By: Tortuga
So I'm a day or so late on posting this but what the heck. I have the distinct pleasure of writing this up while on a bus headed for the center of Los Angeles while blasting My Chemical Romance soooo yay for me. Any way, yesterdays practice felt great and was WAY overdue (was off the mats with an infection). We had a couple of familiar faces in the class, but for the most part a lot of new people. So our instructor Rivera starts us off with our usual warm up, a light jog with some calisthenics thrown in to loosen us up, then some stretching. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and it felt great to get back on the mats. Since we had so many new people today Rivera decided to show everyone some basic break fall techniques, which basically consists of you dropping backwards, and rolling onto your shoulders while simultaneously giving the mat a good smack with your palms (and yes it is as fun as it sounds). Then on to single leg break falls, which did not go quite as smoothly. Apparently dropping yourself while balancing on one leg is not a comfortable motion for most, go figure. After that little fiasco we went on to hip escapes, and understandably the newcomers struggled a bit to pick up the motions right away, but after a couple tries most were shrimping like champs. Then came the reverse hip escapes, and everything went to hell! Shoulder rolls came next, and surprisingly everyone picked up on the movements right away. Even had a couple of roll races break out (sorry e-man but you owe me a quarter, I smoked you). Reverse rolls came and went with little problems and I'm happy to report that most were really enjoying themselves. I even caught myself messing around with a training partner (every time I would drop for a hip escape he'd throw a knee to my chin) and I must say it looked pretty darn convincing. Today was strictly a beginners warm up day so Rivera ended the class there with a little speech about bringing in your gi's for next weeks class. But of course were rebels, so we decide to get a few rolls in.
It's me and Emmanuel (e-man) first, I start in his half guard, starting to work to pass by using my usual method. I drop my hips sideways, and press my lower hip to his. I then pass my bottom arm over his head to secure him then bring the knee that's trapped in half guard up like a spike and then proceed to slice said knee inward towards the mount. As space is created I shoot my hand in between and use it as a lever to pry his half guard open. I eventually get the pass into side control and transition into north/south looking for either the kimura or armbar, but e-man does a good job of hipping out and getting into a sprawl position. He then grabs the single leg and looks for the take down, and I intend to lock him up in a crucifix position, but it's sloppy and I end up draped on his shoulders staring right at his arm and I swear it's begging me to grab it for a kimura, so I happily oblige. I go to lock up from back side control but he postures and instead I switch my hips, throw my left knee over his shoulder, and switch to the arm bar instead. I'm inverted by now, so I decide to grab his pant leg and flip him over my shoulder, from there it's elementary as I stick my foot on his bicep to break his grip, then crank this way and that till he taps. After ward we slap hands and chock it up to good times. Good to be back!! Then it's time for round two!!
I start in guard this time working my hips looking for his arm but he pulls it out in time to avoid any damage. So instead I chain my attack into the triangle, e-man's shoulder gets locked up and he decides to roll through till he ends up on his back. Now I'm on top with the triangle still in place, but for some reason I begin looking for an americana then think better of it and control the shin that's still across the back of his neck, and roll back onto my back simultaneously locking up the triangle and getting the tap from Ol' E-man. Two rolls, and two taps, and I'm feeling pretty good so of course I've got to be grounded back to Earth, and my doom comes in the form of Michael "D'arce Vader" Moore!! Good friend, sith..I mean blue belt, and destroyer of all that is white belt. Time for a whooping!
Big Mike starts with an open guard, I do my best to shuck his legs aside and pass but it's not happening so I settle for half guard. From there I work the same pass as earlier, I prop up my knee and slice, then when Mike loosens his guard I dropped my hip and swing my top leg over into side control. He then proceeds to regain guard and sweep me. Now I'm working from the bottom in half guard, Mike works from the top and I can feel the d'arces coming so I do my best impersonation of a deep half guard I shoot my head through his leg and pop out the back door. There's a scramble and I wind up on top, working to take Vader's back (note: He's allowing me to work, and get positions, I'm not a bad ass, though I like to tell myself I am sometimes lol). So I get one hook in and he turns into me, I try to mount but he blocks my knee and regains half guard, then sweeps me with "The Force", and from there it's a systematic breakdown of my defenses as he passes my guard and locks me in a crucifix then slaps on an americana. The force is strong with this one.
So this marks the end of a good session and some short but fun rolls. I'd just like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the sparring with both e-man and Mike. It just goes to show you that sometimes your the hammer and sometimes your the nail :)
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