BJJ experience?

[greenfrog]

Just wondering, in BJJ the belts usually take several years each to attain. Is this because theres a TON of stuff to learn(ex: kung fu) OR is it just a matter of being able to efficiently use and perfect basics(ex: Muay Thai)?

[Hermosa]

Originally Posted by greenfrog

Just wondering, in BJJ the belts usually take several years each to attain. Is this because theres a TON of stuff to learn(ex: kung fu) OR is it just a matter of being able to efficiently use and perfect basics(ex: Muay Thai)?

BOTH! Muay Thai hardly has any techniques to learn..you just leg kick the bag 500 times. But you get really good at using the few simple things you do learn because you are sparring from day 1 and that is good.

Kung Fu has thousands of techniques to master, but you never spar..at least not realistically.

In BJJ ..not only do you have to know ALOT of stuff..but you've got to be able to use all of it. How do you become a bluebelt..hang on the mat grappling with other bluebelts. If you can hang in 6 months..good for you, here's your belt. If it takes 2 years..so be it. No Freebies.

In BJJ nobody wants to get their belt early. Most of the time guys are ready for promotion LONG before they actually do get promoted because a new belt can be very heavy. It puts a target on your back. Now every bluebelt is gunning to beat the new purplebelt. It's a serious responsibility.

[greenfrog]

Thanks Hermosa! Thats what I figured.....reason I asked is I had just found a BJJ school near me....instructor got his brown belt from renzo himself and theres 10 hours of classes per week for $80 per MONTH!(6 hours is BJJ the other 4 is crosstraining) and then open mat on sat and was excited about finally being able to train so frequently at an affordable price. The next day at work I got promoted but have to move to second shift so I cant go to these classes and was REALLY dissapointed, but I negotiated 6 hours of private lessons for $200/month. I will still get as much practice as possible with others on the open mat days but I wonder if this will be a slow route to learning? What do you guys think about this? Do you think private instruction(of 1 1/2 hours per week) will be as decent as 6 hours of group instruction?
well there goes half my raise just because of the hourly switch! haha....

Thanks

[Ahoym8e]

Privates are good.

They don't replace mat time though. Do all the drills a lot, and spend lots of time at the open mat days.

just my too sents...

[Uber_Tap]

The private lessons will actually probably help you gain more solid technique since your instructor will just be focused you and correcting you mistakes. Ahoym8e is right though, mat time is where its at so get as much mat time with as many people as possible. You should be able to progress as fast as everyone else so long as you stay focused on adding the new skills you learn to your game. When you roll on open mat days try the new stuff even if it means you have to tap sometimes. It's better to tap to good opponents in training while you are trying new stuff than it is to beat so-so guys with the same technique because it's the only thing you have in your game.