I'm getting my ass kicked...

[JkD187]

I agree with you guys that the first thing I have to do is study the basics. I am finding that I am occasionally managing to get in what feel like dominant positions, by sheer luck mostly, but then I don't know what to do...I don't have any knowledge of the techniques used to finish so I end up getting exhausted, they over power me and I'm done. It's kind of frustrating...my instructor tells me that it will come with time but we only learn and practice two moves a class and I'm months or years behind everyone else...that's a lot of goddamn classes before I can even be remotely competitive with anyone.

I need to bring in some new guys

Getting your but handed to you will only make you better brother....you should try and spar some of your buddies outside of the gym....just to keep your spirits high! ....o and on the gene simco book....ive read it and its somewhat good...it comes with a dvd thats good too.If you train with the gi its a pretty good book but there are other ones way beter.....i think amazon has overnight shipping so you can get the book(s) in like a day or two.

[aseepish]

I also recommend Renzo's book, the grapplearts website, and Roy Harris' site. There is a TON of good information on those sites.

Something else to consider - when you're just starting out in BJJ you spend a lot of time on the bottom - either mounted, back mounted, under someone's side-control, or knee-on-belly. When you don't have a lot of technical ability, you tend to struggle and waste strength. Also, because there is frequently a lot of pressure on your chest, your breathing becomes much more laboured.

So when you are on the bottom, pay extra attention to keeping your breathing slow and measured. Relax.

Don't worry - six months from now there will be a number of new people with less experience than you that you will be able to dominate.

[cronin]

I need to bring in some new guys

Hang in there... coming from someone fairly new to bjj as well, I'm right there with you (and I'm sure there's some white belt support group out there too ) I can tell you what I've been told and read elsewhere on the Web: you'll progressing and you won't even know it because the guys you are rollling with are progressing as well, so, obviously it's going to be a challenge for you to catch up. But you'll get there, not to worry. I'm just happy I'm at a point where I'm not tapping as much anymore.

As mentioned before, possibly the only confirmation is when newbies come in-- and then you sweep, mount and sub them like they were stuffed animals. The most important advice someone gave me is to relax, breathe and to keep an open mind.

The cardio and conditioning will come with consistent training--your body will adapt. Outside of bjj I train anaerobic stuff-bodyweight excercises, sprints, mountain climbers and burpees. Ross Enamait's site has great workouts for boxers and grapplers alike and Wayne Fisher's site has a number of great bodyweight stuff.

http://www.rossboxing.com/thegym.html

http://www.trainforstrength.com/exercises.shtml

Moderate 2-3 miles runs a few times a week for a good cardio base as well.
Good luck.

[bOoRadley]

LOL @ "sub them like they were stuffed animals"

I was trying to find a way to describe to my girlfriend how useless I am when I spar and you my friend hit the nail on the head. They toss me around like I'm a stuffed animal! And aseepish is also exactly right on the money about what usually happens to me, we begin and I hang on fairly well for a bit and then they get on top of me, I flail and struggle like a fish out of water until I'm completely exhausted and then they pull some crazy move outta their ass and I'm tapping out and gasping for air, sometimes I have to tap out for no reason other than they have all their weight on my chest (at least it feels that way) and I cant catch my breath...it's either tap out or go towards the light!

Seriously though, it's good to hear that it happens to most newbies...it's funny, the people at the club I go to are nice enough but just a little standoffish. Almost like they see so many people quit after a few classes that they don't really want to get to know you until they see you're going to stick around. I can understand that.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

Bear crawls are done exactly like the other guy described in the last page. The thing you must remember is that you should go full speed when doing bear crawls and that you should try going for a pretty good distance. Good luck and happy grappling. Also, don't despair when you think you've hit a training plateau. Just about everyone does. You don't really start feeling yourself getting good until your third year of wrestling.