Jiu Jitsu discussion / complete beginner!
Discussion
Gah, managed to bend my little finger back under the weight of me and my sparring partner last night. Pretty sure I heard crunching/cracking as it happend so today its strapped to the nearest finger but feeling very sore.
Hoping its going to heal quickly as I'm not keen on any sort of extended lay off. Really seem to be making progress at the moment.
Hoping its going to heal quickly as I'm not keen on any sort of extended lay off. Really seem to be making progress at the moment.
The local competitions are pretty much open to any association/person who wants to enter them, with the exception of IBJJF where the academy you are associated with needs to verify your status as a child / adult brown or adult black belt, but these are few and far between to be honest.
Osoto Gari are great for kids since they don't tend to be so defensive in stand up positions. As an adult I tend to base my hips and legs as far back as possible to avoid the Osoto Gari, however, it can open space for other throws.
You should give the classes a go, if you're anything like me you'll be hooked and it provides some really nice common ground with your son.
Osoto Gari are great for kids since they don't tend to be so defensive in stand up positions. As an adult I tend to base my hips and legs as far back as possible to avoid the Osoto Gari, however, it can open space for other throws.
You should give the classes a go, if you're anything like me you'll be hooked and it provides some really nice common ground with your son.
A little update from me 
- apologies to anyone who might have seen this in the health/martial arts thread.
Received my white belt 4th stripe last night, now to start honing techniques for the blue belt test. I'm hoping to get a couple of competitions in before the summer as well.
My daughter is still training, she's just moved schools actually and is doing very well. During sparring last week she hit the most perfectly timed trap and roll into mount, modified mount and finally back take with seat belt control to stall out the rest of the round (they don't allow subs yet).
What made it extra special for me was that the girl who originally got mount was a couple of inches taller and atleast a year older technique rocks!
- apologies to anyone who might have seen this in the health/martial arts thread. Received my white belt 4th stripe last night, now to start honing techniques for the blue belt test. I'm hoping to get a couple of competitions in before the summer as well.
My daughter is still training, she's just moved schools actually and is doing very well. During sparring last week she hit the most perfectly timed trap and roll into mount, modified mount and finally back take with seat belt control to stall out the rest of the round (they don't allow subs yet).
What made it extra special for me was that the girl who originally got mount was a couple of inches taller and atleast a year older
technique rocks!Just a little check in I'm still plugging away! Still on 4 stripe white, not taken my blue belt test yet but comfortably rolling with blue belts on a regular basis (even catching one or two with a sub....sometimes). Still getting battered by purple belts, but that is understandable and I like to think its not 'quite' so easy for them haha.
Just recently I've been training across two different clubs, my original club and then the club my daughter trains at which is more MMA focused to be honest but its a good game builder.
I took part in a no-gi wrestling session last night, enjoyed it a lot actually. Concentrated on pummeling, neck tie escapes and arm drags, all useful aspects of BJJ.
The other benefit of training across clubs is having access to black belt tuition once a week (whereas at my other club the instructor is a high level purple - he's still very good and competes regularly). As time goes on I become even less bothered about belt color and more about performance, blue will come when I'm ready.
Busy preparing for the British Open in May, followed by a comp in Manchester the week after, then I'll probably also do Nottingham and hopefully one other before the year is out.
Since Xmas I've made a real effort to drop some weight (14kg so far) which has worked wonders for my cardio, flexibility and general well being. Turns out the BJJ lark is actually a pretty good fat burner when combined with a sensible diet!
I'm still plugging away! Still on 4 stripe white, not taken my blue belt test yet but comfortably rolling with blue belts on a regular basis (even catching one or two with a sub....sometimes). Still getting battered by purple belts, but that is understandable and I like to think its not 'quite' so easy for them haha. Just recently I've been training across two different clubs, my original club and then the club my daughter trains at which is more MMA focused to be honest but its a good game builder.
I took part in a no-gi wrestling session last night, enjoyed it a lot actually. Concentrated on pummeling, neck tie escapes and arm drags, all useful aspects of BJJ.
The other benefit of training across clubs is having access to black belt tuition once a week (whereas at my other club the instructor is a high level purple - he's still very good and competes regularly). As time goes on I become even less bothered about belt color and more about performance, blue will come when I'm ready.
Busy preparing for the British Open in May, followed by a comp in Manchester the week after, then I'll probably also do Nottingham and hopefully one other before the year is out.
