No-gi night

First of all, fifteen seconds of how my school breaks down walls: http://vimeo.com/13465235. Literally. (I mean that in the literal sense of “literally,” not the slang sense.)

On to some succinct class notes. I went last week but was too lazy to write anything down, and life stuff kept me too busy earlier this week to attend class. So Wednesday’s the first time in a week. Hate that. Must make more time for jits!

Wednesdays are now no-gi days: an hour and a half of no-gi class, then another hour or more of striking class. I’ve got to get some better shorts to roll in…but I did get one of our new school T-shirts. Jonathan got me the extra-small girl one, but it’s still a bit big—need to throw it in the laundry for a few rounds of shrinking.

We began with pummeling. Elbow push to set up two takedowns (gable grip around back and pivot; gable grip around front, pick up, and slam). Armdrags from half-clinch. Jonathan had me try a judo throw, but we didn’t practice it. Double-leg takedown.

Worked techniques most of class. Rolled for a few rounds. First roll was with Jonathan, who was exhausted from the recent remodel. He reminded me about upa. Let me take his back twice, and let me have a guillotine, Americana, and kimura.

Rolled with Chiefs Matt twice (we have three Matts; this one comes occasionally to no-gi and wears a Kansas City Chiefs shirt most of the time). During the first roll I was fairly active. Tapped him almost right away with the armbar from modified flower sweep. Tried one of the guard passes but I don’t think I was controlling his legs well enough. He tapped to a guillotine that wasn’t quite set, though he said it was tight. I got flattened out a few times and tried to shrimp out to no avail (he’s maybe 2 1/2 times my weight). He kept fighting for my hands from top and I didn’t want to give them up.

Second roll, I was more tired. Played lockdown a lot from half-guard top and bottom, but I couldn’t ever remember any techniques from there despite my fumblings. I heard Jonathan tell me I’d just given up mount at one point after getting top half-guard. In half-guard from bottom, I had an arm around his head and was thinking I might try something; Steven said I had to be in guard for whatever I was apparently trying to do. After the timer buzzed, I felt a bit bad that I’d stalled out most of the round, but he said something about good defense.

Didn’t stay for Sheldon’s striking class at 7:30; too tired. I’ll be back next week, though; I love it. Though I think the guys are a bit afraid to hit a girl.