Great question Patrick!I feel like my game really developed as a blue belt and continues to get refined. My game forces you to make choices. Your choice gives me options. 

The moves don't necessarily matter but what I do is an upper/lower body approach. As I attack your upper body you'll often pull back, but as you pull the upper body back the lower body is available. Then I take the lower body and start to attack. However, then people will pull the lower body back which exposes the upper body. 

I'll go back and forth until something gets exposed enough for me to capitalize. 

Right now I'd go with opening the closed guard. Normally, I'm able to create space but this weekend I ran into a competitor where I couldn't make this happen. My usual methods and adjustments weren't working.  I think opening the guard is going to be the focus for a bit.

Gi study this week is slowly wrapping up our guard passing block. Where are we getting stuck? Let bring those problems and see how we can fix them. Did you compete this weekend and run into a passing problem? Again, let's fix it tonight!

Patrick Morton what if we look at what Jesse said about being in the moment and goals another way? What if being in the moment while working on a goal helps you achieve that goal? 

Sometimes we just can't quite reach our goal and feel stuck. Well what if, you were truly present during that training session and it allowed you to catch that one detail that was preventing you from reaching said goal. Now that obstacle becomes a goal to achieve along the way to the major goal. I don't think they really need to hinder each other, I think they will work together if you let them. It's all about perspective. 

Personally I think there is a time for both. My goals have changed through out the years and a lot depends what is happening on a bigger level at this point. Initially my goals were smaller, like stop getting caught with arm bars. I gladly accepted the choke if I avoided an arm bar because my goal was met. A lot of times my goals center around learning a new move or set of moves. I like to approach things as the attack and defense. The goal might be drilling it or hitting it live. Sometimes my goals are centered around teaching. Maybe there is something I'm not happy about and I want to improve my abilities. 

On the other side being in the moment can be fun, and I think sometimes leads to creativity because you aren't limiting yourself. Sometimes the goal of a certain move limits us too much and I think for some people can cause burn out. The goal not being met may lead to unnecessary stress. I think being in the moment can be its own goal though. 

This week gi study will focus on another very sticky guard to pass, lasso. Dealing with the lasso can be a challenge, so lets explore some ways to defeat this sticky guard.

Definitely can be a challenge with people you don't know. I personally find myself taking some time to feel them out first. I often have a set of moves that I'll use with people I don't know well that I deem safer. I really like triangles for those people. I feel slightly less risk if they are newer and start moving like crazy. 

Thanks Scott! It's going to be a great day!

I think they are all equally important, but it depends on you focus. Stand up is great but people fall, you could be on the ground already or your partner could pull guard negating your standup game. 

Guard retention is great, but if we follow Chris Haueter we should be on top. If we are on top, isn't it less of a guard and more a position?

If we can't pass we are stuck. If we are stuck our options become smaller and smaller. Less attacks and we might not get to the top. I'd also argue by making guard passing a focus, your retention has to be come better. It the balance. As you learn how to pass guard you learn the weaknesses or how to create the weakness/openings in guard. If you know the weaknesses/opening you'll be better equipped to stop them and have better retention.

Advanced gi/gi study will continue our guard passing block. Frustrated by spider guard? This week we are going to focus on a few ways to pass what can be a challenging/sticky guard. Don't know what spider guard is? Well then this is the perfect time to find out.Don't forget 1 more competition prep class on Sunday 10/5 at 6pm before Tap Cancer Out!