Simple when you know how:-)

I've been playing with overhook in closed guard, but this is nice too.
Very simple - have to try it.

83,6 various drills and learning tools

yesterday was a nice technical drilling day. Maybe just a little too much muscle, but otherwise perfect.

I've been doing mental drilling by watching videos and also using keywords to recall steps from techniques. I think it works:-)
Also idea to take notes from own drilling is good. I use it to reflect on what happened and to find issues to check before next rolling session.
Yesterday my pressure on forcing half guard on feeing my ankle and under hooking partners arm was not good enough. I checked the tutorial and next time it will be better:-)

Today we will play slow roll human chess...

84.4 - slow rolling

I'm focusing on pressure passing, but to make rolling more interesting, we'll use slow rolling and make sequences of passing and escaping guard passes.

Doing it fluently is doing it fast - doing it right, is tight.

One month and double as good as now?

Plan is to learn Lovato Jr:s Pressure passing system.
This week I'll learn the techniques (12 variations)
Next week I'll use the in reaction drills - kind of select the best solution on the fly.
Week three is learning counters and what if.
Week four is countering counters...

One thing I've noticed is that week is seriously short time:-)

And comment - I did a pull up with 30 kg extra weight hanging from my waist. I don't know what is good, but that's where I am now.

Daily assignments - mental training

I have a heavy work session coming next 6 weeks. I will be doing 2 morning sessions of self defense (includes grappling), 2 - 3 bjj rolling sessions and 2 - 3 gym sessions a week. BUT to really learn the pressure passing session I'll try to do a daily mental training session of 30 minutes or more.

I've done my mandra words and make short versions of instruction videos to speed up watching. Todays mental session is completed as I checked the finnish versions of pressure passing. It's painfully clear that knowing the moves is not enough, but timing and correct application and selecting suitable technique is the key. Mental is good, but rolling is "king".

So today is Monday. Let's see if I can keep up the process for whole week:-)

83.6 Drilling pressure passing

Plan is to be twice as good in one month. ( and ten times better in 12 months).

I don't know how to measure development, but criteria might be to master Lovato Jr's Pressure passing system.

Today I drilled x-pass, bullfighter pass and butt flop pass for 1hour and 45 minutes. System has about 12 different passes and I did 3 today. I'm not mastering them, but I know the basic steps. 

We developed some drills to fight for head quarter position. 

Next idea is that bottom person fights for Duarte's omoplata setup and top person for Lovato's HQ.

Instructions in Finnish
http://youtu.be/cpviUywMH74
http://youtu.be/g71UH18Vx_g
http://youtu.be/PMUmwpu88H4

How to make a learning plan to compete?

I've been training BJJ for two years. I don't know much, and lot of my ideas come from sensei Youtube, which is a dangerous compilation (New in BJJ and learning from internet:-). I do have a long history in martial arts and MSc in Physical Education so all is not hear say.

I'm still working on my approach. Some corner stones could be:
1) researching my own game - building on my current skills and techniques and adjusting it to work better
2) micro drilling - drilling the critical moves
3) grip fighting and combinations from there
4) learning routes or combinations... sequences
5) forcing my game and reacting to reactions... taking my game in my own control

1. Research my own game. I need to build some kind  of game and make notes and videotape my rolling. "Drill, Roll and Repeat" is one receipt for learning. I think I'll start to plan sequences from a popular position to submission - like open guard - headquard - x-pass - side control - bread cutter/armbar.

I need to drill it and test it against different partners ... make notes and develop it better.

Second line of drilling could be combinations from bad spots like: under a side control - Lovato JR pass - closed guard -> over arm straighten armbar or getting back - Ezekiel choke..

One year development plan - and competitions?

I've been careful about competitions in BJJ. Worried that old man will get hurt or something. At the moment I'm thinking about one year program to build me a competition game.

How to do it? I don't know but... what you do is what you get... and to learn to compete, you have to roll like in competitions?

What do I want to win? White belt Finnish champ?... at age of 56? Or maybe to get in to masters 6 division in some place... Where ever they have so many not so young grapplers competing...