COMP TIME!
We would still like to see more people signed up for IBJJF Chicago Spring Open! The Adult Gi divisions are on Saturday, April 5th and the Adult No Gi and Kids’ divisions are on Sunday, April 6th. If you sign up before March 7th it is $134 for one division or $229.00 for Gi and No Gi. If you sign up from March 8th – March 28th it is $162 & $276, respectively. You will have to both register a membership with IBJJF and register for this particular Open. There is a sign-up sheet for this at the front desk. However, this sign up sheet is just for our information purposes and does not register you for the tournament. However, it’s as easy as scanning the QR code at the front desk to get you started!
When we compete at IBJJF tournaments we compete under the larger Brasa CTA umbrella which includes many academies in Wisconsin (including 360 in Milwaukee) and Illinois (including Comprido BJJ). It would be really cool to do our part to get Brasa CTA on the podium this year!
If you’re thinking about competing, this is an amazing, professional, and high-level tournament to do! If you have any questions, please talk to us!
GI DELLS!
As a warm-up to the IBJJF Chicago – or as a closer & cheaper alternative – you can get some matches in at the next Grappling Industries in Wisconsin Dells on March 22nd. Early Bird Registration has already closed but Normal Registration (until March 8th) is $95, and Late Registration (until March 18th) is $120.
We’ve competed as a team in the Dells Grappling Industries a number of times, gotten a lot of matches, and even won some team trophies! This is a great tournament for kids in particular, who will get a lot of great matches close to home!
There is also a sign-up sheet for this tournament at the front desk, but again: you’ll have to scan the QR code and/or register with Grappling Industries in order to compete.
TOPIC OF CONSIDERATION: TEAMMATE EXPERIENCE
Everyone has a different reason for training Jiu-Jitsu. Most of us – obviously – derive multiple benefits from coming to class and training. Some of us love the physicality of combat sports, others the mental problem-solving and technical application of what we learn. Some people just want to get in a good workout with a group of friendly people. Keep in mind that everyone should be able to learn and train Jiu-Jitsu in a friendly, welcoming, and safe environment. In our adult classes we have teenagers and we have people over the age of 60. We have former college athletes and people who have never participated in a sport in their lives. For that reason, you should approach every training partner with their best interest in mind; doing your best to make sure that they walk away loving Jiu-Jitsu, feeling that they have improved, and not feeling dejected or hopeless about their progress. Most people on the mats aren’t looking to fight to the death every single round. Furthermore, you gain absolutely nothing from dominating and/or submitting someone considerably younger, older, weaker, or less experienced than you in a training session. If you want to “test your Jiu-Jitsu,” you should either compete or train with someone who has the same goals and reasons for training as you do. The beautiful thing about Sanctuary is that we have this diversity of people – people who want to train hard and compete regularly, and people who just want to get a good workout a couple of times a week and learn a new skill. You can always find someone who wants to go your speed – however you should never force someone to train harder than they are looking to train. The training room is for training, improving, and helping others. Winning a training round at the expense of your training partners experience of Jiu-Jitsu – or personal safety! – is never worth it. Please train smart and safe, and consider your teammates’ experience as much as your own!
Fundamentals: last week on Monday we studied the Hook Sweep from Butterfly/Seated Guard and using our partners defense to connect to the X Guard, sweeping with the Technical Stand-Up sweep. On Wednesday we continued in a liner progression, studying what to do in X Guard if our partner is standing – attacking the Tripod Sweep and learning how to take the Back position. On Friday we drilled the X Pass and the Anchor Hand Guard retention, both very powerful techniques and overall concepts to utilize on both top and bottom of the Open Guard.
Advanced: in Advanced class we reviewed the techniques from Aaron Brooks’ Guest Instructor Clinic the previous Friday. We studied the basics of entering and maintaining Collar Sleeve, attacking and sweeping from the Omoplata, transitioning to the Topside Omoplata position and finishing with the Monoplata and Lat Armlock. You can find a breakdown of these various techniques here, courtesy of Aaron and Pica Pau: Monoplata Side Control, Topside Omoplata, Omoplata Sweeps, & Monoplata Mount.
No Gi: in No Gi this week Coach Fabian taught attacks, escapes, and recoveries from the North South position and Coach Jordan taught passing the SLX and attacking the foot.
This week we worked on complex movements that apply to sweeps. These are solo drills the kids can practice at home! We applied these movements to the hook sweep and a technical standup from X Guard. We also got a lot of great competition practice in for the upcoming Grappling Industries tournament. Congratulations to William, Dante, and Paloma for earning their first stripe! You all are off to an amazing start!
REVIEW OF THE WEEK
