Half Guard, My Nemesis!

Afternoon class

Today's techniques-

1. uchi-mata fake/switch to ankle pick
-go to uchi-mata as normal, but switch kicking leg to block opponent's based leg and ankle pick for the takedown

2. uchi-mata variant
-set up collar and sleeve grips
-step and turn into opponent with same side foot as collar grip (like hip throw)
-follow up with trailing foot; plant heel in between opponent's legs
-kick up first leg while driving with collar hand and lifting/pulling sleeve-elbow hand across
-if opponent jumps around, jump into them a few times to off-balance them. switch to trip if needed

details- bring opponent's elbow high at end of throw and rip across body. bring your head low and your leg up high.

3. arm drag takedown
-block opponent's collar grab and circle around for wrist control.
-step with outside with leg as you secure the elbow and complete and armdrag (shoulder to shoulder)
-drop down and wrap opponent's leg
-wrist control arm wraps opponent's legs, elbow control arm posts on ground as you drive into opponent with head/shoulder to take them down
-complete the pass by planting shoulder on opponent and kicking trailing leg up (ricardo's main pass), switch control points and secure side control

detail- step aside and rip opponent across on armdrag- as if going to their back

guard drill analysis-
still working on the sweeps. as a plus, i did manage to get a few takedowns once my guard was open. possible new strategy? instead of always fighting from open guard against a standing opponent, i may experiment with trying to take them down.

rolling analysis-
got tapped from my half guard by a collar choke variant. need to solve the dilemma, this is where i get tapped the most! possibly need to be working to sweep/recover guard more explosively rather than just sitting back in half guard. perhaps work on trying to effect x-guard rather than half guard?

otherwise, the techniques/refreshers i picked up over the weekend worked well. toriani variant, side control smash/mobile crossface, brabo choke, half guard sprawl pass, 101 pass, and a few more techniques worked well.

i was doing some leo viera-style sweep avoiding! used the failed sweep attempts to pass guard and establish control/submissions.

after class, worked on takedowns. aggressiveness with takedowns is up. i'm actually trying to shoot on people now. i pulled off some kamikaze judo throws lol, but i gotta figure out my standup game a little more.

tonight's class- continue to work on top game. sprawl pass to halfguard, side control smashing, hip attacking.

submissions to focus on- kimura, guillotine variants, brabo variants.

in the event of inevitable guard pulling- work on sweeps? open guard as usual.