Escapes

Buna Echipa!

Welcome to our 2020 review. Hopefully this will be the most difficult review I have to write and in 2021 on we will see some better days. In this review I’m going to focus on attendance, as there was not much else going on this year. The reality is, as I always say, turning up is the key to progress.

TECHNIQUE OF THE MONTH

This month we looked at escapes from everywhere. I’m not going to fill this post with EVERYTHING we looked at but I do love Renzo Gracie’s energy in this video and I love this side control escape for the same reason he does… the violin/straight arm armbar on the far side when your opponent posts.

End of 2020 Review

The following are a couple of charts that show attendance over 2020. As you can see it’s been hard to maintain a consistent training schedule over the year but a few individuals have been able to build solid attendance records and, not surprisingly these are the people who have improved the most over the year.

Consistency is the key.

2020 AttendANCE

1.

Robert Kis

91

2.

Andrei Molnar

80

3.

Daniel Mihonesc

65

4.

Darius Imbrea

43

5.

Alex Valea

42

6.

Alex Enache

33

7.

Alexandru Cioran

28

8.

Alin Rados

27

9.

Razvan Furdui

20

10.

Alex Mezei

19

11.

Razvan Catilina

13

12.

Ioan Csinády

10

13.

Bianca Todo

9

14.

Raresh Pa

7

14.=

Raresh Pa

7

14.=

Denisa Gîrzau

7

14.=

Andrei Lazar

7

15.

Stefan Repede

6

16.=

Nicu Tat

5

16.=

Cristi Josan

5

16.=

Adrian Bostina

5

16.=

Mircea Iovan

5

17.

Octavian Margineanu

2

2020 Attendance - Cumulative_.jpg
2020 Attendance - Monthly_.jpg

Student of the year 2020 - Robert Kis

It’s pretty easy to see how Robi was student of the year. His attendance has been consistent but also, as one of the heaviest guys in the gym, he has been working on technique over strength the entire year. Anyone who has sparred with Robi can attest to the fact that his pressure game continues to improve every week.

TCA-Robi.jpg

DECEMBER ATTENDANCE

Congratulations to Razvan Mihonesc in closing out the year strong by leading the team in attendance in December.

1.

Razvan Mihonesc

11

2.

Andrei Molnar

10

2.=

Robert Kis

10

4.

Alex Mezei

7

5.

Mircea Iovan

5

6.

Bianca Todo

2

6.=

Octavian Margineanu

2

8.=

Alin Rados

1

8.=

Alex Enache

1

8.=

Darius Imbrea

1

8.=

Razvan Furdui

1

8.=

Razvan Catalin

1

Multumesc

I just want to say thank you again. There is no progress in a vacuum and this year has shown that despite all the challenges thrown in our way we have come together no matter what our levels, affiliations or backgrounds and continued to build as individuals and as a collective.

La Multi Ani! Let’s make 2021 special together.

Unirea face puterea.

TCA-2020-team.jpg


Half Guard

Buna Echipa!

Wow! It got cold. It’s been a November of two halves. We started at Heroes at the start of November with some great sessions, including my birthday Shark Tank. Then restrictions hit us and we have been doing our work at the Bunker.

Technique of the month

This month we looked at lots of variations of half guard and in what scenario to apply each one. I’m going to write up some key points and present these as phases as I see them but, to be honest, it’s really about preference. Remember this is not everything we have covered so don’t be shy in asking questions if you have them.

Remember:

‘Half Guard is half passed’ - Tom Barlow

Phase 1: Half Guard

Half Guard should really occur only when your closed guard has failed, closed guard being a more superior guard in theory from a control perspective. Distance is the key to a good half guard. You need to dictate the distance and prevent your opponent from controlling your hips and shoulders.

Key points:

  • Keep your opponents trapped knee on the mat… and between your legs.

  • Stay on your side. Don’t let your opponent push you flat.

  • Frame! One hand on your opponents far shoulder and the other on their forearm stopping the crossface.

  • Underhook. Always look to get a deep, and high underhook… but watch out for Darce chokes.

Phase 2: Z Guard

If your opponent is pressing forward z-guard or knee shield can add an additional line of defence.

Key points:

  • Connect your heels keeping a tight grip on your opponents trapped leg.

  • Angle your knee towards your opponents shoulder.

  • DON’T let your knees be compressed together.

Phase 3: Lockdown

If you have been smashed flat you can regain position using the lockdown. Eddie Bravo calls this The Whip Down (see below) Try not to be drawn into relying on holding this position as it can lead to a bit of a stalemate. You can sweep from this position but you might need to be a little bit flexible to keep the lockdown solid throughout.

Key points:

  • Weave your bottom leg instep under your opponents foot.

