The Martial Artists' Training Log

[bushido_man96]

3/5/2025

Aikido:  6:15 - 7:45 pm.  We did a brief warmup, then moved into aikitaisos, but Sensei had us focusing on some internal aspects to help make them stronger.  We worked on dropping our center and building structure while also extending to the sides.  We worked on absorbing pressure into us and using unbendable arms out to the sides to work on that extension.  It was a cool aspect to work on, and he plans on focusing more on internals along with select aikitaisos going forward.  Next, we worked on forward rolls.  I did them kneeling this time, but from a higher kneeling position, and really focused on making sure to get good extension in my arms so I wasn't crashing onto my shoulder.  I saw some improvement.

For technique work, we worked on shionage from a same-side wrist grab.  We worked on the entry first, several times.  Breaking down the entry first I find quite helpful, as I can focus on the nuances of arm placement, distance, and placing my steps.  Then we put it all together, finishing with the throw.  I was much better with my posture and breaking uke's posture today.

Sensei and I had a fun discussion today between aikitaiso work and rolling.  I asked what aikitaiso translated to, and he went into several different things.

Aiki-tai-so: "harmonious"  body movement.

Te-sabaki: wrist movement (or shifting).  He demonstrated some of this.  Some of it was like the re-grabs we would do in Combat Hapkido.

Tai-sabaki: body movement (or shifting).

He conversed on these for several minutes, which was fun to talk about.

[bushido_man96]

3/6/2025

BJJ:  7:00 - 8:30 pm.  Today's focus was on back control.  I think I got all the games we did down, although I might have left something out.  Today he did it differently; we started from a submission, and then worked backwards in the progression.  We started in the backpack position, where the "top" player is seated behind the "bottom" player with hooks in.

Warmup:  3 minutes at 15%.  Kendall's 15% is faster than my 15%....

Submission technique:  We worked on the rear naked choke.

Game 1:  Back or "top" player tries to set the choke, while the "bottom" player tries to control the hands to prevent it.  Top player started with arms in the seat belt position.  This kind of became a lot of cross-facing to try to get a good bite with the arm to set the choke.  Hands for both players are always active.

5 min.

Game 2:  Same, but top player from the seat belt position had to get control of the hand(s) (1-on-1 or 2-on-1) before trying to set the choke.  More focus on making connections and establishing good control before trying to set the choke.

5 min.

Game 3:  Same, but the bottom player now had to try to break the chest/back connection and escape or reverse.  Options he showed were a parachute escape by pulling up on both feet and moving the hips away, and also laying back on the top player to apply pressure, then sliding one and then the second shoulder to the mat to get the separation.  I had a much easier time with the latter process.  The top player started with double underhooks this time.  The top player had to control wrists or arms before advancing to the seat belt position.  The top player still trying to get the choke, but would need to try to reset the position if the bottom player started getting separation.  I had some luck with reconnecting as the top player most of the time.

5 min.

Game 4:  Same, but this time the top player started with the double underhooks and moved to a body lock or wrist/arm control (1-on-1 or 2-on-1) and tried to hold the position.  This time, the top player was not trying to set the choke.  One of the rounds I was drilling with a guy who was constantly pulling on my feet when he was bottom.  I was constantly trying to reestablish the connection with my hooks, and he was able to slide his knee and elbow together to make a frame really well.

5 min x2

Open mat:  I rolled several times, a few with Kendall and some with some of the other students.  I've seen a pattern in my rolling; I go from crappy positions to worse positions regularly...