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This week we will be drilling back attacks. I predict much chokeage over the next five days.

At 6:30a we drilled a gi choke, and an alternate bow/arrow choke for if the manage to roll onto the other side to avoid the gi choke.

Got to roll with coach a bit as well. We started on the ground and both pulled guard at the same time. He told me I need to work harder to keep position when on top. I’m so used to working off my back, that I’ll let someone roll me easily when I am quite capable of maintaining position. Once I get top position, coach wants me to stay there. He said I did much better than last time I rolled with him – progress is good! I think he actually put out effort to pass my guard this time, took him a few tries.

No one my size (meaning midget) was there at 10, so I just watched the guys shark tank each other.

At 11:30 we drilled a takedown, and two deep half guard top moves. One being the bravo choke, the other was a “flatten them out and pass” option.

I think I’ll go up with the team to Louisville for this tournament on the 12th. Coach said it’d be a good one to get my feet wet with before NAGA in June. The tournament has an interesting setup. No weight classes, they just divide everyone up day of into groups of 5 – starting with the lightest. The each person in the group will fight the 4 others one at a time. So I’ll get some good practice!

This the people at this tournament complain that guys from my team are too rough. So, of course, that means coach wants to take an even bigger team up this year and “toughen those sissies up.”

Went in at 6:30 and, for once, I was glad no one else showed up. I started moving around a bit and decided that sore rib I got last night needs some rest.

I made an appointment to see the chiro at 10:30 – so we’ll see what’s going on. Basically it is feeling the same way that my (finally) healed rib felt right before I’d broken it. I ignored it last time – and I learned my lesson!

Results are that I had a ton of scar tissue wrapping up my lower spine. It’s probably from when I sprained that vertebral ligament two months ago. At any rate, it was a rather painful treatment, but he took care of it and I’m (almost) good as new.

What likely happened is that the scar tissue was keeping my lower ribs from moving the way they normally would – leading to injury. I’m still a bit sore in that new spot on my left side – but it should heal pretty quickly now. I’m gonna just baby it over the weekend and see how it feels on Monday.

Did more back escape drills today, then we got to roll for a bit. Us (two) girls got to stick together while the boys swapped out. After the first round, coach had us starting out in each other’s closed guards.

We’re a pretty even match, so we wore each other out! I managed to get a cross choke in place but she defended well and I wasted a lot of grip strength on that. Neither of us got a sub out of the 3 rounds we did – closest I got was that cross choke and setting up a ghost arm bar just as time was called. I think I’m getting better maintaining my guard though!

It definitely takes more energy to roll with someone your same size and skill level. I love it, and hate it at the same time!

Went back at 5 and got totally crushed by the guys. I was introduced to a toe hold as well – apparently my ankle is fairly flexible and that was good since I didn’t know I needed to tap to that! Thankfully the guy had enough common sense to stop and inform me that I needed to tap before he snapped my foot in half.

I ordered some ear guards that should be here by monday. They’re the kind that look like a headband with a chin strap – so pretty non-invasive. I don’t think I’ll wear them all the time – but if I’m sparring with guys who smash me, totally gonna!

One of coach’s brown belts, who teaches at another school, popped in for some roll time toward the end of 5. He was very disappointed that everyone seemed too tired to roll after. So I told him I had some fight left in me.

We rolled non-stop through the next class hour. Twas fun! He is actually the same size and weight as I am and wasn’t trying to smash me. He told me I’m doing very well with my hip movements but need to be more aware of openings for subs.

Coach bragged on me and told him I’m gonna be his next world champ once he gets the basics beaten into me. Yay!?

I still had energy left for the next class, although I had to sit out after the first drill. I think the smashing at 5 pulled a rib muscle and it was getting fairly painful to twist. That’s how it felt for the week before I broke a rib – I ignored it and then it broke. I’m gonna listen this time!

I was very happy this morning to find that there were two other people who showed up for the 6:30 class! They were big boys (bigger than me at any rate!), so they drilled together and I got to play with coach.

We were practicing escaping from a back take. 3 levels – without grips locked in, with one, and then with both. We drilled for a while and then drilled live. Coach was having fun strangling me – and he got free of me pretty quickly, although I was able to hold onto him for a few seconds once.

