Side Control - Top Position

Lesson by Israel Ruiz on August 14, 2013

- Keep far underhook secured, pull opponent's shoulder TOWARDS you

- Keep opponent's inside elbow elevated - cup elbow or pull gi at the wrist

- Once the elbow is secured off the ground, switch hips to kesa gatame in order to push your knee under their elbow

- Switch hips back over into regular side control, but make sure the center of your body is aligned with their head, and not their chest (think about bench press position)

- Connect your elbow and knee together above opponent's head in order to really secure the arm

- Push knee closer/underneath opponent while keeping your elbow attached (elevate their shoulder)

- Swim your arm underneath the head and reach for their armpit- pull in tight

Modified Kesa Gatame Escape

Lesson taught by Dennis Hayes on August 13, 2013.

If you are in Modified Kasa Gatame, your opponent has the top position, secured with the underhook of your outside arm. They are able to easily move between modified kesa gatame and regular side control by rotating their hips.

To escape: 

1. Build frame with the inside arm by placing your forearm across the throat of your opponent and grabbing hold of their far shoulder. Do not use your thumb in the grab. Do not grab the gi or collar.

2. Oompa slightly and shift to your side in order to remove the underhook and get your elbow to the ground. Try and move your hips away from your opponent.

3. Quick, strong oompa- create the space to move the elbow of your framing arm into the armpit of your opponent. Move your hips away from your opponent. Keep creating space by oompa/moving hips away until you can move your elbow all the way through and circle your arm for the underhook. Make sure the reach upwards towards your opponents shoulder with the underhook. 

4. Once you secure the underhook and are reaching for the shoulder, turn hips over so you are on your knees. Use the underhook to push opponent's head towards the mat. If they are basing the the other hand, just grab the arm and pull the hand from the mat.

Other Kesa Gatame Escapes

Goodbye, October...

Happy Halloween!
Halloween is the one "holiday" that everyone actually enjoys. There are no party poopers on Halloween. Well, Halloween and St. Patty's Day. No going to church? No buying gifts? FREE CANDY?? Alriiiiiight!
Henry and I have a 4 year and counting Halloween tradition. We refuse all party invitations (even though we would have made THE BEST John Lenon and Yoko Ono-see below) to carve pumpkins and watch a horror flick together. Its actually kind of like every other night- dicing up root vegetables and watching a movie. But this is more special...ok?!


Henry - mustache, left.
Erin + beard, right.





My face on the left, Henry's spider on the right.



October 31, 2011 will be a memorable Halloween because of the "winter" weather that dumped 10" of snow in central Pennsylvania and up to 2 feet in parts of the Northeast. The seasons have collided in the most unusual way- leaves falling onto a blanket of white snow. The result is beautiful, yet confusing, Halloween scenery.

Sailors Take Warning

My alarm has been going off at an usually early time lately, even for me. 3:15 AM.
It's still the middle of the night for most people on a normal daily routine. But if I want to see my family, I have learned to become half nocturnal and mostly sleep deprived.
As I head due east at 4 AM, I look forward to watching the sky morph from night to dawn to morning within my 3 hour trip.
I think maybe I am able to see the sky in a state that most people don't. I feel lucky in that way. Or maybe a little bit alone.

$500 walk

While enjoying our Sunday afternoon not at work and finally together, Henry and I took a walk downtown to people watch all the rich boat showers. Little did we know, it would be us to blow some mad cheddar!

We have been going to a sunglasses shack downtown since we moved and debating on buying a couple of really nice pairs. All it took was a 10% discount and we walked out $500 poorer but 2 pairs of Maui Jim's richer!

My pair!

Henry's choice- Miles Davis style.

In all honestly, we struggled with the decision to make such a grandiose purchase. Still feel a little guilty. But we are glad we went for it. We work all week, apart, at jobs we don't like... might as well look fly rollin up!
 

Gourd

Remember in the movie Chocolat with Johnny Depp and that French lady how the wind would physically stir up change in the lady's life? A cold breeze would flutter the curtains and suddenly she would be either packing her bags to leave or making love to a gorgeous man.
I want to be like her when I grow up.
The wind blew in not only a change in the weather, but a change of mood, this weekend. We decided to embrace the season and go punkin pickin!


the patch. magical.


 



he found the perfect one!




 

i love them all. this one will do.



no caption necessary.



Cube

   The force of gravity when in my cubical is stronger than when I make it to "the outside." My heart sinks as the force increases beyond the comfy 32.2 fps. The pull is felt most on my upper body- if only I could lay in the fetal position for a few minutes.... 
   My eyes become dry and they sting. I am convinced that the flesh under my eyes is drooping. Gravity is even pulling on my skin... Do I see a wrinkle?!
By lunch, I look like:

   I am being torn. I want to go towards the light- lay down in the flickering flourescent pools. Memories of non-artificial light pull me upright, though.  Providing an equal and opposite reaction able to keep me sitting in my office chair.

   But alas, the clock will always toll 5, sending me moonwalking out of the door everyday to revel in that good ole 32.2.