I'm getting my ass kicked...

[bOoRadley]

I'm new to BJJ, it's my first week actually, and it is the most difficult physically demanding, challenging thing I have ever done. The club I'm at mixes all skill levels in the same class. The idea being that the beginners will learn from working with the experienced. The problem is that I'm the only beginner! So for about 2 hours 4 nights a week I get flipped around like a pancake, squeezed, choked and twisted like a pretzel! I have bruises all over the backs of my arms, no skin on my knees & elbows and new knowledge of what a another mans armpit tastes like. At the end of a class I am so exhausted that I almost have to crawl to the change room. I've come close to puking on more than one classmate.

I am out of shape, slightly overweight, ex smoker, not a lot of previous physical activity so I expected that it was going to be tough for me. Before I handed over my money one of the instructors warned me that many people do one class and never come back and some walk after the warm up so I guess not doing that bad.

My question to you guys is this; what exercises would you recommend I do on my own to get in shape quickly, and is there any literature you could recommend that would help me learn some of the moves before hand? Any books, websites, magazines. I know that practice is the only way to really learn but the way I see it trying to learn some stuff out of a book couldnt hurt. I suck.

By the way, I friggen love it.

[shamster]

I was the same way. Not completely out of shape when I first started (about a year ago), but I am not a big strong guy and have no fighting or grappling experience. To this day, I still get my ass handed to me consistently since a lot of peoeple in my class are either ranked higher, are a lot bigger and stronger, or both in some cases.
Just stick with it, and give yourself some rest. 4 times a week is good, and you'll definitely progress pretty quickly if you can keep up with that (I only go twice a week, and haven't been consistent over the past year, so it's taking me longer to get past the white belt level compared to some others). Anyhow, you may want to consider taking it slower at the beginning. At least, don't train hard on consecutive days until you build up more stamina and get used to things. The last thing you want to do is burn out or risk injury.
Other than that, definitely stretch as much as you can when you're home and do your shrimping drills too. Jogging is always a great way to build up the cardio too.

[bOoRadley]

I am thinking the same thing about taking it slow, but I'll feel like a pussy if I have to miss a class because I'm too sore. But christ am I sore! I don't even know how I'll get through class tonight if I go.

[Jiu Jitsu Monk]

Great advice from Shamster. I have been doing BJJ for 3 years and have been training full time (5 hours a day 6 days a week for the last 6 months). I get my arse kicked every lesson. I get out of breath every lesson. You will get used to it. As you progress you will start to be the one lkicking ass. But you will still always get it kicked.

Cut back a bit till your body adapts. Start jogging, I found this makes more difference than any other form of exercise. And learn to like losing. The fastest way to learn is by being tapped out. It may seem touch at the moment. But each time you get tapped. Figure out what your partner did to tap you and learn to defend it. At the moment, if you don't get tapped or you get tapped less, you have won.

For some extra techniiques, learn the basics and learn them well. I found the Gracie Jiu Jistu Basics Video great. It's not full of fancy stuff but it will help you survive and will help you get the basics down. Go to www.gracieacademy.com

Hang in there. It is worth it

[Jiu Jitsu Monk]

I am thinking the same thing about taking it slow, but I'll feel like a pussy if I have to miss a class because I'm too sore. But christ am I sore! I don't even know how I'll get through class tonight if I go.

If it helps. I read an artical recently that said a hard BJJ training session is more than the equivalant of a hard body building session in a gym. Give yourself a chance dude.

If you over do it now and end up with an injury you'll stop going for sure.

Take it in smaller bites. You wouldn't eat an Elephant all in one sitting!

[kuk sool won]

I would say definately NOT do anymore than you are now, if you can't keep up in ur classes now, what will you be like after doing extra exercise on top!? Get plenty of sleep, eat healthy (hard but incredibly important, you can feel the difference very soon) and drink plenty of water!!!! It isn't always about doing the exercises.

[bOoRadley]

I get my arse kicked every lesson. I get out of breath every lesson. You will get used to it.

