Welcome to summer.

A rare (for this time of the sporting seasons) Saturday where we were completely open. So, packed the kids up and off we went.

Skylar led the warm up, and everyone knew it was going to be a sweaty day. I was grouped up with Tim, Kevin, Isiah and Jamil. So, no slouch of a group.

I purposely started off slow and deliberate with Isiah. And was doing just fine. About half way through our first round, I got a weird twinge in my lower back. I ignored it, until the next time I bridged, and then I realized it was more than just a random pain. That sounds serrious when I write it out. I finished out the day by continuing to be slow, deliberate, and generally passive.

That afternoon and Sunday, I was sore, but not in any pain.

Same story as yesterday….take what I can get.

More drilling of the same sequence, then rounds. I had Man-Bear Brian, Tim, and Andrew. Brian was suprisingly back and forth for the most part. Tim tied me up in knots. Andrew did really well, and I only gave him enough effort to make him work. Kind of an active rest round for me.

I didn’t really want to go last night, but my opportunities are limited, so I made myself go. James tagged along.

We drilled the lesson of the week, which was obviously new to me. Passing a combination spider guard with a shallow lasso hook. First few reps were pretty clunky, but they smoothed out nicely by the end.

For rounds, I had Monique, Mike, and Mesfin, twice each. My back has been tight this week, but I did alright with everyone.

And, as usual, I felt much better after class. Going was the right call.

Big crowd, despite the holiday weekend.

I ran the warm up, then we self paired. 5 minute rounds, with a minute break.

I had Neely, Morgan, Isiah, half a break, Popsicle, Blue Belt Nick and Tyler.

Neely was being nice, so I got to move some. Morgan is never about pressure, so again, I got to move, but most of it ended up in odd 50/50 leg positions that I really don’t have much experience with. Isiah and I was my best round of the day.

I was planning on taking a round off, and did end up sitting for a bit. Then Morgan broke his pinkey toe. Popsicle’s partner went to assist, so I filled in. Chris said I’m doing the right things, I’m just rushing.

With that in mind, I focused on two things with Nick in my next round. Don’t rush, and don’t loose guard. And indeed, it took four and a half minutes, but I did keep guard and then took the back for a choke.

More soccer on Saturday, and I want to get my grapple on. So, Friday noon it was.

Light turn out, and we skipped warming up and class and just got right to the beatings. We had Tim, Mick, Aria, and myself. We did five minutes, then took one off. 3x with each.

Two first timers in class today, so the warm up was relaxed and explaining some movements.

Lesson was a throwback to BJJ 101. Breaking closed guard open, double under pass, mount, cross choke.

I was paired up with Lindy, and let her drill most of the time, helping her as needed.

Kid stuff going on on Saturday, so I squeezed in a Friday class while I could.

Lesson of the day was an entry into X guard from DLR when they shove our foot down. We elevate and off balance them, then can insert our knee inside to setup the guard. I drilled with Alex. Low key.

Rounds, I had Mick, Tim, and two two big blues. Started hot with Tim and hit the wall about 1:30 in.

Spring sports and activities are in full swing, so my week night attendance is lower than it has been.

But can’t miss Saturday.

Quick warm up care of Isaiah, and we’re off. 5 minute rounds, self paired. I had Mick, Monique, Marquis, Cat (who took it easy on me), James, and Corey.

Fun fundamentals class last night, and what a bad ass name for a technique.

We covered a very timely topic for me, stopping the knee cut pass. When they shuffle and start to cut, we can go to reverse DLR and use our bottom hand to frame our leg to prevent it from colapsing.

But to capitalize and count, we need to time their entry, and as they’re coming in, and we’re threading our guard in, we can kick and continue their momentum, so that the overshoot and are off balanced. Then we can invert/pivot under them and scoot out the back and take their back.

It looks flashy, but isn’t hard. And again, great name.

No warm up this week. Just a little bit of open guard passing. Grab the cuff, shuffle step to the side. Switch and do the same thing on the other side. Then for the last round, grab both cuffs, shuffle left, square back up, and shuffle right.

My group was Tim, Mesfin, Isiah, and Ferhayn, who’s coming back from injury. So, a tough group. I had Tim, Isiah, Ferhayn twice each, and Mike once.

Right before my last round with Tim, he was talking to someone saying “If you’re with someone that you’re much better than, just practice your frames or the lesson of the day.” Buzzer rings and I’m trying to pass his open guard. What’s he doing? Framing. I called him out on it and we had a good laugh.