Joker's Training Journal

Following the warm-up (thank you Jeff) we reviewed the hip toss working on either the basic set-up or entrances from tie-up, plum, pummeling, etc. We then covered defenses for if your opponent steps in front of you from the side clinch to hip toss.

Reverse uki waze

By stepping in front of you to defend the anterior pressure of the the throw opens them for a posterior throw. After they step, sit extending your leg behind their ankles, pull them perpendicular to both your extended leg and use lateral pressure with your head on their chest. Transition to side mount.

Thigh lift (or inverted single)

An alternative is to underhook the leg with your far arm and lift, putting your partner on their back. A variation is to reach the near arm and anteriorly and grab the far arm posteriorly around your partner's near leg. Pull hard up and away (a lá the "baseball" throw).

Shuck and jump to rear mount

Use your partner's forward push and pull them forward as you free your head out the back door and then take their back.

Shuck and pull to rear mount

As above but take the back by kicking out the legs.

We also discussed the lateral and posterior hip toss. Both are basically identical to the hip toss. The lateral hip toss means posting your rear on your partner's hip and then throwing 45^o off their centerline. That is, doing a half rotation on your entrance step and finishing it during the throw. The posterior hip toss remove is done "butt-to-butt", your partner is thrown over your hip in a posterior direction.
Our pad rounds:

1. Dean Lessei 9 count

   Focus mitts

2. Body-Head combinations

   Thai pads and belly pad

   • 1 Body: Jab to the body
     
   • 2 Body: Jab Body Cross
     
   • 2 Body Head: Jab Body Cross Lead Head Hook (NOTE: This is opposite to what was stated in practice)
     
   • 3 Body: Jab Cross Lead Body Hook (NOTE: This is opposite to what was stated in practice)
     
   • 3 Body Head: Jab Cross Lead Body Book Lead Head Hook
     
   • Punch Knee Combos (1 Knee, 2 Knee, Knee Cross)
     
   • Shovel Hook (1 Shovel -- Jab Rear Shovel Hook, 2 Shovel -- Jab Cross Lead Shovel Hook)

3. G & P Round

   Focus mitts

   • Sidemount: 3 punches to far pad
     
   • Mount: 3/10 punches
     
   • Get bridge and rolled to guard: 10/3 punches
     
   • Guard: Holder feeds punch, defend and take back
     
   • Rear mount: Holder plants focus mitt of posterior side of arm, 3 punches

4. Conditioning

   Thai pads. The rounds differed slightly for the first and second groups, due to me running the first and Jeff the second

   • Head kick sprawl
     
   • Pitter pat sprawl
     
   • Climb the wall with punches
     
   • Cricket Song drill or unrhythmic jumper squat sprawls
     
   • 3-6-9 kicks or n kicks-n kicks-sprawl n = 1-5 plus 10 push-ups

We finished with a drill to enhance our ability to "read" an opponent and combat reactivity. One partner would shadowbox for 30 seconds while the other clapped every time they threw a technique. The objective was to read the body and facial "tells" of their partner without having to worry about getting hit. We alternated this way for three minutes. In the second round we added sprawls every time the shadowboxer shot.
My students call me "Big Kahuna" after one of my top students, Jim, first started training with our club. After attending practice Jim, in a quavering voice, asked "Sir...what do I call you?" Without skipping a beat I said "Big Kahuna". It took a second before Jim caught the fact I was joking, but to this day I get a "Big Kahuna" thrown at me from time to time. Jim's confusion was well warranted, he came from a formal Japanese jujitsu background and wasn't used to the more violently relaxed world of mixed-martial arts.
Martial arts lends itself to a certain cultish mentality. Teachers, coaches, and fighters are given greater status in the martial arts than in other fields. Bullshit warrior mysticism coupled with a visceral fear of getting your @$$ whipped by your superiors and unhealthy performance anxiety leads to some strange social dynamics. I've seen people afraid to go talk to their own teacher, exactly the last person you should be afraid of. In the eyes of their disciples, these masters can do no wrong and are wise about all things.
Unfortunately this is far from the truth. I'm the "chief instructor" and pretty much grand poobah of my little club. I can tell you I know absolutely nothing. Sure I have multiple advanced degrees as well as extensive fight coaching and competition experience but that doesn't mean I know all about how you should live your life. Heck I hardly know how to live my own. Being able to fight dirty and take insane amounts of punishment does not give me some greater moral compass or right to pass judgment on the ethical virtues of others. I consider many of my coaches to be good friends and have sought their advice on matters non-martial just as I would other friends. Their martial arts and combat sports wisdom is that of experts, their life wisdom is that of friends you take it as it works for you. Unfortunately in martial arts, more particularly traditional arts, instructors are granted by their students omniscient knowledge and power over non-martial parts of their lives. I hope that my students understand that I'm a self-defense and fighting coach as well as a sound board and a friendly resource. Although I will strive to do and say the right thing, anything I say or do could inadvertently be wrong, just as I hope, any other person in their life would be. OK, less talk more hit.