Beginner tips while rolling?

[CoN]

Let me just start off by saying that at the moment I am learning basic grappling techniques by myself with a friend that is also new. Currently we are saving up to join a bjj school but the costs of attending a academy in new york city is very pricey so it wont be a a solid 4-5 months before either of us has money to sign up. So basically we're self taught. We are only learning very basic techniques that are easily to learn/set up as well as basic positions and different types of guards.

Recently, my partner and I have begun positioning sparring but we've come across many problems. One major problem is we're using a lot of strength and trying to power out of everything and we get tired after a few rounds. We are still learning some basic escapes and am working on bridge work. Another major problem we have is scrambling. We scramble for position every time we roll and it does not look smooth at all. This is another area where we're using way too much strength. Our sweeps are not that bad but I feel that would not work against someone with a solid base.

In short, both of us run out of gas fairly quickly but we are currently working on becoming more technical before we join a bjj gym. Is there some very general tips that anyone could point out to us? Some videos would be helpful as well if anyone could link them. I understand its not recommended to learn techniques on your on as you could potentially make mistakes and learn them incorrectly. Thats why we're looking towards very basic stuff that is easy to learn. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Well first things first you gotta relax. Pick and choose what times you want to explode. When you're scrambling you should be moving quick but you shouldn't be tense. Lastly, realize when your position or submission has been lost so you don't waste time fighting for something that you're losing anyways.

[seany85]

Good advice there Mike, I have been thinking of late to try some sort of ground art to go with Muay Thai. I'll keep this in mind.
thanks.

[Shard]

BJJ Philosophy 101: Position before Submission

Its the most basic lesson you will ever learn.
Its the most important lesson you will ever learn.
It is the most difficult lesson to learn. I'm still learning it.

Every move you make, ask yourself, am i maintaining my position? Am I giving putting my position above all else?

[James137]

The only time you should be on the ground is if you're unconcscious or if your legs just got kicked out from under you. Just kidding. Can you tell I practice Muay Thai?

Seriously though, as to what a previous poster said, get comfortable being uncomfortable...for sure...but never let your opponent see that. Don't show your hand. If something's frustrating you or getting a rise out of you, mask that. Otherwise they know how to push your buttons...and you'll no longer be cold and calculating, you'll be angry and sloppy and reckless...no good at all. Hope that helps (though I doubt it does! Never wrestled in my life!).

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by James137

The only time you should be on the ground is if you're unconcscious or if your legs just got kicked out from under you. Just kidding. Can you tell I practice Muay Thai?

Seriously though, as to what a previous poster said, get comfortable being uncomfortable...for sure...but never let your opponent see that. Don't show your hand. If something's frustrating you or getting a rise out of you, mask that. Otherwise they know how to push your buttons...and you'll no longer be cold and calculating, you'll be angry and sloppy and reckless...no good at all. Hope that helps (though I doubt it does! Never wrestled in my life!).

Grappling is a good thing, James - even a basic working knowledge of it. Cold and calculating? The thread is about grappling, my friend.

Since certain posters have a fixation of name dropping, I'm only going to mention that I've trained in brazillian jiujitsu and freestyle wrestling for a short time and the biggest lesson I learned was to relax.

[DonKey]

Plenty of good advice here. Remember to breathe, relax and ask questions of the other students. If you tap out without learning anything all that sweat and energy was wasted.

If you can find someone more experienced it'll help a lot, fastest way to get better is by getting your ass kicked lol.

[CoN]

Thank you for the relies everyone. Some really good stuff here, especially the PRESS information. I did not realize that much time needed to be put into just positions alone and its something I've definitely overlook. I guess the most logical thing to do is get comfortable in certain situations and positions as most of you have suggested. I've heard that repetition is very important especially in grappling schools. Would you recommend some positional drills as a way to get comfortable? What I mean of course is transitioning from lets say side control to mount and over and over.

[DonKey]

I know it's been mentioned but try starting in the mount and transitioning to guard, then halfguard, side control, mount over and over. see how long you can keep that up when the other guy is trying to maintain his positions.

There will be predictability because he knows what you're going to do but that should be a little motivation to try new ideas.

[DJColdfusion]

I think the MACP program is a fantastic starting point for someone new to grappling and I would definitely back Mike up on recommending you check out the information available online . . . there's a ton of free stuff that is really worth the effort it will take to dig it up.

For me, as a coach, I try to focus every session, or atleast every series of sessions that cover related material on the following:

1. Posture
2. Position
3. Escape from submission
4. Escape from position
5. Transitions (guard passes, sweeps, reversals, etc.)
6. Submissions

#1 being easily the most important and #6 being the least important in a students development.

So many grapplers would be amazed at how fast their game improved if they just paid attention to #1 and #2. Everybody is so concerned with #6 that they don't focus on their foundation.

They may develop a couple of absolutely amazing submissions or a really cool guard pass but what happens when they screw up?

By paying attention to the above model in the order listed you will develop a solid game.

Pay attention to your posture. Work your escapes from submissions at least as much as you do your submissions . . . even if submissions are a hell of a lot more fun.

Work on your hip movement, shrimping, in all of its variations. Practice your upa/bridge religiously and combine your shrimping and bridging together. Shrimping is the foundation for so much of Jiu-Jitsu's offensive and defensive arsenal . . . treat it like gold. Bridging is right up there with shrimping and when you combine the two you will be amazed at how much you can do.

Transitions are important and acan be a ton of fun but make sure you have someplace to go if your transition goes bad.

Submissions are the meat and potatos of Jiu-Jitsu, the "good stuff" or at least the fun stuff. However, submissions are also the top of the Jiu-Jitsu pyramid. You need a strong foundation in place before you attempt to finish your pyramid or else the entire thing is going to crumble.

Well, that was way more than I wanted to say . . . sorry. Listen to Mike, check out the MACP stuff. Practice all you can and pay attention to the development of your Jiu-Jitsu foundation.

Thanks, I'll go to bed now.

[KickNit]

Good stuff! I really like the PRESS formula. Thanks Mike.

[DJColdfusion]

I appreciate the comments Mike.

When I look at the #1 reason why guys get submitted, swept, or reversed it is almost always a posture issue. PErhaps posture isn't the only issue but it is always one of the bigger issues.

Additionally, a ton of guys have trouble getting around when they are working an armbar from the bottom. They just can't get the angle . . . the problem? Posture.

You are always getting your guard passed and your posture is fine . . . so what's the deal? HAve you tried messing with your opponent's posture?

You know the steps of the scissor sweep and practice them religiously . . . why doesn't it work? Are you keeping your opponent's head down and extending them so that their shoulders are in front of their knees . . . in bad posture?

HOWEVER, you can't shove the importance of posture down the throat of a beginner because they will never get past being a beginner. Posture is boring, beginners want to learn how bend, fold, and mutilate their opponent's . . . posture is something they pay attention to when they start to get good.

Now that I've said that . . . THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO TO CREATE A SUPERIOR GRAPPLING/JIU-JITSU GAME IS TO LEARN TO LOVE JIU-JITSU AND TRAIN JUST BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT! Then everything else will fall into place . . . eventually.