My first BJJ class

pma-ire

Lads,

I went to my first BJJ class Wednesday night. What a buzz

After a handy warm up (my stomach was ****ed ). We then done some basics and drills. Great lifting and shooting out from a pin possition. After a long time doing this and getting suggestions from the lads.

We then had a "roll" I had a great time trying to tap my buddy Eoin. But he eventually kicked my ass 3 times. I was knackered, and had to stand off a while. But i got to watch Liam and his lads playing. That was some nice grappling

We swapped and I did'int have it in me to go another round with someone, so my new partner and myself went through the "Scuttling" (correct me if I'm wrong lads) techs learnt eariler. He was new tonight to, so he was happy to go over them again.

My back put an end to me doing more, and the fact that I hav'int been pushed that hard in long time all came to bear on me. But I loved the buzz from it and look forward to getting along again next week.

If you want to learn about ground defence then going to BJJ is a very good idea

Colm_OReilly

Nice Work Paul! Glad you had fun!

so my new partner and myself went through the "Scuttling" (correct me if I'm wrong lads) techs learnt eariler.

Never heard of scuttling before? Maybe it was "shrimping"? Were you curling your body up and moving your hips away from your opponent in order to escape the pin?

the fact that I hav'int been pushed that hard in long time all came to bear on me.

Since jitz and fighting are so visceral I find beginners really tense up on the ground and put a lot of muscular effort into their movements. I think some sort of survival instinct kicks in, and the adrenaline goes to 90. Plus since your not efficient at moving on the ground you expend a lot of energy trying to do anything. Keep it up and it gets easier and you'll be able to go for longer.

But I loved the buzz from it and look forward to getting along again next week.

Excellent! I'm sure Liam will be happy with the favourable review. BTW did it meet your expectations?

Peace Out,
Colm

pma-ire

Colm_OReilly wrote:

Never heard of scuttling before? Maybe it was "shrimping"? Were you curling your body up and moving your hips away from your opponent in order to escape the pin?

Ya that was it! I could'int remember the word. Simple really :rolleyes:

Colm_OReilly wrote:

Since jitz and fighting are so visceral I find beginners really tense up on the ground and put a lot of muscular effort into their movements. I think some sort of survival instinct kicks in, and the adrenaline goes to 90. Plus since your not efficient at moving on the ground you expend a lot of energy trying to do anything. Keep it up and it gets easier and you'll be able to go for longer.

Ya, I tried to stay relaxed. Liam looked like he was nearly asleep when he was rolling !!

Colm_OReilly wrote:

Excellent! I'm sure Liam will be happy with the favourable review. BTW did it meet your expectations?

Well I "emptied my cup" before I left the house to go to Donnybrook (Cork) Health Studio. So I tried not to have any pre-conceptions of what was gonna happen or not happen, and just took what I was doing as what they teach nubees and then tried to get a look at the more experienced lads (and Lady !) at the good stuff.

I felt the beginners stuff was good crack, and I liked what I saw (while I was standing at the side looking for a St John's ambulance team ) in the other lads work that were at it longer.

But the main thing anyone would expect is a great ground defense, and I was not dissapointed. Everything that was presented to me was backing up any little bits of ground sense I had been shown over the years. With a lot more.

Roper

Best of luck with it Paul. As you're starting, I'm finishing!

I've had to quit BJJ for the moment. I'm (well not me, my wife is) expecting a baby in may, and the trek from Northside Dublin to Harolds Cross and John Kavanaghs Gym was already proving to be unfeasable thanks to traffic and this pesky "job" thing I've to do every day.

In terms of training offered, coaching, atmosphere and skill gained, I can honestly say it has been an excellent experience. Not only did it change the way I viewed the ground and clinch games, but it also made me review my stand-up game and altered the way I trained for stand up. Indeed the way I now coach is markedly different from the way I would have done before being exposed to the SBG style. (eg. the use of the word coach )

The face of Martial Arts is changing. The way I see it, things can go two ways.
1. Commercialism can lead to more "McDojo's" with 100's of students doing a watered down for the masses version of whatever arts. A generic fitness kickboxing class which is essentially Tae Bo with gloves. Lots of badges, shouting, belts, clubs etc.
or
2. A school that offers at least one range in a provable environment. (I'm hesitant to put in performance based as I'm not sure people understand that term fully)

Obviously there will be middle ground, but for the sake of a point..........

pma-ire

Roper wrote:

Best of luck with it Paul. As you're starting, I'm finishing!

I've had to quit BJJ for the moment. I'm (well not me, my wife is) expecting a baby in may, and the trek from Northside Dublin to Harolds Cross and John Kavanaghs Gym was already proving to be unfeasable thanks to traffic and this pesky "job" thing I've to do every day..

it now seems that with my own school starting on Mondays and Wednesdays, my Bjj/MMA training will suffer. As my Mrs is expecting also, due for end of March
*Mixed Emotions*

I hope to find another time slot that Liam trains that the wife will let me do. If not, I will ask him to come along and coach my students and myself now and again (As I will be doing with anyone I think will improve the quality of the pool of stills in the school).

