Brazilian Jiu Jitsu thread

[bromley]

Decided to not use the acronym to avoid the hilarious comments.

To get the ball rolling, how long have you been training for and what belt are you?

I started in June 16 and I'm a blue belt (no stripes)

I've entered 6 competitions (135lbs once (one at blue), light feather thrice (one at blue) and feather once) and have one gold and three bronzes for my hard work.

 

[joustmaster]

I've been doing it for a few months. With a break in the middle when the Mrs had the baby.

I am at the stage where its all about trying to survive but failing, and ending up running out of energy whilst using no technique to prise someone off me.

Its a lot of fun though.

 

[iona]

Started in spring 2014, competed lots, didn't compete or train at all in 2016 coz of life stuff, been back training on & off since early 2017. Just getting back into it now and planning to start competing again by summer. Might end up fighting you bromley if you're adult, I'm light feather too.

Got the third stripe on my blue belt the other week.

Did my first comp after about ten classes and my first at blue belt two or three days after getting it, so no expectations either time. I'm waaay more nervous now after that time off It'll be my first time fighting male divisions too so no pressure...

 

[Jon-of-arc]

I quite want to do this. It's a fairly practical martial art, isn't it? As in it will teach you how to handle yourself in a real situation where you need to defend yourself? That, and better fitness, are what appeal to me about it.

 

[joustmaster]

Any tips for someone fairly new? Other than keep turning up?

 

[DexterTCN]

Any tips for someone fairly new? Other than keep turning up?

Watch chewjitsu's videos on youtube, maybe?

 

[joustmaster]

I quite want to do this. It's a fairly practical martial art, isn't it? As in it will teach you how to handle yourself in a real situation where you need to defend yourself? That, and better fitness, are what appeal to me about it.

Theres no striking/punching/kicking or anything like that. Just grappling.

If you are the sort of person who doesn't mind being strangled by someones legs with a sweaty crotch in your face for an hour or two, then yeah, its ace!

The main three reasons I've seen people sack it off in my short experience is -
Too hard
Too claustrophobic/frightening
Don't like "losing"

 

[iona]

I quite want to do this. It's a fairly practical martial art, isn't it? As in it will teach you how to handle yourself in a real situation where you need to defend yourself? That, and better fitness, are what appeal to me about it.

It'll definitely get you fitter. There's some sport jiu jitsu stuff that's more use for scoring points under a ruleset and wouldn't be that helpful IRL but it's generally useful for self defence. Varies between gyms too—where I train atm the fundamentals classes are much more self-defence based.

 

[gawkrodger]

Been training since 2007 (muay thai and MMA prior). Teach, compete and train

 

[joustmaster]

Been training since 2007 (muay thai and MMA prior). Teach, compete and train

Cool.
Do you find bjj environment and group to be very different to muay thai and mma?

 

[iona]

Any tips for someone fairly new? Other than keep turning up?

Keep turning up

Don't stress about remembering everything—taking even one move or detail away from a class and putting it into practice when you roll is great.

Concepts like posturing up, keeping your elbows close, fighting for underhoooks, keeping points of contact in open guard, not being flat on your back etc. are at least as helpful as the technical details of a specific technique.

Some people like watching videos; I generally get more out of five minutes drilling stuff in my head than I would spending five minutes trying to focus on youtube. Work out how you learn best.

 

[iona]

We need an urban open mat

 

[bromley]

We need an urban open mat

Hell yeah! We have an 9am Saturday morning open mat which probably isn't ideal, I'm willing to travel within London.

Been training since 2007 (muay thai and MMA prior). Teach, compete and train

Black belt?

 

[Virtual Blue]

started freestyle wrestling in 2007 and went into BJJ after 12 months.
stopped in 2011.
started again in 2016.

since coming back, the game has changed so much.
it's why i'm studying leg locks...

i help out at the club but don't like coaching.

 

[iona]

Hell yeah! We have an 9am Saturday morning open mat which probably isn't ideal, I'm willing to travel within London.

