Tag: sparring

• Open Mat Reflections – January 24, 2026

  I submitted a black belt. Holy shit. It was with a cross collar choke from the back. I remember him saying oh shit right when I got a grip on the cross collar and put my other hand in like a half-Nelson-type grip/position. We weren’t going really hard, that’s actually one of the reasons I enjoy sparring with him. But it was definitely the top highlight in jiu jitsu of the last year I’ve been grappling.

  I can’t stress this enough: grip fighting is Jiu jitsu. Always start there! And never stop practicing it!

  Only went twice this month so far but rolled pretty well. My endurance and cardio are crap but hey it’s winter time and I got a bit of a belly.

  And I also heard Mikey Musumeci is learning wrestling from Dagestanis? I’ll believe it when I see it.

  

  2026.01.29

• Open Mat Reflections – Saturday March 24, 2024

  After rolling with a back belt (it was more survival than anything), a purple belt called me over. He asked me “do you study Jiu Jitsu?”

  I said “I dunno I watch it a lot, I used to wrestle in high school” (I always like to tell people I used to wrestle in high school). He said “you rolled really well with him” as he motioned at the black belt I just sparred with.

  What a great compliment!

  He then showed me a technique/ submission that I had on the black belt but didn’t realize at the time while rolling that I had it.

  For example, I’m in side control on top, both my opponents arms are trapped under me, I then would get a cross-face and then triangle my arms to tighten. It’s like a squeeze submission, very cool.

  I thanked him for showing me the technique and then went off to spar with my next partner. A good day on the mats for sure.

  2024.03.23