Okay, just last week I realized that two moves I've used regularly for over a year... Saulo's scissor sweep and a de la riva sweep when your opponent is down on one knee... are EXACTLY THE SAME MOVE except for the placement of the lifting foot.
Since I had this retardedly obvious realization I've been alternating back and forth between them relentlessly and am sweeping everyone left and right. If one isn't open, the other usually is, and if they defend one they'll usually do so by positioning themselves for the other.
BAM! BAM! BAM! come into my guard!
progress is sweet.
LOL..epiphanys are great 
Right on man, those "aha!" moments are so awesome.
Head control when they are passing your guard was one of mine. As was Ryan Hall's hip shovel... Huge differences in game over night.
JRockwell - Right on man, those "aha!" moments are so awesome. <img src="/images/phone/post_tag.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
Awesome and embarrassing all at the same time. Generally those things you realize are so obvious you start wondering if your brain works properly for not noticing them before. Haha. I have consistantly wondered over the years how I can overlook so many obvious things and then be surprised by them when they occur to me. One of the many great things about BJJ.
Here is an essay about Mental Revelations of Progressing Grapplers. Enjoy!
www.smallaxebjj.com/2009/04/04/mental-revelations-of-the-progressing-grappler/
"Head control when they are passing your guard."
Please elaborate.
Head control when passing simply means that there are quite a bit of guard passes you can stop simply by pushing the head. A lot of guard passer's always lead with their head. Won't stop all passes but it's a great defense to quite a few passes.
1 for head control!!!
Stubbsy - Head control when they are passing your guard was one of mine. As was Ryan Hall's hip shovel... Huge differences in game over night.
I'm learning head control can be used for more than just stopping guard passes.
Anthony -Stubbsy - Head control when they are passing your guard was one of mine. As was Ryan Hall's hip shovel... Huge differences in game over night. <img src="/images/phone/post_tag.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
I'm learning head control can be used for more than just stopping guard passes.
In my head, you say that with a lecherous tone.
Stubbsy - Head control when they are passing your guard was one of mine. As was Ryan Hall's hip shovel... Huge differences in game over night. <img src="/images/phone/post_tag.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
I'd like to hear more about the hip shovel.
Yes they are great!
Just last week someone asked why I only do techniques on the right side. I was confused.
They showed how you can do most (or all...???) techniques on the OTHER side --The left side.
I was like WOOAAAAH! Get out of here!!!
It's true though.
shen - Yes they are great!
Just last week someone asked why I only do techniques on the right side. I was confused.
They showed how you can do most (or all...???) techniques on the OTHER side --The left side.
I was like WOOAAAAH! Get out of here!!!
It's true though.
I like a joke as much as the next person, but you've gone too far with this shit now Shen. The Other Side? What kind of fucking bollocks is that?
James
Looks forward for shen's "the other side" instructional DVD.
TTT for the hip shovel!
ssturtle,
Great articles!
Head control for the win in lots of positions. Learning to cross face properly killed a load of opponent's deep half stuff for me as well. Great stuff! The hip shovel is a very simple sweep when you are side mounted. You basically walk yourself back under the hips of the person who has you in side control, thus taking their base. It certainly wasn't hard to learn, or to do, but more importantly it illustrated that concept to me. If you can get directly under the base of your opponent you can destabilise so much more easily. It's amazing how this applies to your whole game. Ever rolled with senior grades who just 'hip in' at the right time and just make you fall over..? I think this is the same thing. Recognising that base and just destabilising it at exactly the right time. Simple concept, but a fundamental if you ask me :-) Epiphany moment for sure.
Paul Schreiner has been using a variation of the hip shovel as an escape from Marcelo's side control recently on MGinAction, very cool to see it applied in sparring at such a high level.
hip shovel???