Since Xmas I've made a real effort to drop some weight (14kg so far) which has worked wonders for my cardio, flexibility and general well being. Turns out the BJJ lark is actually a pretty good fat burner when combined with a sensible diet!
Hi Tony
Absolutely, let me know if you're going along to any of them and we can arrange a meet up.
Funny you should mention injuries, I'm nursing 3 or 4 at the moment which I need to try and shake before the open:
1 suspected broken toe on my right foot (happened during a back take barrel roll)
1 severly bruised little tow (stubbed it on a door frame), same foot.
Left calf/knee sore from a calf slicer (not sure why this happened, I was applying the sub!)
One nearly fixed black eye caused by an opponents elbow trying to establish side control
And to top it off I'm at the doctors in an hour to have my cauliflower ear drained!
Still, I'm enjoying it. Our curriculum has moved into straight foot locks, knee bars and heel hooks which keeps things interesting! Most white belts forget during comps that straight locks are legal so I'll be looking to use them, even better if they don't know the escape (not a problem if they do...I know the counter also
)
How is your lad getting on Tony? My daughter recently got her 4th stripe White, next one is a new belt. Amazing to see an 8 year old throwing arm bars, guillotines and arm triangle chokes!
Absolutely, let me know if you're going along to any of them and we can arrange a meet up.
Funny you should mention injuries, I'm nursing 3 or 4 at the moment which I need to try and shake before the open:
1 suspected broken toe on my right foot (happened during a back take barrel roll)
1 severly bruised little tow (stubbed it on a door frame), same foot.
Left calf/knee sore from a calf slicer (not sure why this happened, I was applying the sub!)
One nearly fixed black eye caused by an opponents elbow trying to establish side control
And to top it off I'm at the doctors in an hour to have my cauliflower ear drained!
Still, I'm enjoying it. Our curriculum has moved into straight foot locks, knee bars and heel hooks which keeps things interesting! Most white belts forget during comps that straight locks are legal so I'll be looking to use them, even better if they don't know the escape (not a problem if they do...I know the counter also
) How is your lad getting on Tony? My daughter recently got her 4th stripe White, next one is a new belt. Amazing to see an 8 year old throwing arm bars, guillotines and arm triangle chokes!
Nothing really of note but I'll update anyway. Friday is the day of the open, I'm feeling a mix of nervousness and excited. My fitness is probably the best it has ever been and I'm sitting at the light end of my normal weight range - even been able to enter the super heavy category (sub 100kg) as opposed to the ultra heavy (+100kg).
Instructor mentioned he wants me to take my blue belt test after the comps, all getting a bit real.
Instructor mentioned he wants me to take my blue belt test after the comps, all getting a bit real.
Picked up a silver in my category at the British Open, won my first fight by one point, lost my second fight by one point, both super tight and very tough.
Next competition is in Manchester on Sunday, hoping to enter that one a little more relaxed than the open, try a few more things and generally enjoy it!
Next competition is in Manchester on Sunday, hoping to enter that one a little more relaxed than the open, try a few more things and generally enjoy it!
Cheers Ben! roughly a year and 3 weeks going by Facebook memories.
I came close to subbing the guy in the final, managed to grab an Americana from bottom half and work my way out, it was cranked right over but the guy was able to move enough to prevent the sub, still allowed me to escape back to my feet though (think I picked up an advantage for the attempt). It's true what they say regarding learning in competitions - itching to get back on the mats now!!!
I came close to subbing the guy in the final, managed to grab an Americana from bottom half and work my way out, it was cranked right over but the guy was able to move enough to prevent the sub, still allowed me to escape back to my feet though (think I picked up an advantage for the attempt). It's true what they say regarding learning in competitions - itching to get back on the mats now!!!
Cheers BRR.
Evolve looks great (seen a couple of the video's / instructionals on Facebook). My coach wants me to push for blue belt in the next month or two - usual feelings of not being ready etc.! (incidentally he won gold in his purple category at the weekend, beast!)
Hope the bicep is repaired nicely, happened to a friend of mine, epic bruising.
Evolve looks great (seen a couple of the video's / instructionals on Facebook). My coach wants me to push for blue belt in the next month or two - usual feelings of not being ready etc.! (incidentally he won gold in his purple category at the weekend, beast!)
Hope the bicep is repaired nicely, happened to a friend of mine, epic bruising.