  • Extend your legs away drawing your opponents hip back and taking pressure away from their shoulders.

  • Your top arm should create a low underhook

Phase 4: Deep HAlf Guard

While I love Deep Half Guard it is a position in which you need to be pretty comfortable getting smashed a bit. This should occur when your opponent bases out during a half guard sweep attempt. When you see a gap underneath your opponent you can use this to dive underneath and get to Deep Half Guard.

Key points:

  • Ensure you have a grip on your opponents hip to stop the stepping over your head.

  • Hide your other hand under your opponents leg… you don’t want to get kimura’d

  • Keep your head close to your opponents hip (use their thigh like a pillow)

November Highlights

My birthday shark tank was a real highlight for me. Thank you again to those who turned up to put me through my paces! We managed to get up and visit our friends in Cluj-Napoca JiuJitsu again which was excellent fun as always. We also welcomed Alex Mezei and Bianca Todo from Absoluto Titan’s Timisoara to the club. It’s be great having them both train with us and I hope that we will continue to benefit from their energies on the mats!

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Attendance Leaderboard

Congratulations to Alex Enache in just edging in front of Robi this month. Look out in December for the 2020 Attendance Leaderboard and Student of the Year announcement!

1.

Alex Enache

13

2.

Robert Kis

12

3.

Alex Mezei

11

4.

Alex Molnar

9

5.

Daniel Mihonesc

8

6.

Bianca Todo

8

7.

Ioan Csinády

5

7.=

Alex Valea

5

8.

Darius Imbrea

3

8.=

Raresh Pa

3

9.

Alexandru Cioran

2

10.

Razvan Furdui

1

Next Month

I will be keeping an eye on the restrictions and hopefully we will be back in the gym mid December. I also hope to travel to Cluj again so let me know when you are free.

Finally

We are coming to the end of the year, I know it’s cold and sometimes pretty miserable outside so I am very appreciative of your attendance. 2020 has been super frustrating in some ways but the progress and commitment I have seen on the mats has made it bearable.

Stay safe and healthy. If you are sick let me know and please stay at home.

I look forward to welcoming you on the mats next month.

Obrigado!

Back Control and De La Riva

Buna Echipa!

Welcome to our first monthly newsletter. In these newsletters I want to very briefly cover the techniques we covered in the previous month, any extra activities we did as a team, update you on the team progress and make any announcements for the coming month.

Techniques of the month

This month we looked at the basics of back control and also De La Riva guard.

Back Control

Reference video:

Key points:

  • Get your hooks in… but don’t cross your feet! This allows you to control your opponents hips.

  • Use your arms to form a seatbelt to control your opponents shoulders. One arm over your opponent’s shoulder, one arm under their arm.

  • Cover your top (or choking) hand.

  • You have a strong side and a weak side in this position.

    • The strong side is towards the choking arm. If you put your opponent to this side you have more attacks and they have less escape options.

    • The weak side is away from the choking arm. If you put your opponent to this side you have less attacks and they have more escape options.

De La Riva Guard

Key Points

Reference video

Key points:

  • Grip the heel (or the gi pants).

  • Hook your opponents leg with the same side leg as you have gripped their heel.

  • Use your free leg to extend your opponents other leg away from you breaking their posture.

  • Keep your opponents posture broken by taking a grip, collar or either sleeve.

  • Use your legs to pull or push your opponent back and forward controlling their balance.

October Highlights

This month, despite Covid-19 we visited Cluj-Napoca JiuJitsu and Iguana Timisoara. Thanks to those of you who came with me and especially to the coaches of those clubs Roland Pauletti, Marius Crainic and Adi Flangea for opening their doors to us.

EquipeTCA Romania Visit Cluj-Napoca JiuJitsu


EquipeTCA - Romania - Trip to Iguana Timisoara.

Attendance Leaderboard

1.

Robert Kis

14

2.

Andrei Molnar

10

3.

Alex Valea

9

4.

Alexandru Cioran

7

5.

Daniel Mihonesc

5

6.

Razvan Furdui

4

7.=

Darius Imbrea

3

7.=

Raresh Pa

3

8.=

Nicu Tat

2

8.=

Alex Enache

2

Next Month

We already have plans for another trip to Cluj-Napoca JiuJitsu. This is planned for Saturday 14 November. Let me know if you are interested in attending.

Finally

Thank you all for training during these strange times. I am very appreciative of your continued attendance, individual effort and our team spirit. When things are difficult I am reminded of the motto of my fathers hometown; ‘Out of the darkness comes light’. Our team survives because of your attendance so, in a very real sense, you are the most important part of Equipe TCA.

I look forward to welcoming you on the mats next month.

Obrigado!