Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - General Thread

Forget about those halfords mats. They are designed for standing on to help prevent fatigue from hard surfaces like concrete. They're only about 10-15mm thick. Not much more protection than carpet

A better option would be the jigsaw mats in the link below. You'd get away with the 20mm for rolling, but I wouldt be doing much in the line of throws or take downs. If you can afford it the 40mm are probably the best for home use, short of buying judo tatami

https://www.epayments.co.uk/epages/es771923.mobile/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es771923

Thanks for starting this Zero-Cool. I kinda dropped the ball on it
I agree with cletus regarding mats. Jigsaw mats are a minimum. They'd be fine for practicing shooting, penetration step, and controled double legs. Not so good for sparring takedowns.

He's giving up a fair lump of weight, but he claims to see some large and exploitable holes in Palhares' leglock game.

It will be very interesting, technician vs beast

I know Alan Belcher managed to negate it, but he was (at least nominally) in the same weight class, and he was also allowed to punch Palhares in the face

cletus wrote: »

He's giving up a fair lump of weight, but he claims to see some large and exploitable holes in Palhares' leglock game.

It will be very interesting, technician vs beast

I know Alan Belcher managed to negate it, but he was (at least nominally) in the same weight class, and he was also allowed to punch Palhares in the face

It's booked for 83kg or so I heard. Which means Garry has a few weeks to put on up to 10lbs. Palhares prob has to cut.

Tonon appears much more adept at incorporating positions of control like saddle, outside ashi, etc. Virtually pinning his opponent before going for the heelhook.

I definitely believe there's holes in Palhares's game, or maybe opportunities is more fitting. His heelhooks are no doubt technical, but he also relied on aggressively going for it and sacrificing/ignoring any sort of position or control. In MMA it didn't matter, as his opponents either didn't know what to do, or froze with only seconds to react.
Against somebody who knows what to do, they just move around his unsecured attack.

Got my first submission win today. Had a few stalemates or wins by getting to a better position but this was my first sub. Triangle choke from guard. Was delighted. Long road ahead even to my first stripe but I'm really enjoying it.

Not bjj, but Shinya Aoki being a beast on the mats

Subcomandante Marcos wrote: »

Anyone have a favourite brand of rashguards for grappling?

I've just been using under armour for no-gi but wouldn't mind buying a few bjj specific ones.

I bought a few Sub Only on Amazon. They were on sale at the time.

Other than that I just use our club rash.

Subcomandante Marcos wrote: »

Good to hear the worlfhound rash guards are durable, I love the gi I got from them.

Ya the ones I have feel quite light and I wasn't sure if they would last, but I've had them nearly two years and they've stood up to MMA, wrestling, gi and no gi with no issues, it's nice to have gear from an Irish owned company as well.

BOHtox wrote: »

Just out of curiosity how long did it take for each of your belt progressions? How many times a week did you train? Did you have to take a break half way through a belt due to other commitments or money, it's an expensive past time, or just feel like taking a break?

I started in April 12 and got a Blue in August 14. Only started training in the GI in 2013.

I've also missed about 10/12 months altogether since i started with a month or two at a time with injury and work.

Hope to have a purple by the end of 2017.

Before I got my Blue I was beating most of the blues in my club(all much bigger than me) and could hold my own at other clubs against their whites and a good few blues.

When I have time I trained in my club twice a week and used to go to to Seminars when I could and if there was an open map I'd try make those as well.

I've been training a little over 2 years but I've had a lot of time off between work commitments and a bad injury at the start of last year, probably a year off in total in that time. I'm only on two stripes but I can roll with other guys in my club on 3/4 pretty comfortably, some not so comfortably.
I'm aiming to get my blue this year, I'm in a place where I can be consistent, this really is key.

BOHtox wrote: »

But in a dominate position in side control I'm always getting swept.

By any chance are you putting your hand under your opponent neck and holding your other hand to try squeeze them and hold them towards you?

RonanP77 wrote: »

I'm glad to see this thread was set up, I searched for it on the phone a few times lately but only spotted it today.