It's a bit of a boll*cks really. But I could'int turn up this offer of a hall.

Roper

Best of luck with the new club Paul. I hope it works out well for you.

The unfortunate thing about teaching is that you can't find half as much time as you'd want for your own training, and with a kid on the way....... ............forget about it!

As for the jitz, I was told recently its like a language that you have to try to speak for a few minutes every week, so sparring around with yer club mates once a week is better then nothing. Its what I've had to settle for.

As I will be doing with anyone I think will improve the quality of the pool of stills in the school

Sounds good. By the by (and this is probably for another thread!), what is "Practical" Tae Kwon Do, as opposed to Tae Kwon Do?

pma-ire

Roper wrote:

Best of luck with the new club Paul. I hope it works out well for you.

The unfortunate thing about teaching is that you can't find half as much time as you'd want for your own training, and with a kid on the way....... ............forget about it!

As for the jitz, I was told recently its like a language that you have to try to speak for a few minutes every week, so sparring around with yer club mates once a week is better then nothing. Its what I've had to settle for.



Sounds good. By the by (and this is probably for another thread!), what is "Practical" Tae Kwon Do, as opposed to Tae Kwon Do?

It is the name of the group I have joined up with. I don't want to go on a advert post. So have a look at the address in my sig. and the forum attached there in

"Practical" is the concept that drives the association, and it is not used as a stick to beat on the base styles or other arts.

mark.leonard

If you do check out that forum you may find a couple posts from me trying to figure out the differences too!

mark.leonard

Roper wrote:

Best of luck with it Paul. As you're starting, I'm finishing!

I've had to quit BJJ for the moment. I'm (well not me, my wife is) expecting a baby in may, and the trek from Northside Dublin to Harolds Cross and John Kavanaghs Gym was already proving to be unfeasable thanks to traffic and this pesky "job" thing I've to do every day.

You know Roper, if you had even one person interested in BJJ and a mat (or mat substitute of any kind) then your BJJ training could continue unabated! BJJ isn't like TKD where you need a senior to show you your patterns and other stuff, anyone can work on it by themselves. That's what we have been doing in Galway since I met John a couple of years ago now, when we started out all we knew were the basic positions, none of us had any game outside of the playstation 2! And here we are a few years on with a teensy tiny little bit of game in two and a half ranges only training with John once a month or so (a lot of the time not even that frequently!)
(Ever hear the expression "Go Eskimo and grow?" )

Roper

I'm all over it Mark!
Myself and a buddy are trying to get a roll in every Sunday after one of our sessions. I'm also a bit of an obsessive reader so I'm hoping to pick up what technique I can from books etc.
Its far from ideal but its the best that situations will allow. Plus, any seminars, open training sessions and the like I'm going to try to get to and at least maintain my level (pretty p1ss poor but whatcha gonna do) or maybe even improve. I'm still with SBG until the end of February or so, I'll be getting there as regularly as possible until then.
Who knows maybe myself and yourself will stop internet babbling someday and actually have a roll!

Musashi

Put me down for the baby club too,six months and feisty he is!
Soon as he learns to roll on his own we may have to work it in to his training
My job is moving from 12 hour shifts to 8 hours soon so I hope to get back to my own club soon
All the better to move back to competing some day! It's all good boys.

mark.leonard

Roper, I am in Dublin again for the Matt Thornton seminar if not before, we can roll at that if you are going?

Roper

Is that March 12th or so? Can't remember but I did see the poster at the gym last time I was there.
I missed the last one so I'm definitely going to make this one. Not too sure if I can get to both days though. Is he doing different stuff on each day?

Colm_OReilly

Roper,

Mr Grapple-tastic is right on the money about independent training. Just try and make sure that you guys keep trying new things instead of just trying to win, as this will limit your growth, plus you'll get used to each other. You could pick a position each week and spend some time drilling it, etc.

Peace and Love Y'All,
Colm

mark.leonard

Roper wrote:

Is that March 12th or so? Can't remember but I did see the poster at the gym last time I was there.
I missed the last one so I'm definitely going to make this one. Not too sure if I can get to both days though. Is he doing different stuff on each day?

Yeah it is the 12th and 13th of March, Matt and Mike Chapman do completely different things each day, I can't recommend both days enough, the material is extremely useful not to mention you generally get some anecdotes interspersed throughout the days!
Then cap it off with a trip to Bushido Rings on the Saturday night and drive to Toomebridge for Extreme Combat on the Sunday night! Its an MMA Weekend through and through!

Roper

Yes indeedy. A trip to Blackrock for the seminar on Sunday is definitely on. The Saturday is bogey though as I teach that day. But if I can cover or cancel I'll be there both days. As for Bushido Rings, sounds like a perfick evening!

Ta for the advice Colm, I'll be trying to keep myself going until I can get training formally again.

pma-ire

I will be now trying to see if Liam has another night that he trains (I think he has )

And after I get my school going and have a good base. i will be asking him along to go through stuff with the class.