Jiu Jitsu discussion / complete beginner!
Discussion
Still plodding along 
I like to think I am a fairly decent purple belt, I can hold my own at this level and white / blue belts generally dont post a huge issue.
Training on average 3 or 4 times a week for 1.5 hours at a time, although recently I have been focussing more on NoGi and also escaping from bad positions (mount, side control etc.). Injuries seem to be staying away for the moment so all good.
Happy to see everyone still grinding away, even if its not as regular as you would all like.
7 years in March...where did the time go since I started this thread.
I like to think I am a fairly decent purple belt, I can hold my own at this level and white / blue belts generally dont post a huge issue. Training on average 3 or 4 times a week for 1.5 hours at a time, although recently I have been focussing more on NoGi and also escaping from bad positions (mount, side control etc.). Injuries seem to be staying away for the moment so all good.
Happy to see everyone still grinding away, even if its not as regular as you would all like.
7 years in March...where did the time go since I started this thread.
MC, I'm inclined to agree with you. In my opinion, pure BJJ appears to be falling aside somewhat and making way for a hybrid Judo-BJJ-Wrestling approach.
If we take the recent ADCC trials, the best performers all had excellent wrestling and BJJ. Personally, I take 2 wrestling classes a week and very quickly started to see the integration of techniques, not just standing but pinning and control concepts on the ground.
Equally, with Judo I also take from this, obviously in standup again but also side control and back attack techniques.
I strongly believe that those with pure BJJ will start to get left behind, much in the same way that Gracie JJ has succumbed somewhat to "sport" BJJ. It's a natural evolution of styles, accelerated by the nerdy nature of BJJ and those who practice it.
If we take the recent ADCC trials, the best performers all had excellent wrestling and BJJ. Personally, I take 2 wrestling classes a week and very quickly started to see the integration of techniques, not just standing but pinning and control concepts on the ground.
Equally, with Judo I also take from this, obviously in standup again but also side control and back attack techniques.
I strongly believe that those with pure BJJ will start to get left behind, much in the same way that Gracie JJ has succumbed somewhat to "sport" BJJ. It's a natural evolution of styles, accelerated by the nerdy nature of BJJ and those who practice it.
MC Bodge said:
We did a bit of wrestling takedown progressions last night. Shooting for single leg to double leg to taking the back to take-down etc. Then had a few rounds of practice at taking-down / resisting (and reversing) take-down. I felt that I'd picked it up reasonably well, and despite doing reasonably well at the takedown randori,
I was probably a bit scrappy. I need to do some better throws.
Moving on to some groundwork & attacking the turtle position (fewer options without a gi).
Followed by a bit of rolling starting from various positions, some of which I'm not that familiar with.
In rolling, I'm noticing that I have more "time" than I did when I started a few weeks ago, and developing an "approach" (I couldn't call it a "style"
), with more variety of submissions. I do need to practice escapes from some positions/evade traps.
Ps. There were more "How old are you?" and "My Dad is younger than you, but couldn't do this" comments.
Pps. Technique >> strength, but the range of apparent strength between different people is always surprising. It may be more of a case of how efficiently people can move and apply their weight, but I suspect that core/trunk strength is key.
The Technique beats strength argument is true to a point. Once a seasoned guy can apply strength with the technique, it becomes a whole new ball game. As a result of years of consistent lifting I consider myself to have a pretty good base level of strength (at my peak I was regularly hitting a 240kg Deadlift, 130kg bench press and 180kg Squat) however, I am often surprised by how weak some guys feeling, despite looking physically big and strong. On the other hand, I know of a scaffolder who doesnt look big, but he is one of the strongest grapplers I know. I was probably a bit scrappy. I need to do some better throws.
Moving on to some groundwork & attacking the turtle position (fewer options without a gi).
Followed by a bit of rolling starting from various positions, some of which I'm not that familiar with.
In rolling, I'm noticing that I have more "time" than I did when I started a few weeks ago, and developing an "approach" (I couldn't call it a "style"
), with more variety of submissions. I do need to practice escapes from some positions/evade traps. Ps. There were more "How old are you?" and "My Dad is younger than you, but couldn't do this" comments.
Pps. Technique >> strength, but the range of apparent strength between different people is always surprising. It may be more of a case of how efficiently people can move and apply their weight, but I suspect that core/trunk strength is key.
biggbn said:
Why did you let go of him? I would always try to hold at least an arm for an arm bar or triangle or follow him right down into a pin. Good sweep, I'm being hyper critical for someone who hasn't been on a mat for ten years or more!!
