When starting your jiu jitsu training, the vast array of techniques and positional situations you have to process is huge. You will constantly be put in bad positions by your classmates and you will be stuck and unable to get out. Of course this eventually leads to submission.
Don't get discouraged, because you can survive!
A great aspect of jiu jitsu is that it is a super equalizer. The strong or speedy may likely lose against a trained jiu jitsu practitioner. The key is lasting long enough in your training to become skilled.
In a word, basics. If you become a master at just the jiu jitsu basics, you can generally prevent yourself from getting in bad positions and are able to handle yourself if you happen to end up in one. Practice these at home by yourself, and keep them in mind during your classroom training to apply them there as well. After a few weeks you'll have a basic skill level that'll really allow you to focus on learning and applying your techniques instead of a panicked defense.
What are the important basics?
Hip Escapes
Hip escapes are the grand daddy of jiu jitsu basic techniques. While training you should always have "loose hips". Transitioning from side to side and using your hips for positional leverage is critical. This can't be reinforced enough. Hip escapes (aka shrimping) are important in creating space allowing room for both defenses and attacks.
Breathing
A not-so-obvious basic you need to get down is breathing. If you gas out in training or a real life fight, you are dead. It's important to know that you CAN relax, and that you need to slow down and breathe. If you treat rolling/sparring as a sprint, in 30 seconds you will be dead. And considering a typical round is 5-7 minutes long, that would be painful! So slow down, take a deep breath, and relax.
Open Mind
Many students come to jiu jitsu thinking that their strength is going to beat all challengers they face. This type of person is typically brutally proven wrong by some featherweight with a bit of training. To accelerate your learning, open your mind to the new ideas this art presents. Work the techniques with proper form and without using strength. Understand that you are going to have a learning curve and realize that this is a journey that you can't just power through.
Ego
The majority of BJJ students are men and of course have good sized egos. Leave it at the door. You must really enjoy the journey of learning jiu jitsu and take in all of the nuances. If you insist on being the guy that never taps, you will get hurt much more often. And of course if you are injured you won't be able to train. Be open to losing while in class. Help your classmates to get better. Enjoy the journey. Become a family!
These basics aren't a fully exhaustive list of everything you need to master. But they provide a great foundation to build upon. Walk into class ready to learn, guide your classmates where you can, and train hard. This is a special martial art and it can change you if you let it.
- Draculino
Don't get discouraged, because you can survive!
A great aspect of jiu jitsu is that it is a super equalizer. The strong or speedy may likely lose against a trained jiu jitsu practitioner. The key is lasting long enough in your training to become skilled.
In a word, basics. If you become a master at just the jiu jitsu basics, you can generally prevent yourself from getting in bad positions and are able to handle yourself if you happen to end up in one. Practice these at home by yourself, and keep them in mind during your classroom training to apply them there as well. After a few weeks you'll have a basic skill level that'll really allow you to focus on learning and applying your techniques instead of a panicked defense.
What are the important basics?
Hip Escapes
Hip escapes are the grand daddy of jiu jitsu basic techniques. While training you should always have "loose hips". Transitioning from side to side and using your hips for positional leverage is critical. This can't be reinforced enough. Hip escapes (aka shrimping) are important in creating space allowing room for both defenses and attacks.
Breathing
A not-so-obvious basic you need to get down is breathing. If you gas out in training or a real life fight, you are dead. It's important to know that you CAN relax, and that you need to slow down and breathe. If you treat rolling/sparring as a sprint, in 30 seconds you will be dead. And considering a typical round is 5-7 minutes long, that would be painful! So slow down, take a deep breath, and relax.
Open Mind
Many students come to jiu jitsu thinking that their strength is going to beat all challengers they face. This type of person is typically brutally proven wrong by some featherweight with a bit of training. To accelerate your learning, open your mind to the new ideas this art presents. Work the techniques with proper form and without using strength. Understand that you are going to have a learning curve and realize that this is a journey that you can't just power through.
Ego
The majority of BJJ students are men and of course have good sized egos. Leave it at the door. You must really enjoy the journey of learning jiu jitsu and take in all of the nuances. If you insist on being the guy that never taps, you will get hurt much more often. And of course if you are injured you won't be able to train. Be open to losing while in class. Help your classmates to get better. Enjoy the journey. Become a family!
These basics aren't a fully exhaustive list of everything you need to master. But they provide a great foundation to build upon. Walk into class ready to learn, guide your classmates where you can, and train hard. This is a special martial art and it can change you if you let it.
- Draculino
About the Author:
Visit Draculino's online training site to train using the same BJJ techniques and approach he uses. Be sure to also check out the free jiu jitsu forum at the site and join the online community.
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