them off under resistance. To be honest, I have moments when I think I'll never get it. Then I remember feeling like that before. When I started Silat. I'm sure it was the same for Kenpo. Now kicking and punching come naturally. I know the same will be true for Jiu-Jitsu in time.

So stay the course. Even if you don't feel like you're making progress. You might just be a slow learner like me. If it's something you really want and you approach training with serious diligences, you will make progress. One step at a time. One day at a time. Put focus and care into your work and you will improve.

Sick: 4-8-16

I'm sick with a cold today. It started on Wednesday night (4-6-16). That's when I first noticed that I might be coming down with something, but I still stuck to my routine hoping that it was allergies. Yesterday it started to become undeniable. For my lunch break, I decided to take a short nap and ended up sleeping 2.5 hours. Today, I really don't feel like getting out of bed.

Oh well. No one is immune to getting sick. I'll try not to spread it around and stay home until I feel better. I don't want to take anyone else out because I want to get a little training in. It's just me the dummy and the bag. Though I don't really have the energy to do that at the moment. Better to rest.

The Morning Drills: 4-7-16

This morning I drilled what Coach taught me yesterday. Which was foots locks and the Kimura. I tried getting to the foot lock while passing the open guard, which is where I always struggle. I'm not very good at getting past it without getting wrapped up. 

Coach taught me the foot lock from a 50/50 guard, but I saw how he would dive into position while the other guy was in open guard. So I tried emulating that this morning. If it works, great! If it doesn't, I am still drilling the mechanics of the foot lock, even if I am not diving in correctly.

I followed that up with some corrections he made to my application of the Kimura. I used to try to bring the arm up to the back of the head as soon as I wrapped it, but he told me it's better to bring it to the guys hip first. That allows me to control the arm more and gives him less power to struggle. Once the arm is near the hip, you raise it behind it and start bringing it up to the head.

That's it. I followed that up with a 20 minute meditation.

Noon Workout: 4-6-16

Everyday at noon, I do my workout of the day. I like to get a good sweat going on this one. Sometimes it's kettle bells, bag work, techniques or running. Today it was Jiu-Jitsu. My school has a noon class and it's close enough to home that I can use my lunch break to get in some matt time.

Today was No Gi. My first time. It disarmed me of some of my moves since I couldn't hold the Gi, but that really didn't make any difference since I was rolling with much higher belts and I'm currently only a white belt. All I could do was defend and try to learn from what my seniors were doing. I did notice that it made it a lot easier for me to slip out of some moves that normally would have tapped me.

I also got introduced to foot locks today for the first time. They are very cool. Needless to say, I couldn't pull off a single one once we started rolling. In time though, it will come.

The Morning Drills: 4-6-16

Every morning I get up and a do a light 30 minute workout to wake up. It's my alternative to coffee. Sometimes it's a walk. Sometimes some Kenpo. This morning it was Jiu-Jitsu. I always try to drill whatever techniques we were working recently in class so they stay fresh in my mind. Today it was defending the back and a few armbars from the guard. 

The armbars are easy to drill. Defending the back is a little harder. I sit in front of the dummy and put it's legs around my waist. Then I have to reach back and pull it's arms up to simulate a seatbelt hold. That's the hardest part. But once I lock one arm under mine and I get a pocket grip on the other, it's easy to hold. That simulates someone taking your back. From there, I just run the drill, trying to focus on each transition and trying to remember whatever was mentioned in class.

Once that's done, I sit down and do a 20 minute meditation from my Headspace app. This morning it was Headspace Pro level 6 session 6. Those guys have really figured it out. I just now noticed how the names of the session and the progression almost give you a sense of leveling up.