Tried my first Shoot Wrestling / Shooto class last Wednesday. Coach Scott Yusah was
teaching, and taught some attacks and defenses from kesagatame (side headlock
on ground). After working some reps, we
got to try and find them while rolling.
This was my first experience rolling.
I can’t really count the last time, which was when Mestre Boneco brought
in someone under Renzo Gracie to teach the Capoeira instructors. Rolling consisted of people using brute
strength, wrenching necks until they got in position for the choke. Not a lot of learning going on. Being the smaller guy, I fought as best I
could, tapped a lot, and then couldn’t move my neck properly for three days
after. Not a great first experience.
This time was different.
Coach Scott made sure I rolled with people around the same stature so
that it wouldn’t just be a test of strength. Learned a WHOLE lot in 15 minutes
of rolling. Of course I did a lot of
tapping, as to be expected, and was able to find two of the submissions (one from
top and one from bottom). Had a hard
time escaping the bottom position. Having only learned two escapes, I didn’t
have an answer when my partners defended my sweep attempts. Also learned that
when my weight placement on top was even slightly wrong, I was getting swept.
Easily. Great learning experience. As anyone worth their salt in martial arts
will tell you, if you can’t pull off a technique against a resisting opponent,
you can’t really do the technique. The
first stages of learning are done cooperatively, but the later stages are done
against progressive resistance. I won’t be able to make it to Shooto regularly,
but I’ll be looking forward to the next time!
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