My JiuJitsu De-Progression

So as if it's not been blatanly obvious from my other posts, being down here has really brought into light a lot about jiujitsu for me.  I've been here for a bit over three weeks now and have learned a lot about the ideas of jiujitsu, from concepts to history, as well as different techniques both new and old school.  To be around guys that have competed at the highest level, and in many cases won, and see that they are in class training like everyone else gives me hope.  They may have opportunities to train more frequently and definitely have high quality training partners, but they're still training the same jiujitsu that I am.

The one constant that keeps happening is me asking how to do a technique that you would learn in your first six months of training.  I don't mean that I am asking for them to show me something new I was never taught, I mean I am asking how to make those basic techniques work against a skilled opponent and seeing that everyone I train with seems to be better than me I need all the help I can get.  Instead of one step forward two steps back, it's more like ten steps back to a baby step forward.  But as long as there is that baby step I try to not get to depressed.  I call this my de-progression.  I am glad it happening now rather than later.

I haven't seen any flashy moves since I've been here.  People for the most part stick to a simple game plan.  Sweep, establish a dominant top postition and submit.  Watching to upper belts try this strategy gets very interesting.  They are not doing far out stuff.  Usually those basics we learn before we make bluebelt.  It is the details and timing which makes those moves successful.  I am stuggling with both down here.  I am always a step behind on the timing and still don't have many of the details down to second nature.  Right now it's like trying to find Jimmy Hoffa...impossible.  For example one position I've been working a lot during my time here is halfguard, particularly the underhook.  To my understanding thus far there are a few things which must happen to play this position correctly and dominantly.  First you must be on your side, never flat on your back.  Second as you fight for the pummel you can't forget about protecting from the crossface with your free hand, well it probably shouldn't be free because you are pawing and monkey hooking and the other arm.  Once you establish the pummel you can move your head a bit lower to hide it from the crossface, thus freeing up your other hand allowing it to push and work your opponents knee.  Then from there you need to have the sensitivity to be able to feel if a sweep is the appropriate response and when to initiate the sweep.  This is just a very very basic run down of how I, at this point, understand the halfguard.  Now trying to put all that together with someone who knows what is going on is extremely difficult but a skilled opponent makes all those details that much more important.  .