This month, I have showed up five to six times a week, stopped fighting, and

felt clear-headed in my training. I have analyzed positions more and as a

result, mistakes have truly become lessons. Everyday, I look forward to sparring

where I have a chance to improve my technique.

One night, I was caught by Steve from the half-guard bottom with a kimura. I

revisited the position and successfully defended several similar attempts from

others in the following days. I had a lot of success with the paper cutter choke

but one day, Stephen escaped the last second and I realized I should have my

weight on him while attacking. To learn from my own failures had stayed a lip

service until now. After long suffering, it finally happened.

My friend Harsh is a 180+ lbs muscular dude in his late 20s. Every time I rolled

with him, I ended up being mounted. Once he finished me there. I reviewed

Henry's teachings and the next time we sparred (Wed Oct 19), I raised my hips and

kept them up which prevented his attacks as he had to base out with at least one

arm to avoid face-planting to the floor. I did the same with Mike, a 220+ lbs

freakishly strong dude, and he couldn't do anything to me either. This gave me

great confidence although I didn't try anything extra to advance that day. I

knew I could make the guy at the top uncomfortable and stay safe at that

position. It is a powerful feeling.

It just happened on the same Wed, Rickson released a one-minute excerpt (titled

"A plan B to defend against the mount that even black-belts don't practice

enough") of a recent video and the dots connected like never before. What Henry

said about the upa being the only escape one needs to get out of mount finally

makes sense.