This sounds more like me, I'm at it about 2 months now, 2 classes a week, and I struggle to sink things in when we're rolling. If I manage a good sweep or two I'm delighted with myself. I get into good positions at times then haven't a notion what to do from that position.

I have managed to tap a few people but some of that was because they saw what I was going for and let me at it. Others were just as inexperienced as me so it wasn't a big achievement. I'm definitely still at the stage where I tap out a lot.

Regarding belt progression, from next month I'd hope to be doing a double class (2.5hrs) Tuesdays, then a normal class (1.5hrs) every Wednesday and Saturday. I'd love to get a stripe every 6 months or so based on putting in that many hours and I do pick things up quick enough, I'm no slower than the average student. Realistically though I'd be happy if I got my 1st stripe by the end of the year. I know BJJ is a long slow journey.

Just to yourself and another poster who are just beginning, you might feel like your learning nothing but you in fact are.

My advice would be at this early stage to work on your defense. You will find yourself in Closed Guard(learn how to escape for when your caught, and how to break a persons base/posture if you have someone in your CG).

When in your opponent Side Control focus on preventing them going for full mount. Also practice Hip Bump and Shrimp escapes. If you get SC work on your movement from one control position to another, ie SC, FM, SC, RK, NS, as well as maintaining a strong base for yourself.

When you've been mounted again try working on basic hip bump escapes, they are not flashy bit are great at throwing off the opponents weight and balance.

If you get caught in a sub just tap. Don't be the hero that trys to hang on for dear life. When you try your own sub don't Hulk out and use your strength, work your technique it'll stand to you in the long.

Also just enjoy the roll. A day will come when everything will click and it'll all feel natural to you.

BOHtox wrote: »

Maybe

I think I do actually though to be honest. But I'm not just holding on for dear life I'd be trying to gain a bettter position if you get me

You won't get a better position squeezing them to you. All your doing is moving your balance to far forward and then the opponent only needs to roll sideways and over you go.

If your in SC get one knee right beside their hip and one under the armpit. Keep your top hand under their neck palm flat to the floor(stops you been rolled) keep your lower arm under the opponent bum outside your leg(this will stop them getting their knee back across your stomach). Your chest on theirs and your bum low to the ground as possible.

This will allow you to keep good pressure with your chest, control your centre of gravity (low bum), control their hips(low hand).

Out of curiosity what sort of injuries have ye had and how did ye get them? I did BJJ for around 4 months (2 classes a week) and I was forever dealing with a strained neck or back or something or other. I've been boxing competitively for the past few years but can see myself having a bash off grappling at some stage. It seems to me the injuries you get are much more serious in grappling than in striking.

darced wrote: »

Ill be honest and say most people who grapple in my experience are constantly carrying some type of injury. I had a torn Rotator cuff which was a nightmare, multiple broken ribs which are probably the worst because you have to sit out completely. My most serious were ruptured discs in my neck but I have nearly a full recovery at this stage.

Fingers are a constant problem breaks, dislocations or just plain sore.
Right now I'm in pretty good health bar a lingering knee problem as well as the usual overall soreness.

It all depends on how you manage them but BJJ is highly addictive and its not easy to sit out for any length of time.

This is the biggest catch 22 for me.
When on injured I turn up for class anyway just to watch and take mental notes but by the end of the night I'm usually on the mets for a roll anyway.

Depending on how bad I'm hurt of course, I just can't watch everyone roll/spar and not want to jump in.

FTA69 wrote: »

Out of curiosity what sort of injuries have ye had and how did ye get them? I did BJJ for around 4 months (2 classes a week) and I was forever dealing with a strained neck or back or something or other. I've been boxing competitively for the past few years but can see myself having a bash off grappling at some stage. It seems to me the injuries you get are much more serious in grappling than in striking.

Dislocated Fingers,
Dislocated Toes
Torn Rotator Cuff
Tissue Damage/Severe Bruising on my Back(got slammed from standing height by a bigger guy when putting on a triangle)
Hyperextension of both Elbows
Burst Eyebrow (straw knee)

Mat Burn on my Feet(worst injury ever, hate the things)