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Originally Posted by sapatiero I think you're right - the BJJ classes should be pretty injury free PROVIDED there's no idiots around. The better BJJ students don't always spar like a tourney, they are relaxed, and never crank anything on.
Also, pure BJJ clubs tend to have a more relaxed style than BJJ/MMA clubs as wrestlers/MMA and even judo guys often have a more aggressive attitude towards grappling. Not a problem IF they know what they're doing. I'm lucky in that I train in a club where there's a good relaxed bunch of guys. We've told the odd idiot that it's not for him, and we've taught the beginners to try to relax and flow through the moves.
I think the main culprit is ego. You show me a guy who wants to prove he's the greatest, and I'll show you a guy that'll cause injuries, and never learn as fast as the others. If I'm trying to focus on my armbar escapes, then I let guys armbar me - how else can we learn....
I'd say to give BJJ a go, but go to a few classes & watch how frantic the grappling is before deciding.
Hope this helps! |
Excellent advice and observations. When I moved a few years ago I had to find a BJJ school. Before I studied informally with friends who were into martial arts (this is when there were no real BJJ schools). I tried out a few MMA oriented schools and felt like they were too aggressive and dangerous. I felt like I was in a real fight every time I went to class. Unless you like injuries, that's no way to learn BJJ and it gets very old very fast. I had great success at a school known more for sport BJJ. The gi slows down the grappling and makes it technical. Although, I have to say that I learned more from books, tapes, and passed around knowledge practicing with friends than I've learned at any school. BJJ is a MA that can be learned rather well if you have a friend who is willing to practice it with you in a methodical way.
I wish that BJJ schools would not even allow newbies to grapple. In most striking arts you have to get to something like a green belt level before you're allowed to spar. I imagine this is to avoid the tense, frantic sparring that newbies engage in that causes injuries. I think that learning basics through technique practice and then DRILLS would be more effective for beginners. Then, they would start to relax and not endanger themselves and others. Of course I've known some experienced guys who are too serious about class. It's all in the people.