At 10:30 we had a whole training camp of new people. 10:30 is mainly no gi stuff right now since we have people getting ready for XFC fights in June (one of our guys is the headliner!). There is one other girl training for a fight as well, so coach had me rolling with her for about 30 mins. No gi is definitely more slippery once you get warmed up. Still had fun!

In the 11:30 class, I skipped group warm ups since sweat was still pouring down by back after rolling earlier. We worked the half guard bottom position today. Practiced a cool arm drag back take when they wizard, kimura, and a sweep. The guy I was drilling with showed me how the way I was getting his back set me up perfectly to pull off a twister to make Eddie Bravo proud – it felt very bendy and fun!

My ear is still fairly sore, although not as swollen. A team mate said he has some nice ear guards I can have for rolling when my ears are sore. He said they’re the soft headband type ones – not the crazy dominatrix ones with 12 straps and hunks of plastic sticking 3 inches out the sides of your head.

Some of the guys seem offended that I want to keep my ears “pretty”. I told them “I am still a girl and as such, I have to retain the ability to clean up and look cute if the situation calls for it.”

It’s a very light day at work, just have one massage to do at 7:45. I was gonna go in for sparring at 5, but decided to rest and take a nap instead. Tomorrow is an all day training day, so I’m just gonna let my body chill out.

Cool news! My gym is moving to a bigger/better location and coach told me this morning he is putting in a room for me to do my massages out of. So I’ll be spending even more time there! Yay!

So if it picks up really well working at the gym, I’ll probably drop my wed evening shift at the spa – then possibly my friday. I wouldn’t want to drop my spa job because I just enjoy working there, but I’d cut back if I needed to.

Had some fun this morning at 10. A couple of blue belts were visiting from out of town and, boy! Could they smack talk up a storm!

I took a turn rolling with each of them. I impressed them enough that they told coach about it and I think he popped a few buttons. Wore one guy out, and managed a back take on the other. I had a reverse x choke thing sunk in deep but I couldn’t get the angle to finish it. He told me after I should have switch to a B/A choke and I would have had it easy. Stupid tunnel vision!

At 11:30 we drilled back take escapes. What made it fun was that instead of doing it sitting up, we started in turtle and had someone jump on us from there – then we had to reguard after escaping.

In roll time, I went with another girl. We started standing but after 5 minutes we just sat down because neither of us could take down the other. I ended that match with an in guard cross choke. Been nailing that fairly frequently lately.

Then I got stuck with one of my least favorite blue belts. Every time I roll with him I end up hurt. This time it was a bloody lip and a smashed ear. The lip I can deal with but my ear got a bit swollen and angry. Not quite bad enough to drain but enough to make me want ear guards – getting some tomorrow! Frozen grapes are wonderful for ice and compression, and the steroid ointment I have helps as well.

I ended up just hanging out for class at 6. Then I rolled with one of our black belts for a bit before class at 7:15. He said that I and Luci have the best open guard he has ever seen in a couple of white belts. We didn’t have enough people show for 7:15 to have an actual class, so it turned into a “teach Nicholle new tricks” session. He showed me a pass that I was set up for several time and just didn’t see – and also chided me for not sweeping him when I had him in deep half guard. Also he said I think too much when I’m in open guard – “need to just go for it baby!”

All in all, good training day. Hope this ear settles down by tomorrow!

Pretty low key. Didn’t have a 6:30 training session because my coach got into town at 1 am and needed sleep. Thankfully he gave me the heads up – so I slept in too!

So at 10 I went in to play. Had fun just practicing maintaining my guard – I’m doing fairly well! Even when passed, I slid out of side control and regained fairly easily. Neither of us were going for any subs – just having fun moving.

Did get my fingers jammed backward hard enough to bring an involuntary tear to my eye. Scared me for a few minutes since I couldn’t move my hand, but it’s all good now – and made it through 4 hours of deep tissue massage this evening. So no worries!

At 11:30 there was a new girl in class, so I paired off with her. Made me realize just how much I’ve learned in the short time I have been training!

This week we appear to be working on half guard bottom position. We drilled a simple back take from underhook, and a sweep to counter the wizard on said underhook. Then a few sweeps from deep half guard.

Gotta say, I just LOVE deep half guard! I remember a team mate showing it to me my first week of training, and it became my go to move for a while. A while being: until people learned to not let me get my monkey grips locked into that position. At any rate, it’s still one of my favorite positions. What I like to do is fake a sweep, duck out the back, and then take their back.