I'm not in London and not volunteering to organise anything but I'll turn up wherever if anyone else can be arsed

 

[bromley]

Any tips for someone fairly new? Other than keep turning up?

Don't give up.

You're going to be shit for a good 6 months or so and it will be hard to see progress as others are improving as well. It won't be until you spar with a complete n00b after months of training that you'll realise how good you are.

Chew Jitsu is good as there is a load of mental difficulties when you first start training, then more after you get a belt promotion! Don't compare yourself to others, learn from mistakes, don't be a cunt on the mat unless they deserve it, try to use technique over strength when sparing with a smaller person, unless they're a higher belt! Be respectful, enjoy the ride and don't take it too seriously.

Started in spring 2014, competed lots, didn't compete or train at all in 2016 coz of life stuff, been back training on & off since early 2017. Just getting back into it now and planning to start competing again by summer. Might end up fighting you bromley if you're adult, I'm light feather too.

Got the third stripe on my blue belt the other week.

Did my first comp after about ten classes and my first at blue belt two or three days after getting it, so no expectations either time. I'm waaay more nervous now after that time off It'll be my first time fighting male divisions too so no pressure...

I'm master 1, although maybe 2 this year, could be next year. It's hard to find midgets so usually get moved to adults. In my last comp I fought in the adults against kids who had been training for a long time and toe holds and knee bars were legal! I've asked to go up a weight class in my next comp (Kleos) rather than down an age group!

 

[iona]

since coming back, the game has changed so much.
it's why i'm studying leg locks...

My club's just started allowing leg locks at any belt in no gi classes (previous gym was less strict!), feels like they're gonna be a lot of fun

 

[Virtual Blue]

My club's just started allowing leg locks at any belt in no gi classes (previous gym was less strict!), feels like they're gonna be a lot of fun

It's a whole new world!
I'm quite hard to sub...can see most feints/ feel what's coming but with legs, I'm lost.
I have fairly junior rollers subbing me (this I don't mind btw).

Been watching Leglocks, Enter the System - John Danaher.
Probably the most useful instructional I've studied for a while.
You seen?

 

[bromley]

I haven't been training no gi for long, haven't competed in it either! So leg locks are on hold for now, excluding ankle locks. I got the Miyao brother berlimbolo thing in the recent sale, it's great for people my size. I did train at Unity for a single session last August. Incredible club full of killers! Levi subbed my coach in the Euros last year, hence me looking into the berlimbolo ninja shit.

 

[iona]

It's a whole new world!
I'm quite hard to sub...can see most feints/ feel what's coming but with legs, I'm lost.
I have fairly junior rollers subbing me (this I don't mind btw).

Been watching Leglocks, Enter the System - John Danaher.
Probably the most useful instructional I've studied for a while.
You seen?

No, any of it on youtube or somewhere to have a look?

I find videos really hard to learn from tbh. Trying to translate what I've just watched seconds ago in class into how something should feel is hard enough. That's why leglocks baffle me atm—the difference between openings for various armlocks, say, and when to switch between them feels familiar enough to be kind of instinctual but with someone's foot in front of me I need to hit pause for a few minutes while I work out where everything is.

Should prob work on my non-existent no gi guard first anyway I've got stuck in DLR type stuff that relies on sleeve grips, want to start using X/SLX and maybe even overcome my irrational hatred of butterfly guard.

 

[LDC]

We need an urban open mat

There's a growing network of left wing gyms that put on interclubs. The last one in Leeds in November last year had 200 people there, about 60 competitors, mainly boxing or kickboxing, but about 8-10 people entered gi and no-gi grappling matches.

I did judo for a few years when I was a kid, and have dabbled in BJJ (mostly gi, although a few no-gi classes recently) and MMA for about 2 years ages ago.

 

[joustmaster]

What's JJJ like? Is it just judo?

 

[iona]

There's a growing network of left wing gyms that put on interclubs. The last one in Leeds in November last year had 200 people there, about 60 competitors, mainly boxing or kickboxing, but about 8-10 people entered gi and no-gi grappling matches.

