Another from 10th Planet - I like this one a lot.  I'm a big fan of bottom half guard - mostly because I have a good lock down.  However, I will stall there working for a Kimura if I don't stay aggressive.  This isn't half guard but it's close enough that I think I could transition between the two with some practice.

I want to practice this tonight!  This escape is based on bottom side with the outside arm braced against the neck rather the under hook (definitely my preferred placement).  They call it T-Rex at 10th Planet which seems like a cool way to remember it.  Not sure if this will work too well with gi, but I'll try it both ways.

 Product Review:  Piranha Gear Double Weave Grappling Uniform - White

Basics: I have had this gi for close to one year. It started out an additional BJJ gi to go into rotation, but it's become my easy favorite heavy weight gi.

Fit: I have an A2. I'm 5'8" tall and weigh 160. Pant size is 29" waist with 30" length, shirt size is 15 1/2" x 33". The A2 size is perfect for me. It comes long in the arms and legs, but I simply washed in hot water, and used the dryer sparingly until they length was correct. I no longer use the dryer or hot water and there has not been any shrinkage since. The gi fits snug (not tight). I really do not like: (1)swimming in my gi, (2)having my gi pulled over my head, or (3)being choked with the bottom of my own lapel. The snug fit helps with these things. I never have a problem moving my arms or legs. When closed, the lapel bottoms end up a couple of inches shy of the side slit - meaning the kimono sides do not overlap around past your hips. If you tend to be larger around the middle, you may want to order up a size. The collar is as wide as the Fuji, but thicker. The sleeve cuffs are the same width as the Fuji, but the pant cuffs are about 1/2" narrower. 

Quality: When it arrived there were a couple of threads hanging around. These were not defects, just a leftover of the weaving process. I clipped them off and haven't thought about it since. This is a SUIT OF ARMOR. Multiple stitch lines everywhere, reinforced seams, overlapped fabric. The cuffs are folded back and have extra reinforcing fabric stitched in. I wash this gi after every roll and hang dry. It is in perfect shape after close to 100 rolls and washes.

Function: This gi is stiff when air dried. It is a little rough on your neck when you are warming up but softens as you sweat. It is very awkward for your opponent to grab and manipulate. Be prepared, the skirt is short - very short when compared to a cut like a Gracie-Barra. I like this and it works well with my game style. The collar is cotton (versus rubber) and so can take up to two days to dry in the air. Even so, there is no mildew smell or damage. No collar will make up for skipping drills, but this one is harder for my partners to manipulate because of its weight (making an excellent competition gi).

Look: Plain and white - I put my school patches where I want them. 


Overall: The  Piranha Gear Double Weave Grappling Uniform - White  gets 5 out of 5 stars and I would definitely buy it again. There are no actual "cons", but know your preferences - this gi is heavy duty with trim fit and a short skirt. 

Took last night off.  Still eating too much for dinner - and snacking afterwards.  When I'm not actually body building I have a hard time sticking to a strict diet.  I should drop 7 lbs and hang out at 158/160.  I can very comfortably  make weight and have my full six pack.

Had a great roll last night.  Stayed for both classes but skipped kick boxing and did BJJ both times because there was an even number for stand-up and Carlos wanted to work with anyone willing.  I try not to pass up rolling with Carlos - he is my size but an extremely talented brown belt.  It is very different rolling with a guy in my weight class versus my instructor, Mr. Kevin Synan.  Kevin is a big, strong, guy and even though he never uses strength against me, I have trouble hitting moves because of the scale.

Frequently when I roll with higher belts I hit that moment of pause.   This is the time when they stop for a second and are clearly telling me (without words) "hey, there's something  completely obvious staring you right in the face and I'm going to let you go for it".  The times I see what they are giving me feel great, the times I don't make me want to train more.

Emily, aka momonthemat.com, aka Mrs. Lemos,  stayed for the first class but I didn't get to watch her.  I have be careful when we work together because I tend to give too much advice.  In reality, she does quite well on her own and gets most of her real advice from Christy Synan.

It is cool having a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu family.  Frequently one us will say "put your kimono top for a second, I want to try something" and we have an impromptu session on the living room floor.

Link from lifehack.org on how to take a compliment.  You know, because I'm so awesome and all.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/how-to-take-a-compliment.html

I'm sore.  Not news really, but I'm sore in a spot I don't like.  I don't like pressure on the bottom of my sternum - xiphoid process - in fact, I don't even like writing about it because it makes me nauseated.  We worked knee on belly on Monday and I was ranking student so I  had the "privilege" on repeatedly experiencing knee on belly from Julian (who does it very well) during the demonstartion.  Large class that night with several new guys so I felt obligated to be tough and give them confidence that they could take it.  Ugh...Lying in bed last night I had to sleep on my side because it felt wired on my back.  Kind of funny really.

Stayed for kick boxing.  Not too bad but I skipped a lot of classes recently to focus on NAGA and I feel lik I have lost some snap.  It really is the snap - actually the turning over of the hips - that powers the kick.  It's an awesome feeling when that comes together and you can feel it.

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

Spent most of the day at JaxBJJ with some amazing guys.  The school is run by Professor Larry Shealy, a true master in the art.  I was there to start my certification in Kid Jitsu, a system devised by Professor Shealy that layouts guidelines, goals, values, and moves for teaching kids of various levels.  I can't help but sell in short in text, because you have to experience to really understand what a great system it is.

One of the advantages of being there was to get some tweaks from some high level belts.  The most amazing part was the rear naked choke.  A simple move, yes?  But when done by a legit black belt, it is truly frightening.  Professor Shealy explained that it shouldn't hurt and that the opponent should be surprised by the blackout - and I was.  There was only a feeling of pressure, then suddenly the blackness closed in around my eyes.  It was like I stood up too fast and dropped my blood pressure.  Wild.

Just got back from a NAGA tournament and I'm not happy.  My performance was way below where I should be and I lost matches that I shouldn't have.  However I did learn a few things.

1. If I am going to compete I must fully commit.  I put in the hours at the gym, but I didn't train to compete.  I stuck with areas I was already comfortable with and did not challenge myself enough.  
2. Don't rely too heavily on one thing.  My bottom half guard lock down is very good - at stalling.  I can hold people in it pretty well, try for the kimura, then failing that, a sweep to top.  But when I couldn't get these to work, I was afraid to move to something else because I had built my strategy on those evolutions.
3. Make the right weight.  I have several years of power lifting under my belt which makes me strong, but trying to out muscle bigger guys is a terrible strategy.  I was feeling weak and afraid that I wouldn't make the cut, so I abandoned it in the last week to try to be as strong as possible.  155lbs is where I need to be.