So I’m slowly learning what moves I like most. I definitely like open guard and deep half. Coach likes to see me playing spider guard – honestly, I’m rather “meh” about it, but if I practice it more I’m sure I’ll warm up to it. He says with my “man grip” and hip mobility, it’ll be killer.

At any rate, I’m gonna be due for another private lesson here soon. I think I’ll ask to split the time between half guard and spider guard.

Oh, side note: I can now put both feet behind my head! Yay for superhuman powers! I can also pull a leg up over my shoulder and omoplata myself, and also internally rotate my hip until my foot is almost at the front of my pelvis. Makes the guys cringe when I stretch out after class!

I have been using my feet a lot more lately. Managed to get out of a few armbars by twisting and locking my feet to break someone’s grips on my hand. I’ve also been experimenting using my feet in chokes. Failing so far… But I’m sure there must be a way…

Well tomorrow is an “almost” full day of training. I managed to book myself time to get a massage at 4, so I’ll not be rolling at the 5 pm class. I’m not getting deep tissue work done though so I should be good for 6.

Tomorrow’s Schedule:
10a – competition team training
11:30a – advanced gi
4p – massage
6p – advanced gi
7:15 – advanced gi (w/extra roll time)

Looks pretty good to me! I’m gonna feel it out after my massage and play by ear for 6.

Friday didn’t work out so well for training for me. No one else showed up for class at 6:30a. So coach showed me an inside de la riva sweep and told me to come back later and he would play with me a bit. Didn’t work out though because I got called in to work – so no roll time on Friday.

Today (Saturday), I usually don’t train at all – just work 2-9. But there is open mat sparring starting at 11:30 so I figured I may as well pop in and see if I could find some action.

I arrived early to warm up – then walked over to a guy I hadn’t met yet and asked him if he was up to roll. He said “sure!” Then went and put on his black belt. I instantly became very happy!

We rolled around pretty non-stop for about 20 mins. He showed me a ghost armbar setup that is pretty slick, and in general he kept me moving the whole time. He ended the roll with a kneebar and then told me I did really well.

I then got to play with two of the purple belts. One of them was actually my size! So we had fun working technique. He said that us little people have to be about speed and technique since we don’t have a whole ton of mass to throw around.

I think I’ll start going to roll on saturdays before work from now on. It looks like mainly upper level belts just coming in without a timer – just having fun. I think I could learn a lot from this – plus I like that it was about the fun.

I rolled a bit at the 11:30 class and one of my teachers came over and chastised me for just sitting back and being complacent in someone’s guard. I tried to use the rib excuse and he “pished” at me and told me I was fine. So within 10 seconds I got out of mount, took back, and then very shortly had the tap.

I admit I was a bit irritated at first. But when I got home I started thinking about it. It has been 5 weeks – and I should be healed enough at this point that it can take a good roll.

So honestly, I think I’m just scared to push myself again. I need to push through this – even if it terrifies me. If I don’t, I’ll just be a hum drum Jiu Jitsu practicer.

So, I decided that I would join my first 5pm sparring class since I got broken. This is coach’s toughest class – non-stop rolling. If we are too slow changing partners, it’s pushups on his count while screaming “I’m a champion!”

I did all right in a few rolls, and got smashed in a few rolls. Got yelled at by coach for not tapping to a kimura when I should have. Tapped a few times to kob on that right side (just to be safe).

All in all, did all right – and feel pretty good about it. I’m a little sore on that right side, but it’s a muscle kind of sore. It’s probably weak from being babied for over a month.

I went out and ate like a starving vagrant, then came back for class at 7:15. I was pretty gassed still – didn’t have much left in me physically. But I have to push myself to prove to my brain that I still can.

Anyhow, on a slightly different note: coach informed me that we’re gonna have to work on my half guard technique because it “sucks”. I was also chastised for not using my spider guard. “Whom the coach loveth he chasteneth.” – was feeling the love tonight!

So lots to work on! Gotta retrain my brain and body at the same time. Good thing I like a challenge!

Whew! It has been an interesting week so far! Monday started out rather bummerish. Didn’t get to roll at 6:30 and nearly had my head twisted off by a new kid at 11:30. We have some mma fights coming up in June so the guys are spending most of the time doing non-stop no gi at 10. Let’s just say I’m too small to play with them.

