Tried out a new gym today. I always get a little nervous going to a new gym, despite the fact that I’ve been to quite a few now and the warmups always fall into either of two categories
1. Old school – including running around the mats, switching to side to side skipping, jumping, running backwards etc.
2. Gracie Barra – perform a series of squats, pushups, and jumping jacks, followed by some ab work.
I personally prefer the old school method because I feel like it does a better job of warming up my body.
Everyone I met at the school was nice. It was in the middle of the day so there were only two students, a purple belt and blue belt. The class was pretty much a semi-private.
[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-1]
We went over two main techniques:
1. Seio Nage
The instructor taught it as a nice progression. First stepping into the throw. Then just where you elevate them on your hips without the throw. Lastly, going all the way with the throw utilizing a soft mat for your partner to land on. I thought this was a great touch to minimize the contact on falling. I’m getting older now and am now more aware of these things!
2. Bow and Arrow choke from the back.
We first started with a seat belt grip, with my right hand over my partner’s right shoulder and my left hand under their armpit. Right hand in a fist with left hand cupping over the right hand. When they go to defend the choke, use my left hand to feed his left lapel to my right hand for a deep grip.
The left hand then grabs his right lapel setting up the choke. Scoot my hips out to my left side, throw left leg over his abdomen and right leg over his right shoulder. Finish the choke.
[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-2]
A: We went over a variation where if the classic bow and arrow choke isn’t tight enough, scoot the hip out a little more to the left and then throw the right leg over his head onto his left trapezius. My hips weren’t flexible enough for this so I had a lot of trouble.
B: This one I liked a lot. It was a transition from this bow and arrow into a triangle. Start off with the classic bow and arrow choke, let go of the lapel with left hand and instead grab my right shin (which is still over his right shoulder). Move my left foot to his left hip to scoot my hips out a little bit to create a little bit of space and then triangle my left leg over my right foot. All the while keeping my right arm holding tight on his left lapel. This was pretty nasty.
Overall I had a great class. When I’m back in this part of town I definitely intend on going back. It helps that its only a 5 minute drive from where I normally stay!
[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-3]