APH-2025-112

Overview:

• Quarterly Goal: Compete at ADCC Open Atlanta
• Monthly Focus: Wrestling to Leg Entanglements
• Weekly Objective: Leg Lock Escapes

Intention:

Today I was invited to an open mat with some high level competitors. I didn’t want to turn down a good opportunity to get some different looks and get a taste of higher level competition. However, my ribs are still healing, so I had to choose the pace carefully, and tap early / often.

Warm Up:

• Shoulder CARs, 2 x 3
• Hip CARs, 2 x 3
• Spine CARs, 2 x 3

Work:

• 6 x 5 minute Rounds Total Grappling:
  • Round 1 (W): This was a larger, but notably less skilled opponent, though he wasn’t a total novice. I secured a shoulder lock from a rear triangle, and later he established good control from top-turtle.
  • Round 2 (W): This was a similar aged, but smaller black belt. He initiated a leg lock exchange early, and did a good job building up to a base when I counterattacked. I was proud of myself for using instructional content to off-balance and re-expose the heel as well as switching to a different grip to adjust for slippage.
  • Round 3 (L): This was, by far, the hardest roll of the day. Within 2 minutes or so he took my back, though I was too passive in the beginning. I defended the strangle well, but tapped to his body-triangle due to my rib injury.
  • Round 4 (W): This was a jacked MMA fighter, and by this point in the day the mat was basically a swimming pool. I had a lot of good entries to and looks at his legs, but his athleticism, size, and slipperiness made it hard to ever get a bit on something.
  • Round 5 (L): Another 220ish MMA fighter, who I think I’ve rolled with before, I had several pass attempts, but he wrestled up – a very good wrestler – on a single-leg and achieved a sweep. From bottom-turtle, I couldn’t get much momentum going.
  • Round 6 (W): This round was possibly the most fun, with a similarly skilled, size, and aged opponent. The physical pace was slow, but we took turns jumping on holes and opportunities and then resetting. While we traded sweeps, I think I had more attack attempts.
• 2 x 5 minute Rounds:
  • Tug / grappling with each of my malinois!