However, my schedule worked out to where I was able to get a private lesson with coach at 3:30. He asked what I want to work on. The holes I see so far, are that I suck at takedowns, and working from closed guard. Also, rolling with one of the black belts at 10, he paused and told me “sweep! Before I settle!” And I suddenly realized I know squat about sweeps.

Yea, I’ve got a lot to work on; but a lifetime to do so!

Anyhow, I’m avoiding takedowns – still babying that rib – so we worked on closed guard attacks and sweeps. Sequence is as follows:

#1 sweep

Scissor sweep

If their base is good, try to kick their leg out from under them to sweep.

Bring top leg up, over their arm and push into their chest/neck while pulling their collar. When they move their arm to counter, snap into triangle.

If they try to posture up and move around, lasso the arm and sweep into kob.

If they post and prevent lasso sweep, granby under into omnoplata.

If you feel you’re losing it, open guard and play some spider to maintain control.
Coach says he always has a sequence from every position, and he checks them off one by one.

My last massage of the night cancelled, so I was able to make it for the 7 pm class. Twas much funner than the morning go!

More turtle maneuvering drills (that’s this week’s position). Then we sparred. There were 3 of us girls so coach had us swapping out with each other. One of the girls is doing an mma fight in June so coach had us beating on her pretty well. I was focusing on staying relaxed and found it was so much easier to roll. I think I even closed my eyes a few times! Good times!

I did have a stupid moment. Had that triangle setup that coach showed me earlier, but I was pinning her sleeve so she couldn’t pull her arm out to give me the triangle. Yea, I felt like a dunce!

I’ve been thinking of skipping the intro gi class on mon and wed. Every injury I’ve had so far has been in that class – with all the big new guys who know no control. Asked coach about it. He said he wants me to be more picky who I roll with – and stay away from new guys until I’m at least a purple belt. If it means I have to sit out, he told me to do it. There’s always gonna be another roll time.

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Tuesday morning was low key. Just watched the guys roll at 10 then did class at 11:30. Rolled a couple of rounds – did okay when I didn’t let guys smash me.

Went back a bit early and checked in with one of my buds. He’s a big ole ufc fighter turned trainer. I go to him for advice on weight training and nutrition (and for REALLY big hugs!). He put me on a weight routine that has really helped with my shoulder stability! He is always after me to be careful who I train with as well.

Class was really small. Myself and two blue belts. Coach told them to let me drill what he taught me the day before, then they could spar a bit. He left us to it.

One dude was totally cool – I’ve worked with him quite a bit and learn a lot. Other dude went spastic on me while I was trying to drill. Tossing me around and wristlocking me pretty aggressively. After a few mins I walked off the mat and told them to have at it. I watched for a bit and he wasn’t being a spazz to the other guy – so I guess he just doesn’t know how to chill and train with a girl. So I’m adding him to my list of people to avoid training with.

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Wednesday (today) was pretty low key. At 6:30 it was just myself, another white belt, and coach. We spent the whole hour drilling one move from turtle. Knee up to hip and spin out to guard. Pretty basic – and I will probably be doing it in my sleep tonight. He didn’t let us spar because of size difference.

Watched the guys pummel each other again at 10 – need someone my size to show up already!

At 11:30 – I decided to join the intro class after pairing up beforehand with the lone blue belt I’ve rolled with before.

First, we drilled an armbar from back control. It’s not something to use in place of a choke, since it puts you off the back. But it’s useful as a surprise in the last 10 seconds of a fight.

Next we flattened the turtle. And chicken winged each other’s arms. I think the guy I was with was enjoying this move a little TOO much. He kept snickering about how wrong he felt doing it to me.

Next, instead of just flattening the turtle, learned a cool choke that we couldn’t figure out what to name.

On the person’s back with your hooks in, go for an over the shoulder choke with your right arm.

They grab your arm and move from the right, to the left side of their neck – preventing the gi grab.

Shoot your right arm deep to come out under their right armpit.

Right hook goes deep, trapping leg, while left hooks swings off – and you sit on your butt on the mat to their right side.

Left hand grabs right hand and apply choke.

Anyhow, it was fun – although I’m starting to think the guy I was paired with has a bit of interest in me beyond bjj. For the sake of reducing awkwardness – I may add him to my list of people to not spar with. Which makes me sad because he’s a good technical fighter. Ah well.

Tomorrow is gonna be a good day!