Good times

With all the space at our new school, everyone can roll every round. Even if there’s 30 people at the class, there’s room for everyone to spar.

We rolled light for warmups, got loose and then worked positional drills. I don’t know how anyone else feels about the really basic stuff, but I can’t get enough of it. Little details always become clear every time.

We had a ton of giants in class last night, so the big guys split out onto two mats, then middle sized blue, purple and brown belts on one side and the white belts on another. For me, it was a day to be pushed and work a lot on survival.

I got a good round in with Mark, another blue belt. He and I have always matched up pretty well. We’re about the same size. While he’s a lot more explosive than I am, I think I take him out of his game a little with my slow motion, plodding style, like a sloth relentlessly pursuing whatever it is that a sloth eats.

Of course, that doesn’t play against Thad, Josh or Bing. Those three guys pretty much took me to school. I rolled with Thad twice, my first round and my last of the evening. He’s got a terrific half-guard/x-guard and so I spent a lot of time working to control his grips, spacing and trying to get around his half guard. I have a very difficult time getting him flat, so I’m always in jeopardy of being swept. Which eventually happens. The rest of the match, I’m working to defend chokes and armbars and trying to get back to guard. Side note, his scarf hold is relentless, the kind of pressure that makes it difficult to breathe.

Bing was working on his craziness. He had me all wrapped up in my gi. And then Josh caught me three times with three different submissions… one was just downright embarrassing. I came in with my head too low and got caught in a triangle. It was quick and with my posture already down, I didn’t do myself any favors in trying to defend it.

A good reminder that fundamentals are called that because they’re important, not because they’re easy.

My back’s doing okay. It’s been pretty sore for the last few weeks, but I’m coming out of that now. Otherwise, I feel really good.

All in all, a great start to the weekend. Today, I’m going to do a little yard work, grill some ribeyes and asparagus if the weather cooperates (looks like it’s going to, as it’s beautiful this morning) and thinking about dying a gi orange this afternoon. But first, I’ve got to watch some Jits on Budovideos in about 30 minutes. Oss!