Seatbelt Takedowns
Written on 16 July 2008 by ColmThe seatbelt is a hold from behind your opponent where you place one hand over their shoulder and the other under their armpit, so your hands grasp diagonally across his chest (much like a seatbelt!)
Aaron gets his Yellow Belt
Written on 14 July 2008 by ColmBig Congratz to Aaron for his achieving his Yellow Belt a few weeks back.
NSC 2008 - Andy & Graeme
Written on 12 July 2008 by ColmWith the National Junior Championships getting so big we need now need to run two rings side by side, it means I can’t see everyone in action. Couple that with a shortage on support staff and cameras, and it means unfortunately I can’t write a review up for everyone.
From what I saw on the day, and what Bill has seen, you did yourselves very proud. You always do. You guys give 100% in every competition, take victory humbly and take defeat in your stride as well. This is an amazingly powerful attitude to have, which I’m sure will help you along in every other area of your life.
Andy & Graeme grabbed the camera for their divisions so we have their matches for review. Some good lessons for everybody in their matches, as their mistakes are failry typically in Novice Submission Wrestling Continue »
Rob & Ciaran Sparring
Written on 11 July 2008 by ColmA clip of Rob & Ciaran ‘throwing down’ on Tuesday night.
Save to you computer and enjoy! (29.7MB 3:04)
Butterfly Guard Passes
Written on 8 July 2008 by ColmWhen your opponent has his feet underneath your hips in guard, he has butterfly guard on you. There are two passes here. The first one is more technical, and may be harder to pull off. It may even be a bit dated at this stage. But it does show you patience, and a complete way to begin passing guard.
Pass One
Above is a particularly bad butterfly guard(chest too far away from the knees), but it’s just for the camera. Continue »
Funny Rock Paper Scissors Clip
Written on 8 July 2008 by ColmHere’s a funny clip on Rock-Paper-Scissors by comedian Demitri Martin.
Black Belts!
Written on 4 July 2008 by ColmThere’s really only one important piece of news this week, and that’s Kirsty and Liam have become our first ever black belts!!!
Pre Grading Interview
Continue »
Guard Passing Videos
Written on 25 June 2008 by ColmSome videos of guard passing drills done a few week’s ago, with comments. All videos are wmv format and should be downloaded to your computer before playing.
Dom reaches too far forward while trying to pass. This is a common fault while passing. Anto does well to tie Dom up and sweep him with relative ease (technique). Anto’s making good use of the scissor sweep.
Rob tries to throw the legs and pass. Here it works for him but it’s very attribute dependent. Tommy isn’t using his arms enough, and accepts being flat on his back instead of defending more pro-actively. His second pass is more controlled.
Initially, Lee is very tentative to pass gaurd, which Eamo has left quite loose. Lee would have been better served putting pressure on Eamo’s legs or hips and/or standing up. When Eamo pulls Lee forward he gets off a sweep, but lazily goes for top, which allows Lee to ‘pass’. Eamo does well to pull Lee close (this is good guard play). Lee tries to rush past when Eamo fails his armbar attempt, reaching forward, and again gets put back to guard.
Prison Guard! Booo! Dec is doing nothing with his legs here. He’s taken his best/strongest weapon out of commission. This makes Anto’s job very easy. When Dec sits up he makes Anto’s job of passing a bit tougher, but because his legs are still out of the equation, he poses no real threat.
Here Dec uses his legs effectively, and Eoghan finds it very difficult to posture up.
Mark keeps constant pressure on Rob’s knees as he starts to pass. When applying pressure like this, you don’t have to force your opponent’s knees in any direction. Simply having them there helps you sense where his energy is going. Mark tries to spin past, which is a little premature in this case. But by bring his hands back towards Rob’s hips/feet, he gets the pass. Note how he uses his knees against Rob’s hips in the second pass. Passing like this may get you into half guard, but half guard is better than full guard.
Here Lee follows the progressing properly, going from knees to hips to upper body. Good guard passing.
NSC 2008 - My Experience
Written on 24 June 2008 by ColmHere’s my rundown of the NSC 2008 from my perspective, with videos included where available.
As I don’t train with that much intensity, I really entered more for the fun rather than in any serious capacity. However, after the whole thing, I think I let myself down mentally, and sold myself very short against my opponents. I think that even with a little bit more focus and a few more hours on the mats, I could take silver at the next tournament quite easily, and give first place a challenge.
Mark Curry, Queens University Belfast - This match I figured I’d just lose, I figured Mark would just be all over me. No disrespect to Mark, but I figured his top game would be a lot tighter. I bridged out of it with real ease, then foolishly was late on my triangle.
Padraic Merlihan, Three Castles MMA - I tried a flying armbar on Padraic for the craic, and missed terribly, but managed to put him into my guard and sweep. Padraic put me back in guard, I’ve no idea how, and I started passing again. Once more, for the craic, I tried a spinning kneebar from half guard. Padraic tapped quite early. I think he either has an injury or is very nervous about kneebars, because it felt like he didn’t challenge it enough. Unfortunately, the memory on the camera was full, so we didn’t get this on tape 
Dylan Costigan, Three Castles MMA - This was just silly. I ran onto the mats, tried a single leg from too far out, and got guillotine choked with ease by Dylan. Silly, silly, silly. I’m glad there’s no video 
Sebestaio Torres - This guy tore up the division with his sweeps and that out of no where triangle. I almost went for another flying sub, but he kept on the back foot and couldn’t get the jump. He tripped me with ease, but I managed to regain guard. I knew there was no point in trying to sub him from a loose guard, so I stood back up. When he busted out his judo throw I thought I had his back but for some reason, maybe he’d my leg trapped, I couldn’t get top. The way he set up his reverse triangle from turtle was just brilliant, I hadn’t a clue what was going on!!! He also tried to kimura my left arm but I tapped due to the strangulation.
Ciaran Maher - The grudge match! The major threat I had from Ciaran was him getting top, as he’s able to get North South on me quite easily, and his gaurd, as he’s quite flexible. I got double unders handily enough, but Ciaran was soaking wet. I made this point to the ref when we were being reset in the centre. I knew I wouldn’t get the Brabo choke on Ciaran but I figured I could hold him with it. He defended this, the ten finger guillotine, and the chicken wing quite well. The Batman then tried a triangle but I held onto his left leg to stop it going over, and stacked to defend the armbar.
After the reset, Ciaran’s guard was awkward, but didn’t threaten m. He made the mistake of lifting his hips a bit too high which gave me the pass. I worked hard to stop his single leg and really had to control his right elbow and move quickly to avoid his guard again. I found it hard in mount to get Ciaran’s elbows high enough to get a tight armbar, and for a brief second when he defended well, I considered a half scorpion submission, but thought the better of it.
From side control I’d good access to his arm, and Jim cornered me to the submission. It felt like forever before Ciaran tapped, even though it only looks like a second or two in the video.
Matt wins the NSC Novice 68Kg
Written on 23 June 2008 by ColmMatt fought and won in the Under 68Kg Novice division of the NSC 2008 last Saturday.