Hi Tony
We all do BJJ for different reasons. For me competing is just the cherry on the top - I'm never going to be world champion and when I lose in comps I have to remember why I keep training - learning BJJ, fitness, friends and self-defence, if not I end up getting quite down about it (although I am a competitive person by nature).
Let me know if you end up going to Manchester, as it stands I'll be there on my own anyway so be nice to catch up. I'm entering both Gi and No-Gi categories.
Pleased your lad is making progress, my daughter also entered the open, lost her first fight on points to the eventual gold medallist. Taking positives she pushed her all the way, gave her a hard time and didn't give up so I'm very proud of her.
We all do BJJ for different reasons. For me competing is just the cherry on the top - I'm never going to be world champion and when I lose in comps I have to remember why I keep training - learning BJJ, fitness, friends and self-defence, if not I end up getting quite down about it (although I am a competitive person by nature).
Let me know if you end up going to Manchester, as it stands I'll be there on my own anyway so be nice to catch up. I'm entering both Gi and No-Gi categories.
Pleased your lad is making progress, my daughter also entered the open, lost her first fight on points to the eventual gold medallist. Taking positives she pushed her all the way, gave her a hard time and didn't give up so I'm very proud of her.
I've been cross-training across two clubs recently, my original Gracie club and a MMA based club across town. Both have their relative advantages and disadvantages but I'm enjoying each for the time being. I don't think I'm too far off blue belt but in all honesty I'm happy to just carry on and let be what will be.
During July, August and September I'm away with work on four separate occasions, one week each time. Luckily there are BJJ clubs in each city offering classes every night so I should get in a lot of training!
Edit - Didn't end up competing in Manchester Tony, had a family thing to deal with last minute
During July, August and September I'm away with work on four separate occasions, one week each time. Luckily there are BJJ clubs in each city offering classes every night so I should get in a lot of training!
Edit - Didn't end up competing in Manchester Tony, had a family thing to deal with last minute
Here we are, a month and a half on aaaaaand.......still a white belt
I mentioned during my previous post that I had been cross-training with my original club and an MMA based club (visited by a BB every week). Sometime around the middle of June I had to make a decision regarding training and ultimately grading. After a lot of thinking I decided that I wanted to continue my grading under the BB and also attend his club out of town once a week, calling time on the Gracie club.
It's been going really well actually, good bunch of lads, training is challenging (which suits me) and I feel I'm progressing / developing in a much improved way. The only thing hampering me at the moment is bloody work and trips away! Although I find clubs wherever I am and its a great experience, it's not the same as your home club!
Just come back from Switzerland, learning De La Riva in German was....interesting but none the less good.
How you getting on Tony?!
I mentioned during my previous post that I had been cross-training with my original club and an MMA based club (visited by a BB every week). Sometime around the middle of June I had to make a decision regarding training and ultimately grading. After a lot of thinking I decided that I wanted to continue my grading under the BB and also attend his club out of town once a week, calling time on the Gracie club.
It's been going really well actually, good bunch of lads, training is challenging (which suits me) and I feel I'm progressing / developing in a much improved way. The only thing hampering me at the moment is bloody work and trips away! Although I find clubs wherever I am and its a great experience, it's not the same as your home club!
Just come back from Switzerland, learning De La Riva in German was....interesting
but none the less good. How you getting on Tony?!
Awesome! I'm friends with a lad who was Victors first Black Belt in the UK, he's an absolute beast!
Work and travelling has been a nightmare over the past few weeks but I've managed to keep training regardless. Firstly I was in Aberdeen for a week followed by Gran Canaria. Luckily I found clubs in both locations so got some good training in. Been working the lasso guard lately, its nice to add to my go to sweeps which have traditionally been scissor, flower or hip bump.
Should have a solid 3 weeks back in the UK then its out to China for a week. I'm really looking forward to that one actually as there is a club round the corner from the hotel I am staying at and I've been before so its nice and friendly, plus there are classes on every night - 5 days straight training with no family guilt!
One of the perks of rolling at other clubs is the ability to gauge yourself against other white belts. Purely for my own peace of mind I've noticed in the majority of cases rolls are going my way which reaffirms my own thoughts on where I am.
Keep plugging away mate, we all have periods feeling like our jits is getting worse! it will come together (probably closely followed by the worst day ever haha)
Work and travelling has been a nightmare over the past few weeks but I've managed to keep training regardless. Firstly I was in Aberdeen for a week followed by Gran Canaria. Luckily I found clubs in both locations so got some good training in. Been working the lasso guard lately, its nice to add to my go to sweeps which have traditionally been scissor, flower or hip bump.