I felt bad for him he was majorly hung over and suffering already, usually of course I would be straight in there. Sometimes I just fancy standing for a while also, so I will encourage them to get back up. I'm very much at a playful stage, training now for 7 years or so, I have nothing to prove so can just enjoy it and have fun i.e. not smash at every chance
Fozziebear said:
Ive been doing BJJ for a few years now (blue 1 stripe) South Coast MMA in Eastbourne, used to train judo 4 times a week (1st Dan Black), covid hit and judo stopped, that threw me into BJJ. Im going to be working in Basildon for about 4 months, any suggestions for training?
Lamude BJJ, run by one of Rogers black belts. I dropped in there whenever I was training, great facility and owner. A long overdue update to the thread.
At the start of the year I never really hit a routine with training, motivation was low and this was compounded with guilt about paying gym fees but not going. Between February and June I didn't train too much at all, maybe a total of 15 times.
Then came June and I decided to make some changes, starting with freezing my membership and taking some time to improve my mental and physical health. BJJ training reduced to around 1 time per 2 weeks, sometimes less and this was at my original home club when I was visiting family. I did, however, take up a number of other sports in its place, namely trail running, kayaking, road cycling and hiking - it was very much a summer of outdoor activities.
At the beginning of June I weighed in at 118.8kg, this was very much at the top end of my weight over the years and it had to change. Implementing a strict approach to food alongside the new activities I have lost around 28kg and now sit comfortably at around 90kg, albeit with a much improved level of fitness.
Last week I decided it was time to get training again so, with a renewed sense of vigour (and body) I got back into it. I wont lie, its been rough, grappling with 28kg less weight means I am essentially learning Jiu Jitsu all over again. My traditional weight based smash game no longer works, now I must work on speed, agility and flexibility, adopting a looser guard passing and retention style.
The first few sessions I found this very tough, but slowly the pieces are falling into place, my style is changing and I am reaping the benefits of a very good level of cardio, although I need to work a little bit on strength.
I still love putting the gi on but my enthusiasm for No Gi is also increasing now, not feeling like a fat sausage definitely helps.
At the start of the year I never really hit a routine with training, motivation was low and this was compounded with guilt about paying gym fees but not going. Between February and June I didn't train too much at all, maybe a total of 15 times.
Then came June and I decided to make some changes, starting with freezing my membership and taking some time to improve my mental and physical health. BJJ training reduced to around 1 time per 2 weeks, sometimes less and this was at my original home club when I was visiting family. I did, however, take up a number of other sports in its place, namely trail running, kayaking, road cycling and hiking - it was very much a summer of outdoor activities.
At the beginning of June I weighed in at 118.8kg, this was very much at the top end of my weight over the years and it had to change. Implementing a strict approach to food alongside the new activities I have lost around 28kg and now sit comfortably at around 90kg, albeit with a much improved level of fitness.
Last week I decided it was time to get training again so, with a renewed sense of vigour (and body) I got back into it. I wont lie, its been rough, grappling with 28kg less weight means I am essentially learning Jiu Jitsu all over again. My traditional weight based smash game no longer works, now I must work on speed, agility and flexibility, adopting a looser guard passing and retention style.
The first few sessions I found this very tough, but slowly the pieces are falling into place, my style is changing and I am reaping the benefits of a very good level of cardio, although I need to work a little bit on strength.
I still love putting the gi on but my enthusiasm for No Gi is also increasing now, not feeling like a fat sausage definitely helps.
It had to happen eventually, following a decent run of training I was taken down heavy last Monday and landed square on my shoulder, immediately heard a pop. Luckily the health care system here in Switzerland is pretty efficient so following an X-ray and specialist examination it was diagnosed as a separated AC joint but thankfully only grade 1/2, no surgery required just recovery and rehab.
Ach, no problem, its better to be realistic sometimes.
Generally its worse after an evenings sleep, loosening up as the day goes on. I have a follow up xray and appointment next week so I will see what the recommendations are re. physio and rehab. Luckily I don't have too much pain when doing normal things.
Generally its worse after an evenings sleep, loosening up as the day goes on. I have a follow up xray and appointment next week so I will see what the recommendations are re. physio and rehab. Luckily I don't have too much pain when doing normal things.
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