That's the worst part, getting out of breath! I can deal with the getting my ass whipped and having to submit 10 times in 3 minutes but I get winded and I cant catch my breath and feel like I'm about to puke!

[shamster]

Like any form of physical activity, you'll build up stamina the more you do it. Last month, I was starting to get back into training twice a week. Prior to that, I was busy with work and other things so I wasn't training much at all. I was only able to handle about 2 5 minute sparring rounds. I remember one of those days, I was so tired that while rolling with a relative beginner, I was able to sink my hands into his collar for a choke a couple times, but I was so out of energy that I couldn't even pull hard enough to get the submission. And after class, I barely had enough strength to stand and walk.
Now, a month later, I feel like I'm back in the game. Last night, I rolled with 4 guys for about 20 minutes with little rest in between, and I still felt great after I was done.

Just keep at it and you'll see your stamina go up soon enough.

[EmptyneSs]

all u need to do is pushups, situps, and weightless squats in high reps. even just these 3 basic exercises when done at a decent pace in high reps will get u in good shape and build your endurance.

running is great too.

[Tom Yum]

1. Stop smoking.

Maybe cold turkey is too hard for you, but gradually cut down.

2. Run regularly. Mix it up. Spend a few weeks training for distance (stamina). Once you are able to complete a run of a certain distance, cut it back to one mile and start working on intensity. (8:00 mile --> 7:00 mile --> 6:00 mile). Then add more distance at that intensity.

3. Do other workouts. Make them fun, not just weight training. Do sprints in the sand if you have a shoreline. Then do hops, drop and do as many pushups as you can, get up do as many pullups as you can, sprint again then try some situps. Obstacle courses are fun.

[danfaggella]

If you genuinely have a passion for it, then you can suppliment yourself by practicing martial arts out of classes. Get some books, start understanding principle and technique and even a bit of history. I have been doing this all scemester and I've read so many books on boxing/wrestling/judo/ect... that I really have a more open mind and can seize opportunities to strike or submit or take down that I may have never seen.

[OmaPlata]

The best thing like Monk said is to run or jog, this will build your endurance. and in class be defensive, get guys in your guard and hold them there

[Tom Yum]

The best thing like Monk said is to run or jog, this will build your endurance. and in class be defensive, get guys in your guard and hold them there

What kind of running though?

Should you be able to run atleast 5 miles or rather cover half a mile in under 2 minutes?

I'd say both. What kind of running routine do you use?

[Jiu Jitsu Monk]

What kind of running though?

Should you be able to run atleast 5 miles or rather cover half a mile in under 2 minutes?

I'd say both. What kind of running routine do you use?

I tend to do three mile runs as quick as possible some days. That gives me cardio fitness and stamina. Then on alternate days I jog slower for up to 30 minutes. Whilst jogging I will then stop and do triangle sit up's, bridges etc BJJ specific stuff to pick the intensity up from time to time. This is for longer fights where I need to fight steady with bursts of activity. Recently I have started doing no-weight squats every day before running. This has stopped my lower back aching, given me more staminar in my legs and warms my joints up well.

[bOoRadley]

I did quit smoking some time ago but I am definitely still suffering the effects of it. I pity anyone who cant give it up sucking that tobacco dick, it really takes it's toll on your body. I know I'll bounce back, every day that goes by I can feel my lungs clearing and my energy increasing.

I appreciate the advice and I plan to use it...I am so sore today that I can't lift my arms above my head and I can barely walk up or down a flight of stairs. It would be foolish for me to go tonight just because of my dumbass ego. I really enjoy what I'm learning and I don't want to screw it up by trying to do too much and injuring myself. For a guy who has been as sedentary as I have been for the past few years it's going to have to be done in small steps. Two weeks ago I wouldn't have believed I could push myself as hard as I have.

I'm just going to keep giving it my all in class but cut it back to 2 a week until I get a little more fit, maybe add some jogging to my weekly routine and try to read as much as I can about BJJ.