I’m sure glad the soreness I had on Saturday dissipated. I banged out the 100 Pushups Week 4 Day 1. I upped the rest period to 2 minutes for Sets 1-4, and 4 minutes before the final set. And I did more than the minimum on Set 5 too.

Class last night was a few chokes from half guard. This being my first exposure to any half guard techniques, it was nice to see. I thought the best part of the class wasn’t the chokes, but the locking down of the bottom guy. Keep him flat, and sit on his leg. The first choke was a pretty vanilla cross collar. The second was an innovative on that uses the lapel of MY gi to provide leverage to choke. And the third, against the bottom player releasing his guard and allowing me to pass was more or less an upside-down clock choke.

After class, keeping to Damian’s comment that I need to roll more, I did. New guy Mike and I went at it. This is only his 5th or 6th class, and he weighs about 130 pounds soaking wet. I started off slow and steady, and he was being really aggressive. I just defended and worked on maintaining my guard. He passed a couple of times, but never could hold it. I never got a sweep off on him, but I did get to my knees and try to take his back, but he’s quick. It ended with me slapping on an americana from mount after he gassed out.

I also rolled with Whatshisname. 3 times I think. He pretty much tooled me all three times, cross collar, triangle, and an omaplata. I thought I was doing pretty good in the last one, and almost passed before (I think) he arm dragged me into the omaplata.

Fundamentals was the armlock from guard. Dave showed this to Matt and I last week, and I tried it a couple of times in my roll with Mike, but never got it off. Being able to go through it 15 or 20 times, slowly, focusing on all the steps, I think I understand it much better now.

Matt wasn’t here tonight, so maybe I can snare him in one on Thursday. Next time we roll, I’m going to thread the needle from his side control and take him down that way to get on top. That, or perfect (okay, maybe just improve!) my sweeps. I’m tired of being on the bottom all the time!