I think trust is a big one. I know that they won't hurt me and they know I won't hurt them.I also think there are different favorites for different reasons. 

I have some who are favorites when I am trying to work on defending certain techniques because those are their "go to" techniques.

I have other who are great to try things against. Often these are slightly smaller partners who are a bit more advanced. If it works with them I know it's a keep technique. However if it doesn't work I know I'm going to get beat up in the bad spot I just created, but I won't be smashed.

Sometimes, there are just people who are fun to roll with that become favorites or friends!

For me it largely depends on how many days I know I will have to train in a given week.Sometimes I'm working on positions. Sometimes I bring a unique goal if I know certain people will be there, like maybe not getting swept by person x. Lately, I have found my game plan for training is often what I am teaching. I find that by trying to use what I am teaching or will be teaching it can help to generate some additional interest. Often times I have some overall topic I am exploring and consuming content for so that will always be a focus in the background. When that's the case, I try to funnel everything I am doing to get to that position or move.

Miss last week? Check out the videos that got posted. 

This week we continue to explore the variations of de la riva, and will continue our focus on de la riva x.

I've always found 4 days to be my optimum but if you added in teaching I could see ideal mat time being 5-6 days.

Over 10 years this is what I have observed for myself.

2 days allows me to maintain.

3 days allows progress, but not necessarily the fastest.

4 days is optimal for allowing me the most progress but without over training. 

This week in advanced gi we continue our de la riva work, but look at some alternative version. So many different routes we can go depending on your preferred style. We will be exploring de la riva x this week.

Daniel Bianchi and Bekah Bradshaw we all know 8pm on Wednesdays is cooler!

You can also iron them on. I got that idea from Thomas Rozdzynski, however best practice to do it right when you get them. Otherwise, if the tape peels at all you may be putting a hot iron on glue.

Hot iron + glue = smoke  (don't ask how I know). Glad I tried this when I was home alone 🤣I also had a former training partner who was a painter that just painted them on.

I do spray with Lysol at the very least. If it were to get funky, as I've washed them before.

Bekah Bradshaw we could do this on Wednesdays, just saying.

This week in advanced gi we look at attacking our partners when they decide to play de la riva. 

While while my favorite option of a wrist lock isn't viable, there is alway the toe hold, the wrist lock of the feet!

See you Wednesday to explore the wrist lock of the feet.