I managed to get my GF to skip a couple of college classes so I would have time to go to the gym today (my hobbies are much much more important than her future 
soooooooooo
Day 2!
I arrived early, so I could sign up for the classes. I took care of that, got dressed, and watched some pre-class sparring. Than the instructor suggested I roll with his nephew, apparently a fairly high belt, but again, a bit on the portly side (euphemism!). We started rolling, and I found myself more or less kicking his butt. He would pull guard and go for a guillotine, but I would either push his leg down and pass to half, or to side control. Again, I found it fairly easy to get into mount, but like last class I had trouble finishing. I know I got one sub on him, but I forget what it was, although im fairly certain it was an armbar. I felt prettttttttty cool. He probably had 50 lbs on me.
Class started the same, warmed up, did some pad work, than got into technique. We started with a throw (he told us the Japanese name, but it escapes me at the moment, sorry) which I quickly got very comfortable with. It was an overhook, than we’de step through on the side we had the overhook on, than sweep the legs. My partener, a very rather bulky guy, was having less luck. Next we did some overhook and underhook stuff from our back, get the over or under, push the head away, get your hips away and put the leg on the side of the hook high on his back.
He didn’t show any finishes for it, but it was not a long stretch to armbar from the position. Next we did some over-complex move where we were in side control with his elbow blocking our legs, than we’de hip heist, get past the elbow, lift him up, and swing all the way around for an arm bar. I worked it slow many times, but never really got a solid feel for it. I’ll work on it more later.
Part two: Randori!!!
I started with a smaller mexican guy, who was probably the first guy ive seen there at my weight. After more or less dominating him on top (passing guard rather quick, getting mount, pausing and waiting because I dont know how to finish from mount, you guys know the story) so I decided to pull guard and work from there. He was not able to pass my guard, and I was controlling his head well (something I did little to none of in my first class) and felt like I did good. I didn’t get any submissions off my back, but I did sweep him on one occasion.
Next I rolled with, from what I can tell, is the best guy in the class. He was the same guy I rolled with second in my first class, and he is a VERY nice guy and was willing to work and show me a lot of stuff. I took DJpuppychow’s, or whatever his name is, advice and every time he caught me in a submission (very often) I would have him show me what it was, how he got it, and how he would counter it. By the end of our rolling session, I was doing much better. Again, I started with my top game, and than twards the end was pulling guard. If I keep my guard closed, he had trouble passing it, but if I opened up and went for a sub, he was able to pass. I tried not to stay conservative, and went for subs anyway.
Next I rolled with the instructor. Hes slow, but is big, and knows what hes doing. However, he got a little on my nerves, as instead of showing me what I was doing wrong, he’d rather bitch about how im too young and energetic to roll with him (he cant be more than 45). Sigh sigh, oh well. On one occasion, I was able to take his back, but was unable to finish.
That was it for the class (they are only an hour long) but I stayed after and worked with the second guy I worked with again (I forget hisss name, sorry braw, you’re a cool guy, im just bad with names I asked him to show me some basic finishes from the mount, for obvious reasons, and he showed me an armbar, and he showed me controlling the arm, putting it under ma belly, or if its high putting it under his chin, laying on it, than working for an arm triangle. I am looking forward to using them.
Then we rolled again. This time I did much better. He caught me in a couple of stupid subs, and showed me very easy ways to get out of them. I would pull guard and was able to hold him there, and went for a kimura. I was kinda close, but than he got my other arm behind my back, and I was unable to do much. On our last go, I pulled guard, and looked for an omoplata. This is something I would like to bring up. I know its an advanced move, but right now it fells VERY comfortable for me. If he fends it off right away, no problem, I can usually get back into guard.
If I get the leg up high or over his head, and he rolls over, I am able to get to side control. However, on this particular go, I was able to get it over his head, and had it in pretty deep. I could tell he was losing oxygen, i figured he would tap, but i guess he really didnt want me to sub him, so he got out. He kept my other leg down, so I couldnt get leverage with it, but I was still VERY happy that I was so close to submitting the best guy in the class. I’m going to keep going for the omoplata, and see where it takes me. I can see it as a setup for other submissions, sweeps, or the omo itself. I understand the argument against somebody as new as me using it, but im goniug to stick with whats working and whats feeling comfortable.
Afterwards I talked to him for a while, and found out he used to go the the Judo Dojo that my really good friend used to go to (was a national champion, PAN AM, now is in chicago at a very renowned dojo there) and that was cool. It was funny, because the guy commented on how good said friend’s uchi matta was, and thats the only judo move i know, and i learned it from my friend. This is for sure the guy ill be sticking with at classes, hes very nice, is very knowledable, and doesnt have the ego. One last thing I would like to mention, is that after only one day, my cardio was SIGNIFICANTLY better. I was only really tired on one occasion, and that wasnt because I was gonig slow and not pushing myself.
TL;DR I beat the devil in a fiddle-off, and as a reward I got a lifetime supply of Jujubes (best candy)
We did a little striking on pads, I did well at the kicks, but punching is going to take a LOT of work. That we worked on keylocks from side control, and than arm triangles from side control. All the movement and transitions felt great, I just need to get lots of reps in on the actual subs. Than we took a short break and went into randori (I feel sooooo cool using all the lingo).