Yeah think I know a couple people who go to the Brighton one, Left Hook. I have absolutely no interest in striking though and even my BJJ is way more competition focused than useful for self defence

 

[Virtual Blue]

No, any of it on youtube or somewhere to have a look?

I find videos really hard to learn from tbh. Trying to translate what I've just watched seconds ago in class into how something should feel is hard enough. That's why leglocks baffle me atm—the difference between openings for various armlocks, say, and when to switch between them feels familiar enough to be kind of instinctual but with someone's foot in front of me I need to hit pause for a few minutes while I work out where everything is.

Should prob work on my non-existent no gi guard first anyway I've got stuck in DLR type stuff that relies on sleeve grips, want to start using X/SLX and maybe even overcome my irrational hatred of butterfly guard.

Alot of the Danaher video is on conceptual learning. He talks about grips. Closing the distance and getting on the inside. Leglocks can only happen when these things are in place. He has a holistic approach and it's made me rethink on what I do.

There are some drills that you could practice with a partner.
I burnt a copy and for my coach/ training buddy.
It's 8-9 hours long and its stuff I practice outside of normal lessons.

I'm happy to send you a copy if you want.

Can't learn on your own. You need someone who's been on/ or going through that journey.

I understand your pain btw.
I stay away from full guard when in no-gi (cos my training partner is a leglocker).
Half-guard/ Butterfly, X - that's my game! Learning to be the aggressor.

 

[iona]

Alot of the Danaher video is on conceptual learning. He talks about grips. Closing the distance and getting on the inside. Leglocks can only happen when these things are in place. He has a holistic approach and it's made me rethink on what I do.

There are some drills that you could practice with a partner.
I burnt a copy and for my coach/ training buddy.
It's 8-9 hours long and its stuff I practice outside of normal lessons.

I'm happy to send you a copy if you want.

Can't learn on your own. You need someone who's been on/ or going through that journey.

I understand your pain btw.
I stay away from full guard when in no-gi (cos my training partner is a leglocker).
Half-guard/ Butterfly, X - that's my game! Learning to be the aggressor.

Yeah conceptual stuff I find easier to pick up from videos, that and small details/variations on stuff I already know. A copy would be great, thank you!

 

[iona]

I am properly broken and doubt anyone IRL cares so complaining here instead. Every part of me feels like how your elbow feels after some dick slams an armbar on way too fast. Ongoing back/ribs thing is either getting better or less noticeable against all the other pain though

 

[Virtual Blue]

I am properly broken and doubt anyone IRL cares so complaining here instead. Every part of me feels like how your elbow feels after some dick slams an armbar on way too fast. Ongoing back/ribs thing is either getting better or less noticeable against all the other pain though

I'm with you pal.
I'm out for about 3-6 weeks. I have so many injuries it's getting a tad OTT.

My team mate said I should stop rolling with fat fucks.
I agree!!

 

[iona]

Ouch. Just lots of overtraining niggly injuries or proper fucked-up injuries?

That might be my problem too. Thought it was a back issue I've had before coming back (like being stabbed in the ribs near my spine under heavy top pressure) but it could just be getting repeatedly squashed by bigger people tbh lol

 

[bromley]

The problem with Jiu Jitsu is that's it's so addictive that you'll end up training with injuries and in your 30s you get disabilities and not injuries!

Sparing has been going amazing for me recently. I've completely changed my game plan. Won't be long until it gets found out again though.

 

[Virtual Blue]

Ouch. Just lots of overtraining niggly injuries or proper fucked-up injuries?

That might be my problem too. Thought it was a back issue I've had before coming back (like being stabbed in the ribs near my spine under heavy top pressure) but it could just be getting repeatedly squashed by bigger people tbh lol

it's my body saying 'thanks for ignoring me!'
and to be care rolling with fat fucks - and for not moving more.

just been eating cheese and biscuits/ vaping lots.