In which our Protagonist learns Stuff

Earlier today, I was fixing my friend’s computer and chatting about how my first BJJ class was in a few hours. She asked me, “Do you like being in school? You’re always taking a class.”

It’s true. I love learning for the sake of learning. Accumulating knowledge and having fun with it is one of the primary reasons I study martial arts. Since I’ve been on break from my Japanese jujitsu school, I’ve been antsy and dissatisfied with my life. It got so serious that I was thinking about taking up crocheting just to have something to do. I mean, I guess crocheting is pretty okay, because you can make yourself all the scarves you want. But I’d rather learn how to control people in scarf hold. So I was relieved when I got an email a few weeks ago that Ground Control-Kansas City was reopening.

The first class was tonight in a church basement. The room was covered in wrestling mats that hadn’t been cut down to size but seemed in good shape. Jonathan, the instructor, greeted me as soon as I walked through the door and introduced me to a few people. I’m horrible with names, but I do remember that two of them were named Sean. There were about ten other students, mostly white belts, and I couldn’t remember their names if you paid me. Maybe next class. I do know that Jonathan’s a blue belt under John Rallo (a Renzo Gracie black belt) and is certified to teach. One of the Seans is a Pedro Sauer purple belt and helps out with class every so often. So I know three names, sort of.

I wasn’t the only newbie there; the guy in the salmon-colored gi (…okay, so it was actually kind of pink) had brought his brother-in-law. We beginners were separated from the others during most of the evening. The half-hour class before main class is called “Foundations” and covers basic positions and techniques. Jonathan taught us side control and guard.

After we played around with both positions, we learned (I think during main class):

Armbar from guard
Uke (the one receiving the technique) is in tori’s (your) guard. Grab uke’s right hand at the wrist with your left hand. Slide your right arm under uke’s left arm to cup the elbow of the right arm. Prop your left foot against uke’s right hip, squeezing your knee tightly against uke’s right arm. Once you have full control of that arm, push against uke’s hip and bring your other leg up right behind uke’s shoulder, pressing down on uke’s back. Release your left hand and post it against uke’s neck, then bring your left leg around to join your right leg, sliding your hands down to uke’s wrist (should be thumb up). Arch your back while keeping pressure on uke’s back.

Guard pass to side control
You’re in uke’s guard. Bring right leg up so you’re half-kneeling; keep pressure against uke’s hip/upper left thigh. Press down on uke’s right leg with your left hand, hitch your left leg over so your knee lands on the ground and against uke’s hip, and grip a lapel. Move your right leg and stretch it out behind you. Plant your right hand under uke’s hip, and move your left knee to below uke’s armpit and your right knee to uke’s hip.

I think that’s all we learned. Probably wrote it all down wrong, so laugh if you like (personally, I’m a fan of laughter, so go right ahead). Hope I can establish the habit of writing and then go back and correct everything once I have a better BJJ vocabulary.

The last 10 minutes of class were used for rolling. Everyone who wanted to paired up and sparred. I watched for a while and avoided the other newbie (who was frantically flailing and grunting and nearly running into walls). A couple of the guys invited me to roll with them. Bungled their helpful instructions half the time, but had fun regardless.

Jonathan called me out to roll with him. We started from the knees—thank goodness, because I couldn’t remember any takedowns, except maybe Osoto Gari—and of course wound up on the bottom. Tried to remember to breathe and just went with my instincts. At one point he said, “Whoa, some natural jujitsu there!” No idea what I did, but that made me kind of happy.

It was a great experience overall. Jonathan’s running it as more of a club, not a school; though there’ll be structure to the classes and testing for people who want to get belts, the whole thing has a pretty laid-back atmosphere. I was the only girl (so what else is new), but Jonathan’s wife is going to come and one of the guys said he’d get his sister to try it.

I enjoyed class tonight, and am pretty sure I’m going to sign up for 6-12 months. Wish I’d joined the school a year ago, but at least I’ve finally started BJJ. So excited, you guys!