Mizblog

I wasn’t sure my toe was going to hold up in BJJ class, but my calves were sore from babying the feet for the last 2 days so I knew Krav Maga was a bad idea. Also, Sangeeta needed me to deliver her jacket to EARTHS, which I did during Krav Maga time. Then I drove over to class.

This Thursday’s class was Mark’s, while Christian taught Krav Maga in the back alley until 11:10am. We started running and shuffling around the mat. Then coach Mark had us pair up and do piggyback rides for one another. He let me off the hook though because I’ve got physical problems I’m coping with. I’m brittle. Then he had people do Fireman’s carry, and I was grateful that I didn’t have to carry Brandon.

After that, we lined up and bowed in, and were treated to an epic story about the life and times of Dan Gable. The message was to be disciplined like Dan Gable in some aspect of your life. Eventually the Krav Maga class finished and we got together for a picture. Then we started learning techniques.

The first techniques were arm bar defenses from your back. Prevent the fulcrum by twisting your body and putting your upper arm/elbow on the mat.
The next technique was to break the arm bar grip of the defender by locking your lower hand around the trapped arm, grabbing your lapel. Then reach under the clasped hands and go wrist to wrist with your top hand to raise their hands above their shoulder level so you can break their grip.
The next technique was to defend by pushing the attacker’s leg off your head and twisting to put your elbow on the mat like the first technique.

Then we reviewed the previous night’s techniques, which were taking out the bottom hook and gripping the choking hand while working to get your shoulders to the mat. You can take out the hook by grabbing the foot or by slapping it down as you arch your hips.

Then there was the rolling. I rolled with Dave, and I think we were pretty evenly matched. he moves really well, but my weight advantage makes up for it.

I rolled with Brandon next, and was able to get him into my closed guard a couple times. But he put his weight on me and crushed me, and I never did manage to get out from under him without tapping to an Americana. One day I will get out, though!

I rolled with TJ, who had messed up his little toe so bad that he kept tapping himself out just by sitting on it. He rolled light with me, and tapped me out with an arm bar, but I was able to scramble and survive and escape a lot.

Last roll was with Cosmo, who had suffered a neck injury while fireman’s carrying Brandon. He was able to pass my guard and get me with an Americana, but I was so tired I couldn’t even move. Let’s see what turns up broken tomorrow.