The evening Crossfit classes are getting bigger and bigger. It was wall to wall people last night, so there was no chance that there would be space for me to deadlift.

Jiu jitsu was same as Monday night. We started with the side control retention technique, and added in a variation to allow the same technique against a crafty defender. Very similar, it just uses the thread of a shoulder lock to negate his defense. We also learned and drilled two methods where if you miss your chance to retain side control, and your opponent gets to his knees, grabs your leg and starts working for a single leg.

If he’s doing it improperly, you can swivel out of it and establish top control. If he’s doing it properly, you can grip one elbow and then roll into an omaplata. It’s a pretty slick move.

Sparring was winners and losers. I went with Dan, Greg, Nolan, Enrique, Bob, and Jen. Greg and I had a real battle. The half guard sweeps that I’ve been working on lately are starting to pay off. Nolan and I had a funny roll. He is slightly injured, huge, and a purple belt, so he was going very slowly. I started off the same, until I realized that he was just sitting there, waiting for me to do something. So I started to work around and take his back. He didn’t move. I reached around for the rear naked choke. He didn’t move. I locked it in. He didn’t move. I squeezed. He didn’t move. Tick. Tick. Tick. He defends a little, but clearly isn’t phased by my choke. So I transition to an arm triangle. And I take my time to set it up as well as I know how. Squeeze. More squeeze. Even more squeezing. Pretty soon I had to let it go because I was squeezing so hard I was pressing my own neck into his shoulder and was starting to see stars myself. I still don’t know how he didn’t have to tap from those.

Enrique got me in a very slick and quick crucifix choke.