Grappling No. 13

This was one of the best. I could pass guard once getting
several details right. First, grab my partner's lapel and
form a bar with that forearm between our chests. This is to
keep my posture and keep him from getting up. Second, tuck 
the next foot to prevent a half-guard when passing. I did
rounding the lumbar, too, when fighting B. It worked on
several guys.

Even blackbelt E had to move his hips to keep up although he
choked me before I could pass. That seemed to verify what
blackbelt D taught me: it was hard to get collar chokes
right. I could ignore it from the white- and blue-belts but
not from higher level guys.

I was able to pass O's guard a few times but when not
careful I was swept halfway. Maybe I needed to pin the
guy down using my upper body. Bluebelt R, a lean and tall
guy, hip-bump-swept me all the time. Once we started, he
wouldn't give me a chance to set up the bar. I'll ask coach
about these next time.

Another small revelation was on breathing. In the morning, I
read in "What Doesn't Kill Us" about the importance to start
oxygenating before the demand rises. The author thinks
normally one takes 15 breaths/min. I measured myself: only
6. What's wrong with me? I don't have to be frugal on air!

With these points in mind, I tried to increase the number of
breath in today's training, even when things were easy. The
result was wonderful. I didn't experience lack of oxygen
even in the most physically-demanding moment.
          
Coffee helped, again.
        
The technique today was foot-lock, a risky move most
wouldn't want to try in sparring today, and its defense.
There were several details to master in the defense:
- grab and pull his lapel toward me with one or both hands 
  and curl up the foot under attack to buy time,
- pin down his bottom leg under me to move my hips over,
- try to stop his top knee from touching the floor as he
  senses my defense, and
- a technical get-up to put the caught foot's heel on the
  ground.
  
Otherwise, the past whole week was horrible. My right
shoulder was good now but the left was still in pain from
the stupid forward breakfalls on concrete three months ago.
Moreover, it seemed to be less mobile. As I tried to use
sleeping to fix my posture, I got poor sleep quality. In
addition, I caught a mean virus early last week, which 
weakened me until Thu night.

For all these, I had thought of skipping today's sparring. 
Thank God I didn't. I asked myself this morning: do I come
to learn or to show that I am tough? The question answered
itself. I didn't train to exhaustion today and learnt from
experience.