Friday, September 02, 2005

Krugman's Mad. Me, Too.


What he said!
I predict President Bush's approval rating will drop below 25% nationwide, and below zero in Brooklyn.
I also want to point out that the frequency with which Krugman writes about something other than economics is directly correlated with how screwed up things are in our country.

BJJ Move #66: Some Omo Plata "Thwart" Moves

Here are a few moves to try on someone who's defending against your omo plata.

WARNING! These techniques could result in serious injury or death if practiced incorrectly or even if performed correctly. They should only be practiced with the supervision of an experienced instructor.

Omo Plata - 5 "Thwart" Moves:
-submission

Omo Plata (Thwart) Roll Against a Roller:
If your opponent somersaults over as your attempting an omo plata on his right arm, somersault over over with him, get up on top of his back and put your hips on his hips. Now you can finish the lock.

Omo Plata (Thwart) - Reverse Armlock:
You attempt an omo plata on your opponent’s right arm, but he’s grabbing his own left hand or belt tightly with his right hand so you can’t pull it out to turn the shoulder joint.
Your left leg is entangling his right arm; slide your left knee underneath his body a bit, so your left shin lies across his right upper arm and the back of his right shoulder.
Now put your right foot in between his right arm and body from the direction of his back, and you have an armlock with your legs crossed—-just pull on his hand. If he rolls over, you’ll still have it, even tighter.

Omo Plata to Wristlock:
From an omo plata on your opponent’s right arm, his right arm is bent in your lap with your legs figure-foured over his right arm.
Now using both hands on his trapped right hand, apply a “downward” wristlock (forcing his palm into the underside of his forearm by pressing downward on his knuckles).

Omo Plata (Thwart) - “The Rack” Shoulderlock:
You have managed to get your left shin underneath your opponent’s chin, but he won’t let you move to an omo plata on his right arm.
With your right knee bent, kick your right foot, bent up at the ankle, into the back of his left armpit.
Reach under your own right knee with your right hand from the outside, and grab your own left instep, drawing your left instep underneath your bent right knee-crook.
Pull your right foot through from under your opponent’s left armpit (your legs are still figure-foured around his right arm) but keep it under his chin.
Pivot clockwise on your hips so your head goes toward his right foot, and apply the shoulderlock by straightening your legs.

Omo Plata to Toehold:
From an omo plata on your opponent’s right arm, before sitting up, his right foot may be nearby.
Your left arm comes under his right shin from the outside, your elbow is bent so your hand is back near his foot, and your left hand then grabs the outside, pinky-toe edge of his right foot (your palm faces the ceiling, your elbow is pointing out to your left side).
Your right hand comes over the Achilles’ tendon of his right ankle and grabs the top of your own left wrist (“t-stack”). Now lever and turn your hands to apply the toehold.


Comments? Please feel free to point out mistakes, describe tips on the techniques, suggest ways to make the descriptions clearer, etc.
Click here to go to the list of my BJJ move posts.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

One Short Katrina Post

Briefly, I don't want to blog much about Hurrican Katrina and the ongoing tragedy in New Orleans.
The news and blogs already all over it.
I hope my friends, their families, and everyone else in the region is okay, although I know that's not the case for everyone.

There'll be plenty of time to be angry about all opportunities we missed to do things that would have saved lives and property.

I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
Civil engineering, disaster relief, and helping poor people aren't nearly as exciting to argue about as international struggles against extremism or spreading freedom or whatever, but they do seem a lot more practical today.

BJJ Move #65: 3 Triangle Choke "Thwart" Moves

Here are a few moves to try on someone who's defending against your triangle choke.

WARNING! These techniques could result in serious injury or death if practiced incorrectly or even if performed correctly. They should only be practiced with the supervision of an experienced instructor.

Triangle Choke - 3 "Thwart" Moves:
-submission

Triangle Choke (Thwart) - Armlock:
You are performing a triangle choke with your opponent’s right arm inside, and he postures up (as in earlier post) so you can’t pull down on his head or your shin.
Hook his right triceps with your right hand and grab his right wrist with your left hand, securing his right arm.
Thrust your hips upwards.
Circle your left leg over opponent's head and place your left shin in his throat.
Lock a figure four in front of his chest, placing your right leg over your left shin.
Thrust hips upwards to finish the armlock.

Triangle Choke (Thwart) - Biceps Slicer:
You attempt the triangle choke (with your opponent’s right arm inside); he pulls his head, but not his arm, free, and steps up to the outside of your right foot, standing up onto his left foot.
Put your left foot on the ground and hip out to the left while firmly holding his right arm into your right knee-crook to keep him from taking cross side.
Drive your right shin into his right elbow-crook, triangle your left knee-crook over your right ankle and pull with clasped hands on the back of his right arm to add pressure to the biceps slicer.

Triangle Choke (Thwart) - Omo Plata:
You attempt the triangle choke with your opponent’s right arm trapped inside, but before you can figure four your legs he overhooks your left thigh with his right arm to keep you from tightening it.
Control his right elbow with your left hand, open your legs and pivot 180 degrees clockwise.
Kick your left leg through over his right shoulder and figure four your legs (right knee over left shin).
Sit up to drive your opponent to the floor and lean forward toward his head to finish the omo plata.


Comments? Please feel free to point out mistakes, describe tips on the techniques, suggest ways to make the descriptions clearer, etc.
Click here to go to the list of my BJJ move posts.