For your first five or six classes, try to partner up with someone who is a purple or blue belt. Sparring against a white belt will be hard, because they are used to being in inferior positions and tapping all the time. They'll probably go all out, in an effort to be dominant for once. As for the more advanced guys, they will quickly recognize that you're a beginner, and let you experience different positions without trying to pretzel you. In sparring relax, and give the other guy a "good game", but after you tap, ask some questions: "How do I escape from that position?" is a good one.
The first few months of sparring are crucial because this is when you learn through your mistakes. You quickly learn where your arms and neck are exposed, and when they are safe. You learn a lot about position and base. It's tough, but this is the way you get skilled.
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"It was about that time I realized that searching was my symbol, the emblem of those who go out at night with nothing in mind, the motives of a destroyer of compasses." -Cortázar |