Quick BJJ help

[mpg9999]

This is kinda a stupid question and probably pointless, but here it goes anyways. Im going with my girlfriend to her BJJ class. I expect to get my butt kicked by the people actually in the class. My question is do you guys have any general tips or advice for me that will help me not get taken down so easily? I dont think any of these people are very experienced (its a club that meets like once a week during the school year), but still. Any help or advice is much appreciated. Thanks

-Mike

[eXcessiveForce]

the best way not to get taken down is not to roll.

Otherwise you are probably gonna get taken down often

[jules]

you start off in the kneeling position so you don't have to worry about being "taken down"...

[JaredExtreme]

Dude, if this is your first BJJ class, your going to have to learn things through trial and error. Depending on the class format, you might roll, and you will probably be submitted and made to look bad in front of your girlfriend. But that's how you get better, by learning what things work and what things don't work.

I would just advise to go in there with a friendly attitude so the rest of the class doesn't feel like they have to "break you in".

[mpg9999]

Originally posted by JaredExtreme
Dude, if this is your first BJJ class, your going to have to learn things through trial and error. Depending on the class format, you might roll, and you will probably be submitted and made to look bad in front of your girlfriend. But that's how you get better, by learning what things work and what things don't work.

I would just advise to go in there with a friendly attitude so the rest of the class doesn't feel like they have to "break you in".

Yeah, ill go in with a good attitude. It would be nice though to at least be able to put up a decent fight before being taken down or pinned or whatever it is. But yeah, thanks for the advice so far, anything else? You say not to roll, but to roll wouldnt you already be on the ground being pinned?

-Mike

[eXcessiveForce]

to roll is another way of saying ground fight.



Tips.

Stay off your stomach if at all possible. If they get on your back you are finished.

Tap when ever they get you, and tap quickly. there is nothing wrong with tapping out. And getting knocked out or injuried isn't why people train. Pride and not tapping will only get you hurt.

Accept that you don't know anything and that it's all a learning experience.

Try watching what others are doing and then mimick.

That's the best we can do for you i'm afraid.

[Mr. Miyagi]

I'd suggest to do things the bjj way as in try to get the take down rather than be on the bottom, try to pass the guard, don't go for leglocks, if you turtle don't give your back, etc. Every few weeks a newbie that's trained in other grappling shows up and relentlessly goes for lower body locks or keeps giving their back. I don't think that's a good way to improve in bjj.

If you have someone in your guard, don't just keep it closed and hold on for dear life. Try stuff, whatever sweep you learned that day, collar choke, and so on. If the opponent gets side control try to hip escape and get guard back. You're gonna get dominated by more experienced people and you'll learn quickly what not to do. It'll be really fun once you learn the basics. I've been training for 3 1/2 years and sparring with people in class has been really fun, even when I get destroyed.

By don't roll I think he meant don't spar. Meaning if you don't want to get taken down and tapped out, don't train.
Always tap if you get caught in something, especially quickly at the beginning. Once you've been training for a few months you will get a feel for whether it's possible to escape from a sub or not and can fight it longer. I've been put to sleep several times because I tried to escape a choke for too long.

Have fun.

[Guest]

Just relax and don't tense up. It is okay to lose. Concentrate on learning. Don't go full speed, full strength. You will last longer this way and be a better fighter years down the road.

[Mr. Heel Hook]

Originally posted by jules
you start off in the kneeling position so you don't have to worry about being "taken down"...

Exactly....

[jules]

off topic

MR.HH,
Could you please go to my first time with a Gi thread and give me some advice? I would appreciate it very much if you did.

[JaredExtreme]

Originally posted by jules
you start off in the kneeling position so you don't have to worry about being "taken down"...

I have a feeling Jules spends most of his day in a "kneeling position".

[falcon3624]

I am gonna go a little different with the advice here. Everyone is telling you what not to do and you probably don't get it. Fact of the matter is the only way you are going to get it is going down and rolling and getting your ass kicked for about a year.

The advice I am going to give is something that you should really do. Go to GNC or a supplement store and get something for joint support. Since you are not use to the pains associated with locks and hyperextensions and such you will be in a lot of pain after a few times. If you get the joint supplements in your body before you get to hurting then it will help with the pain in the joints and help to rebuild them faster when injured.

I have tried going without my supplements and I just hurt after getting put in a bar or anything but with the supplements I have little or no pain after training.

[Guest]

Save yourself some money on the GNC trip. Tap when people arm bar you.

[jules]

LOL

[falcon3624]

Alot of times it can't be helped unless you tap before the armbar is on. Anytime someone gets the bar on you and you wait til you feel pressure you have already hyperextended the arm to a certain extent.

If you go roll and get put in a move and don't hurt somewhere down the line either you are rolling with a bunch of wussies or someone is not doing the moves right. The whole point of getting a submission is to make the other person feel just enough pain to make them tap. Like it or not there is going to be pain in BJJ and me and everyone I know from our class takes joint supplements but if you want to be in pain that is your choice and it won't bother me.