Chess Analogy

"So, learn this, know this, live this: Chess is not about overwhelming forces! Chess is about controlling the application of force, both that of your opponents’ as well as your own."

I've become interested in chess again, and I came across this quote the other day. It's not a perfect analogy, but it provided me with some food for thought.

I realized that this same sort of concept was helping my jiu jitsu game immensely. I was working to pass the guard, and instead of just concentrating on one particular pass I remained fluid- threating several passes at once with a mix of speed and power while also threating submissions. Just like in chess where you aren't going to win by a single piece, I tried to play my moves in combinations that allowed me to breach my opponent's defenses. I visualize it as a small break in the dam that eventually causes the whole thing to crumble, allowing a torrent of water to break through. That's me passing the guard. Slowly inching and creating more pressure (physical and mental) until the opponent is worn out and gets the guard passed.

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Today's matches went well, as I was able to apply the use of speed, leverage, and strength together. I managed to stay mobile yet tight- applying fluid pressure that allowed me to create openings to pass and control.

It's coming together nicely.

Spinning arm lock counter

pm no gi

techniques-

-pop in triangle
-spinning armlock counter- grab own bend of arm immediately(like RNC), arm in bend of knee, stack, prop up back with knee, switch grip to back of head, get arm out, pass
-counter to counter- switch to opposite arm- control elbow, push across body

rolling-

good-
-fluid and dangerous today
-submissions were on point
-everything worked together cohesively- good from top and bottom tonight

to work on-
-finishing guillotines
-pressure on top
-pressure when passing
-speed when passing
-front turtle defense and takedowns

notes-
-turned it up when some kid tried to heelhook me. got more aggressive and finished him 5 or so times before the end of the round. domination. not angry rolling, just assertive and out for the finish. maybe how i need to roll in tournaments.
-didn't really get put in danger. probably need to get tested more. easy night, but it can't be like this every night.

-deep half guard point- underhooking the opposite leg will break balance and allow for the beginning of the series. perhaps a big missing part of the puzzle.

-importance of popping up a knee when in someone's guard
-guillotine escape refresher

stand up

good-
-aggressive and fluid at times
-neck tie was solid for the most part
-off balancing was okay-at least attempted some stuff
-arm drag to single leg at one point
-guillotine attacks off of the snap downs/sprawl on shots were good

to work on-
-combo off 2 on 1
-stronger 2 on 1- i don't get good enough control
-combo off neck tie- snap down to snatching up legs
-more weight on neck tie- all body weight on crown of opponent's head
-more off-balancing
-more foot trips
-stance- circling, sprawling, shooting, etc.
-work on hand fighting control and combos
-better hand control
-work to get more control to eventually be able to arm drag

it's all about setups!

Some back/turtle stuff

pm class

techniques-

-arm bar from back- step on hip to help turn
-back escape- protect neck across, get hook off with other elbow, spin into elbow, pass with over/under
-turtle escape- trap elbow and roll, tuck elbow and bridge into legs, keep turning and complete pass

rolling-

good-
-top mobility on top of deep half guard
-knee bar off of deep half guard!
-decent pressure when passing- hips forward
-top pressure with half guard
-switching side to side with half guard
-arm bar from guard
-brabo from stuffed double leg

to work on-
-deep half guard setups and sweeps
-single leg defense
-guillotines
-kimuras
-completing the pass- flattening opponent and preventing half guard recovery
-over/under pass- tripod up

Clock choke, turtle

pm class

techniques-

-clock choke from turtle
-clock choke variation- grab lapel instead of hand- wallid ismail choked out royce with this
-turtle escape- trap arm and roll
-turtle escape 2- they insert knee, grab knee, grab other pantleg, post foot, sit up back and take them over

rolling-

good-
-guard control
-z-guard- they won't ever pass from here unless i let them
-triangle defense was decent. didn't get triangled, but got comboed off the triangle. that's the next step i guess.

