cinema
Aside from a gi, the best thing I've bought myself in the past 6 months is a Google Chromecast. Basically you plug the Chromecast into one of your TV's USB ports, configure it with your laptop and smartphone and you are able to "cast" whatever you are watching on your laptop/smartphone to your big screen. Why did I do this? Two reasons, one to watch all my shows from Japan on a big screen and two, so I can watch Jiu-Jitsu matches and tourney broadcasts on the TV. It get pretty annoying trying to try to study technique and watch fights on a 13 inch screen or a smartphone screen.
In my constant quest to improve my game, I started watching film (YouTube videos) of Jiu-Jitsu matches trying to study and pick somethings up. If it works for football players, why not for me right? This started off well, look up a fighter and watch one of his matches or technique videos. Sounds good...until I ended up down the internet/YouTube wormhole and watched all kinds of crap which wasn't helping me do anything but waste time. Then I decided to tighten it up and pick a fighter and stick with his matches. This worked out a bit better until I was talking to the Professor about it and realized I was not watching guys who would help me strengthen my current game and help it grow. Lets face it, at this point my game isn't as close to the Miyao Brothers as I'd like to think it is and yeah I like to play guard but Tornado guard isn't quite my thing yet.
After all that, I came up with a plan. Knowing which aspects of my game needed work, I researched who I could study to hopefully improve that particular aspect of my game. Then I asked Brian who he thought I should watch to hopefully help me improve and took his suggestions also.
Take-downs: I am a natural guard player and don't mind pulling guard, this occurs mainly because I'm weak at takedowns and I used to train with giants. I am slowly getting more comfortable with my take-down attempts. To help get more comfortable I chose Ronaldo Jacare Souza. He has great takedowns, mostly based in Judo, he is aggressive and persistent. I watched his matches and technique video every night for a week+ straight. The more I watched the more noticed one in particular. Starting from standing he reaches across with the back hand, pops the lapel, switch hands, snap them down and when they spring up, picks the ankle and drive forward. I decided I've should incorporate this to take my game to the next level.
Guard Passing: Like I said before, I'm a guard player so I don't mind ending up on my back but getting someones pressure combined with gravity smashing down on you takes alot out of your game. I chose Romulo Barral based on Brian's recommendation. After watching some of his matches, I noticed Romulo does this simple but very effective knee-slice pass. And he does it over and over, his opponents have to see it coming but they can't stop it. If I could start to work this into my game more, my opponents and training partners will have to respect my top game and not take it for granted.
Hopefully this film study will translate to position recognition for me. I have to understand how these guys set up the move and then how each of them uses the technique. I have been trying more attempts at Jacare's take-down each time we work stand-up in training, they may not be pretty now, but someday they will be as log as I keep at them. And Romulos knee-slice...I started working it this week in training. I am pretty sure I caught Clobber by surprise with it as I twice used it to almost slide past his half-guard and almost hit him with the cross-choke. My plan is to go two weeks for one guy and two weeks for the other guy for my video study. After this I will pick two more guys who by watching might be able to help me.
Small steps turn into leagues in the blink of an eye.