Should have a solid 3 weeks back in the UK then its out to China for a week. I'm really looking forward to that one actually as there is a club round the corner from the hotel I am staying at and I've been before so its nice and friendly, plus there are classes on every night - 5 days straight training with no family guilt!
One of the perks of rolling at other clubs is the ability to gauge yourself against other white belts. Purely for my own peace of mind I've noticed in the majority of cases rolls are going my way which reaffirms my own thoughts on where I am.
Keep plugging away mate, we all have periods feeling like our jits is getting worse! it will come together (probably closely followed by the worst day ever haha)
Long overdue update!
Still a white belt, but I've only been training 18 months so that's no big deal!
Competed in Manchester last week (BJJ 24/7), took gold in my category with 2 fights, both point wins and nothing scored on me.
Still training hard, Nottingham is coming up in a week and a half so looking forward to that!
Still a white belt, but I've only been training 18 months so that's no big deal!
Competed in Manchester last week (BJJ 24/7), took gold in my category with 2 fights, both point wins and nothing scored on me.
Still training hard, Nottingham is coming up in a week and a half so looking forward to that!
Tony,
Completely forgot I'd updated this thread - yes I was at Nottingham although sadly not competing as I damaged my knee on the Wednesday before, coupled with a wisdom tooth extraction on the Thursday made it a no go for me.
My daughter competed and took silver in her category so proud dad moment and a number of the lads from my club were all competing as well.
Really pleased to hear you are sticking at it, is GB Nottingham your club?
For now I'll keep pushing on, blue will come when it comes, to be honest I'm quite happy to embrace white belt - no pressure what so ever!
Completely forgot I'd updated this thread - yes I was at Nottingham although sadly not competing as I damaged my knee on the Wednesday before, coupled with a wisdom tooth extraction on the Thursday made it a no go for me.
My daughter competed and took silver in her category so proud dad moment and a number of the lads from my club were all competing as well.
Really pleased to hear you are sticking at it, is GB Nottingham your club?
For now I'll keep pushing on, blue will come when it comes, to be honest I'm quite happy to embrace white belt - no pressure what so ever!
BRR said:
Hi Pete, congratulations on your win, you can't be far off earning that blue now you're winning decent level white belt comps
I'm still to compete in the Gi but managed to do a No-Gi comp last month where I was awful and won one, lost one
Had a great seminar with Ben Poppleton a couple of weeks ago, his level of knowledge makes me realise that even after 10+ years of training I still know next to nothing
Thanks BRR. I'm still to compete in the Gi but managed to do a No-Gi comp last month where I was awful and won one, lost one
Had a great seminar with Ben Poppleton a couple of weeks ago, his level of knowledge makes me realise that even after 10+ years of training I still know next to nothing
I follow Ben on Facebook, my instructor was part of that early group of adopters in the UK from 'oop north' and I know Ben often runs seminars at a club in Donny so I'll have to get to one of them at some point! (also quite fancy a holiday / training camp at his club abroad!)
Thanks for the DM Tony, read it last night and responded. I'm actually in the first 2 minutes of the video you sent coaching my daughter!
Competition is a completely different ball game from training I've found, but, those who have experienced it tend to have the edge during club rolling long-term.
I trained last night but in all honesty didn't feel very good at all. I need to up my cardio work so looks like I'll be putting my running trainers back on! Also changing gyms to one of my local clubs which has a matted area I can work on with a dummies in a morning
Competition is a completely different ball game from training I've found, but, those who have experienced it tend to have the edge during club rolling long-term.
I trained last night but in all honesty didn't feel very good at all. I need to up my cardio work so looks like I'll be putting my running trainers back on! Also changing gyms to one of my local clubs which has a matted area I can work on with a dummies in a morning
Pleased to say I was awarded by blue belt on Friday night from my instructor, I've felt it was coming for a while but even still I don't feel ready.
First night back on the mats yesterday feeling super vulnerable wearing a shiny new belt and lots of eager partners ready to go 100%, all good fun though! Only downside is that I think I broke my toe, bah.
The journey continues, long slog to purple!
First night back on the mats yesterday feeling super vulnerable wearing a shiny new belt and lots of eager partners ready to go 100%, all good fun though! Only downside is that I think I broke my toe, bah.
The journey continues, long slog to purple!
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