Tips on starting out?

[Jeremey]

I am going to be starting BJJ soon. I visited the local place last week and watched a class, and it was pretty awesome. I have some karate experience, but this was obviously totally different, everything seemed much more realistic and practical. I was told I would most likely do some light "rolling" (is that the BJJ term for sparring?) on my first class, most likely with someone else who was relatively new.

I have never done any wrestling, or judo, or ground fighting, so I'm kind of clueless and nervous about rolling. At least with karate sparring even if you're relatively inexperienced you know kind of what to do - punch and kick. So any suggestions or recommendations for the first few times rolling would be appreciated. I assume I shouldn't worry about trying submissions or tapping the other person, but focus more on getting good positioning?

Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!

[GrdStorm]

being a beginner sucks. Let me give you some pointers if you've never done any grappling.

1. Tell whoever you roll with that you are a beginner so they dont crush u and possibly injure you. This also means you should not be going crazy on the guy you are rolling with. He might get pissed off and crank an armbar on you (bad news, my elbow still hurts from 3 weeks ago).

2. Ask the instructor for permission to roll even if he doesnt think your ready. Theres nothing more fun than rolling man, thats why bjj is the greatest.

3. Try to keep top position. Your opponent is always going to look to get you off balance. Also don't keep your arms and legs out so that your opponent can easily grab and make it "theirs"

4. If you get into guard, don't let him get posture, since you don't know how to defend him from opening and passing, the best is if he gets posture, grab him and pull him down or sit up.

5. Have fun dude. Your probably going to get tapped, its the inevitable but its all good, its all apart of the bjj experience my friend.

[TylerDurden]

While those tips about keeping position etc are good you will forget it all when you hit the ground. Light rolling is sparring but not at full force.

Just remember, you are going to tap, just accept it its part of learning. Take it easy, stay relaxed and listen to what you are told.

[billzbjj]

I only just started too - my tips are....

Try and save your energy or you'll burn out very quickly;
Guard your neck with your arms so that your opponetn does not choke you with your collar;
Try to get your legs round your opponent rather than viceversa,
Don't offer him a straight arm or he weill get an armbar
You will oprobably not get a submission to start with - just try and learn thet basics. Also try and learn from your opponent.

Originally Posted by Jeremey

I am going to be starting BJJ soon. I visited the local place last week and watched a class, and it was pretty awesome. I have some karate experience, but this was obviously totally different, everything seemed much more realistic and practical. I was told I would most likely do some light "rolling" (is that the BJJ term for sparring?) on my first class, most likely with someone else who was relatively new.

I have never done any wrestling, or judo, or ground fighting, so I'm kind of clueless and nervous about rolling. At least with karate sparring even if you're relatively inexperienced you know kind of what to do - punch and kick. So any suggestions or recommendations for the first few times rolling would be appreciated. I assume I shouldn't worry about trying submissions or tapping the other person, but focus more on getting good positioning?

Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!

[gregimotis]

Summing up the previous posts....

leave your ego at home
Bring your sense of humour
have a blast losing.



Here's another one; Get ready to be sore!

[Serrada]

The first month sucks as a beginner. Just try to met a new person every class, remember there name. After a month you'll know people and be more confortable.

First Listen to the instructor rather than the students. Most beginners think their already black belts.

Next go with the flow. Relax and don't tense up. Try not to get frustrated everyone does. Even the experianced. Once you've be there a year you'll still have some jackass that spent his life wrestling in school and he'll tool you. Dont let that upset you it happens to the best.

Most important Write everything down after class whatever makes you learn it. Try to practice it alone on your own. B/c the next class your going to practice before class starts with other beginners and they are going to ask you do practice what you learned. You will progress 1000% FASTER with the notes everyone eventually does it and they all wish they started from the beginning. Try to include the instructors points.

Good luck.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

All the other guys covered everything pretty well but are missing a few things.
1)When you get taken down, DON'T TURN TO YOUR STOMACH. DON'T TURN TO YOUR STOMACH. Try to keep your back to the ground at all times and get your legs around the guy. If you turn to your stomach, he will put the sleeper hold on you and it'll be over.
2)Don't be stiff. Loosen your body. A stiff body will only aid in their unbalancing you.
3)Try not to power your way through. Forcing a move on with your strength is a very bad thing. It will destroy your technique and it won't work on stronger fellows.
4)Always tap when you feel you can't get out. Don't let pride get the best of you.

[JaredExtreme]

Make sure you tap out if you are about to go unconcious. If someone armbars you, don't be a hero and wait until you start hearing popping sounds, tap out.

The way you learn in BJJ is by making mistakes.

[TylerDurden]

Very good point about the armbars. As one of my instructors said, "Arms break kind of all at once." When you feel pain it might be too late. If you are armbarred and your opponent is extending it out, just tap and start again. It's only training. Better to work on avoiding that position than trying to be a tough guy.

[Uber_Tap]

I have only 2 things to add.

First, Leg locks suck, tap quickly. A lot of instuctors don't like their guys to use leg locks in training so it may not be a problem for you, but if your's does then don't be a hero because knee bars and the like can cause serious damage. Worst of the worst is probably the heel hook, it puts tremendous pressure on you knee. The legs are so strong that by the time you go from pressure to pain you will probably end up seeing a doctor about screwing ligaments back to your knee.

Second, don't miss class. I have had to miss weeks at a time over the last 5 months for different reasons and you can't imagine how much you lose, it's like no other sport. You will obviously still know the submissions and counters, but your feel for the game will be way off. Worst of all is that the conditioning you have aquired goes away in no time and you will feel like it's the first time in class all over again.

[Pornstar]

you'll never remember any of that crap, you'll go all out raging psychopath like every beginner does, then you'll tap like a type writer like every beginner does, enjoy!

[TylerDurden]

Heh, good point. Do yourself a favor and don't try to crush people, all you do is piss the blue belts off and they will start making things hurt more. Take it easy until you know a little.

[Jeremey]

Well I'm going in for my first class tomorrow morning! I'll report back and let you know how it went!

[Pornstar]

Originally Posted by Jeremey

Well I'm going in for my first class tomorrow morning! I'll report back and let you know how it went!

i love you man, godspeed, via con dios, the power of christ compels you, gettem' big tiger. it's kinda like seeing off my boy on his first day of kindergarten, " i promised myself i wouldn't crymmmmmmmph, aaaaahhh" that was close. kiddin bro, good luck.