It's hard finding people who want to drill sometimes, but this because very interesting as techniques become more complex. I feel like with the more complex techniques a lot of exploration and growth can occur as it leads you down a different path sometimes. But I agree with Gary Pond sparring with intent always seems engaging!

Advanced gi will focus on using the gi as an offensive weapon.

If you haven't had anyone trap and really lock in your arm with your own gi, you are in for a treat!

I think anytime during childhood would have been awesome. However, I sort of feel I found it at the perfect time. If life turned out relatively the same, I think it would have derailed training at some point. However, what would like look like now if I started say at 12 years old? Butterfly effect! 🦋

Last week we took advantage of a smaller class size to not just troubleshoot the problems I've seen people having with triangles but to really dig into the issues each person was having.

Sound interesting? Well this week we are going to look at the escapes and defense. Might want to check out advance gi this week since there are going to be a few guys who really dialed in their triangles last week! 🔥

Exciting - obvious I was excited to try it out, or why would I have been there.

Exhausting - everyone feels this way but I think it is underappreciated. I felt I was in good shape but remember thinking, how are we not done with warm ups.

Awkward - aside from the warm ups everything felt foreign, but as I always tell new students, give it 3 to 6 months and it'll be so much better. Think of it like learning to walk again.

This week we work on trouble shooting our triangles! I've been seeing a lot of the same issues so let's really break them down an make them tight!

Can't make it or want to get a jump start, might just want to watch this workshop!

https://rolacademy.tv/programs/2023-09-30-russ-usauskas-workshop?category_id=198222

I need to learn your ways 🤣

Food and hydration.

Advanced gi will be starting our closed guard block. Probably my favorite position of all so I'm very excited to share. 

This week we will be looking at scissor sweeps and getting plenty of reps. Even a slight modification that work great in gi but lets you apply the scissor sweep to no gi too!

If that wasn't enough, we'll look at my favorite counter to the sweep, an ankle lock.

It'll be a great night🔥

I think especially in the beginning it is more physically challenging for most people if we acknowledge that it may feel like an information overload at first. For so many of us we have no background in wrestling or anything related making many of the movements feel foreign to us. This is something I always stress to people trying a class or just starting, give it 3 to 6 months and it no longer feels so foreign. 

As we continue on our journey, I've found the mental part becomes more challenging as we trouble shoot or try to guide our partners movements to set up certain techniques.