Joker's Training Journal

It was fantastic seeing the number of returning students this semester, we had 30 plus students tonight. Started with our new warm-up (minus the roll-over drills and sprawling, too little room). The senior students started with boxing combinations on pads, 20 sec pitterpat followed by 1 min of:

• Jab-Cross-Lead Hook-Cross
  
• Jab-Lead Hook-Cross-Lead Hook
  
• Jab-Overhand-Lead Uppercut-Overhand (switch-up Jab-Overhand-Lead Hook-Cross/Rear Knee/Rear Kick)
  
• Jab-Cross-Lead (Body) Hook-Lead (Head) Hook
  
• Jab-Cross-Lead Hook-Rear Uppercut-Lead Uppercut-Rear Hook

and then into trading knee combos

Deep knee, same head knee

Deep: Stack gloves on belly, force parallel to floor

Head: One glove held out in front, force perpendicular to floor

Hook knee, same/opposite deep knee (plum position)

Hook: Stack gloves on side, thigh swings shut like a gate, hit with medial surface of knee (distal femoral eminence), force parallel to floor

Deep: Stack gloves on belly, force parallel to floor

Inside leg knee, opposite deep knee (plum position)

Inside: Straight knee to medial side of thigh, displace if you can

Deep: Stack gloves on belly, force parallel to floor

Meanwhile the (new) junior students first learned basic stance and footwork. They then progressed into the snap, upward, and downward elbow. The snap elbow is a hook without using the forearm while the upward elbow is a similar style uppercut. The downward elbow is more unique. But the vertical elbows, travel straight along the centerline splitting your opponent's hands. They also tried throwing skip knees into the pad. To finish they were introduced to basic street punch defense with transition to a side thai clinch followed with a knee to the head.
Our MMA fighters split off with a few able bodies and did rounds, while the rest started with basic street punch defense to a side clinch and then into an ogoshi. More advanced students transitioned into soto makikomi using the wrap and drop to throw their opponent. Partner's arm is "seat belted" diagonally across their chest. We then transitioned to the ground:

Arm bar to triangle

Control cross hand wrist same hand behind triceps, pull across body. Put controlled arm side foot in partner's hip and pivot 45^o. Other leg pinches down across lower lats. Pushing leg crosses over head. Apply "3D pressure", (1) knees squeeze (do NOT cross ankles), (2) feet pull to butt, and (3) hips elevate. Partner taps and pulls arm out. Pop thigh back over head, tuck this ankle behind opposite knee. Move arm to the side opposite it. Grab the ankle of the leg behind your knee, use the free leg to pivot you 180^o in the direction your partner is "pointing". Relock triangle and do a crunch, pull head if needed.

Two-hand choke in guard to back and rear naked choke (mata leao)

Use legs to create space, sweep one arm underneath both wrists, then over and back. Refasten guard from side, hug partner under far arm pit. Use bottom leg to push on far knee, then insert as near hook. Use hug to pull over and insert other hook on far side. Break down or immediately go for RNC. Slide hand down "negative airway" until elbow is over larynx. Tuck this hand on your opposite biceps, fold your free hand down and behind neck (not on top of head).

Closed guard knee insertion to kick-off to standing

Control wrists from closed guard, slide one knee under partner's arm pit and place diagonally across their body. One shot to head. Push with knee and insert opposite foot in same side hip. Push with foot and extend bent knee as a kick. Stand up properly.

Meanwhile those with greater groundwork experience warmed up with the Joker flow:

Attack with kimura

Figure 4 on wrist, slide butt to hands, control with leg over shoulder blades, pull partner's elbow superiorly, then twist hand to back of partner's head. Partner taps and extends arm.

Reverse armbar

Hug arm proximal to partner's elbow, slide leg over shoulder blades, so that your foot is in partner's hip and knee is on their triceps muscles. Wrist sits in notch of neck, round body. Taps and then pushes arm through

Straight arm bar

Pivot 90^o using foot in hip, other leg bites down over posterior lats, foot in hip swings over head. Apply "3D pressure", (1) knees squeeze (do NOT cross ankles), (2) feet pull to butt, and (3) hips elevate. Partner taps and pulls arm out.

Triangle

Pop thigh back over head, tuck this ankle behind opposite knee. Move arm to the side opposite it. Grab the ankle of the leg behind your knee, use the free leg to pivot you 180^o in the direction your partner is "pointing". Relock triangle and do a crunch, pull head if needed. Partner taps and tucks triangled arm back, "hugging" your thigh.

Oma plata

Release triangle and pinch arm between legs, thrust legs up and away from you as you spin 180^o toward partner's tucked hand. Sit up and hook legs away from partner, move laterally away to increase pressure. Partner taps and switches.

And I hate sparring MMA stye with shorter people that know what their doing, I'm always late on the takedown defense, although that does lend itself to some spectacular takedown highlights. I wonder if a longer stance (a la wrestling), baiting that leg might be more useful.