to work on-
-triangle escape where you plant their leg on ground and drive forward- susceptible to attacks on other arm if you don't tuck it
-posture up triangle escape- susceptible to arm bars
-passing- work pressure still, but also use speed when appropriate
-they grab lapel in guard- 2 on 1 break!
-attack more aggressively when they try to pass. you used to do this more often.
-let people pass and work escapes- especially if they pose no threat
-vs. spider guard- figure out more options. people don't use this often, don't get enough practice

stand up

good-
-single leg defense was good
-double leg defense was good
-setups were good on second session

to work on-
-more aggressiveness when the windows open
-more foot sweeps to set up other attacks, penetration
-sprawl better
-crossface better
-attack guillotines better
-off-balancing opponent
-neck tie w/collar, hand/sleeve control
-neck tie control in general
-2 on 1 setups
-must penetrate deeper to make takedowns worthwhile

Triangle options

sh training

triangles

1. standard with arm across- finish by grabbing shin and knee, drive feet down to ground
2. arm on same side- pull head down with both hands, drive hips up
3. they post leg to stack- sweep and finish as they fall/on side

50/50 leglock series- entry from footlock x-guard- cross own leg over, pass their leg to other side. heel hooks galore.

rolling-

-guard is good. triangles are good. must work on transition to armlock from triangle
-top control is good
-brabos are good for no gi
-n/s guillotines are also good

-need to work on penetrating butterfly guard
-need to work on guillotine again

Guard work

PM class

techniques-

-palm up, palm up cross choke from guard- rotate towards bottom hand
-hip bump sweep off of cross choke- opponent postures up, you immediately hip bump
-arm-in guillotine off of hip bump- they counter hip bump by planting hand and driving into you (close elbow and crunch in- stay on side)
-americana to spinning arm lock on either side
-palm up, palm down cross choke- rotate towards top hand- elbows to opponents chest, rotate blades of wrist- pull more with palm up hand

rolling-

good-
-half guard top pressure
-kimura attacks- americana, straight arm lock, arm triangle- use to pass
-x-guard sweep from z-guard entry
-z-guard defense, guard replacing
-scissor pass- use to force half guard if they defend well
-deep half entries from knee slide
-triangle defense
-armlock defense?

to work on-
-pressure from top
-pressure when passing- destroy the legs
-"pour into them like sand"
-driving pressure to flatten them in half guard/side control
-scissor pass- get leg out and don't let them pull half or z-guard
-scissor pass- finish with knee on hip- be aggressive with it once you clear plane of legs
-z-guard counter- switch hip over to reverse kesa gatame- figure out counters
-transition from passing to side control- finishing the pass
-kimura finish from bottom




overall, did decent. better than yesterday.

pulled a neck muscle when standing to get out of a triangle- took them up into powerbomb position and strained a muscle.

Sitting Deep Half Guard entries

pm class

techniques-

-deep half guard rolling pin sweep from 2 on 1 standing
-deep half guard entry sweep from sitting- cross arm control hand off to deep half guard arm, spin underneath and hook leg, sweeping to top
-deep half guard entry sweep from sitting- hand lapel or belt undereath to other arm, spin around back and grab belt, going underneath for the sweep

-de la riva counter- kick foot out.
-toriani review- push legs into opponent, they push back and you redirect. either push in close or plant on ground- don't play midgame.
-de la riva counter- negative x-pass

-arm bar from side control with belt/lapel trap instead of kimura grip

rolling

overall- started off rolling light with an injured partner, which sort of carried on to the subsequent rolls. aggression was down. also, trying new things and putting myself in vulnerable positions for the sake of learning

good
-pulling deep half guard from many places- learning entries and getting more comfortable
-wrapping up kimuras from guard. just gotta learn to free the arm and finish it.
-z-guard. they aren't passing unless i let them. easy to replace guard when they back up. 2 on 1 from z-guard is excellent.

to work on-
-aggressiveness on bottom of half guard- need to constantly destroy opponent's base. if they settle, they can start to pass or attack.
-north south- staying tight. somewhat susceptible to strange n/s guard tricks if they have long legs.
-kimura finish. gotta figure out sweeping options and finishing options from closed guard.

thoughts- deep half guard is susceptible to gi chokes- collar, ezekiel, etc. might be a better no gi option?