PEX's grappling log

[PEXZ]

I'll start off with a little background on how I got into grappling/MMA/powerlifting; about a year ago I decided I had to do something about the shape I was getting in. At that time I was at about 79kg, with my fat percentage through the roof. Being 26, I was supposed to be in my physical prime but instead I was starting to struggle getting up the stairs, so I decided to join the local fitness gym. After training for a about a month or 2, I started to read up on some things (like training routines) and came across this site. I then started learning about the right food, macros and effective training. Because the gym I joined didn't have a squat rack, I decided to buy a couple of things and start a homegym.
I got introduced to MMA by a friend of mine, who said that I should have a look at TUF (yep, I'm a TUFer). It got my interest peaked and I started watching UFC events as well. As I learned more about the sport and all it's different aspects, I took more interest in the grappling aspect. Browsing on the internet I found a local gym, where I started training. I then got introduced to Pride, Strikeforce, Dream, Bellator, ... Nowadays I watch most of the events.
Over time, my focus shifted from bodybuilding to grappling, supported by powerlifting. This is what I'm doing right now and what this log will be about. My schedule looks like this:

Monday: MMA/grappling. This a more MMA based grappling, mostly Sambo based.
Tuesday: Powerlifting; a modified Rippetoe, consisting of 3x5 squats, bench, one armed rows, seated shoulder press and core work.
Wednesday: grappling. This is a pure no-gi grappling course. I'm looking to add Judo on this. There is a school very close to where I live, which I'll probably pay a visit.
Thursday: Powerlifting; 3x5 Squats, Incline DB bench press, deadlift, standing shoulder press and core work.
Friday: Sparring. Usually I find out whether anyone is up for some rolling beforehand.
Saturday: Judo?
Sunday: off.

Obviously I'm going to write about the trainings, but I'll also try to write about how I'm feeling, the side events, how I'm performing, whether I feel I'm making progress etc. In the future I'd like to go to Vegas and train at Drysdale's gym for a couple of months, but right now that's nothing more than a dream..

[PEXZ]

So lets kick this off then; the turn up was quite good, I was happy to see a couple of guys that I hadn't seen in a while.
We started off with some light shadowboxing with sprawls and shoots as a warm-up. After that we went to a 50-50 clinch to pummel under hip throw. This got extended to kesa getami. From kesa getami to a couple of armbars, side control and a triangle.
Then we got to spar starting from the 50-50 clinch, allowing punches and fighting for the takedown. Once it hit the ground we worked the techniques we learned.
I sparred with the 2 guys that come from a judo background. Wim nailed me with a good one that sent me flying through the air. I got Jelle 2 times and he crashed me into the ground once.
After a couple of rotations we started off from the knees, allowing strikes and positions. I'm fairly sure Joffrey (our instructor) did this because we weren't using our hands enough in the clinch. I'm definitely guilty of this, mainly because my striking blows and i'm focusing on tying my opponent up rather than striking. Even when we were told to work striking and positions, I started off from my butt, tying up hands and working for the sweep, which I got a couple of times. Once I got a dominant position, I tried to strike as much as I could. In general I was really happy with how I kept position.
Joffrey then asked us to get rid of the gloves and work positions and chokes. I paired up with Wim, who is fairly experienced and has been training a lot longer than I have. He got dominant position early one and tried a triangle from kesa getami. I blocked the leg and restored half guard, hip escaped and got back to full guard. From full guard I overhooked his right arm, pushed back his left arm and slapped on a triangle. He pushed his weight forward and to my left, which made it harder for me to really cinch it up. I should have countered this by sweeping his left leg with my arm, but I focused to much on getting the triangle in place.. At some point I had it pretty good, but my leg slipped out because of the sweat. He then passed my guard into half guard. I turned into it and restored half guard, but gave up my neck in the process. He got the guillotine in and I didn't know how to defend it from that position and tapped. I probably could have spazzed a little and maybe force my way out of it, but that's not what I want.
I had a fairly long roll with Jelle, who gave up his back a little too easy on several occasions. He is fairly new though, and he has been doing very well for the amount of training he has had.
Last spars were standup boxing, with boxing gloves. This was utter crap for me, as I haven't trained any. It got even worse when I got paired up with someone that trains Muay Thai. Needless to say I got my ass handed to me. If I'd care I'd be very upset about this, but I'm simply not interested in it. I take it in my stride because the majority of the training is grappling.

Tomorrow is powerlifting day, will post some pictures of my homegym tomorrow.