I agree,open mat sessions are good and we have plenty of free ones in San Diego, almost all easy to get to by transit (A car is NOT needed in San Diego). This way you can try techniques you have just learned to see how they work on others rather than just a knowing training partner to see how they will really add to your game.It is an excellent option as well fpor those who face ageism and other discrimination on this site, ti have a place to get on the mats and roll. At open mats I have never run in to the ridiculous ageism and discrimination that I have found on this site,everyone is usually willing to go against everyone in turn, the only exception possibly being if there is a large weight difference. I go to them and organize them as well here in San Diego and as soon as my knee injury heels plan to be at them again. There is no substitute for mat time!
Excellent advice from experienced guys, to which I'll add this (I've also been at jiujitsu for some time):
Class is instruction... The desire for open rolling is strong at pretty much every school I've ever been to, but once open rolling starts, if you can find someone interested in drilling, take advantage.
Open mats are great for what the open rolling session of most classes get used for: live work. The beauty of open mats is, they're typically cheap (sometimes free), and you'll get a huge variety of training partners (if you're hitting up open mats at multiple schools).
But approaching an open mat like an opportunity for new instruction can rapidly become frustrating.
And much appreciated Indy! I have been going to.a traditional JJ class which I have really enjoyed but I find I can't fix the moves in my mind as I don't het the chance to practice. I'm going to.go to BJJ classes where open mat sessions are available.
It took me a while and to try a few schools before I settled into my jiu-jitsu Academy where I now train 3 times a week. It was recommended for guys in my age bracket to train 3 times a week to allow for learning to settle in. I have managed to back my training up with the odd private lessons.
A couple of MMA gyms have open mat sessions where you can go in with a partner and just train. You might be able to get a buddy to do so, I am hoping to get the odd Sunday session training in as my school is shut on a Sunday.
4 not loosing the connection at least 1 per week...
4 lifestyle at 2 - 3 times per week - bjj is a lifestyle sport as well ...
4 competition as i do - round 6 times per week bjj (technic, drilling sessions, sparrings) 1 grappling session, and 1 wrestling training, grappling in no gi makes your game tighter and the wrestling/judo gives u progress in your standing game...
at least some private lessons with a trainer re as well a good investion - we spend our money for so many stupid things... so sport is best investion...
in addition 2 times stamina training with running or biking and 2 strenght sessions at a gym and not to forget - some wellness to recover the muscles... like different sauna types, whirlpool, jacuza... train at a good club, makes good friends there cause bjj is a sport you learn best with others and never forget you learn from anybody everything....
all in all - its an exciting complex sport and everybody has a different frequency....
Great advice. I had forgotten to mention private sessions
In the UK these are often remarkably good value for money
and will expand your game enormously.As you say we can
waste our money in many less wholesome ways.
Interesting discussion. It all depends on your level of fitness and ambition.To start with 3
times a week seems a good level, you acquire basic fitness, skills, and learn how to be a good
training partner and not just injure people through your ego being out of touch with your skill.
Once you reach blue belt you can step this up. I train every day if I can, sometimes I train
several times per day.You have to find your level , and listen to your body, and not get
injured. Rolling lightly and technically is the key. Don't be afraid to tap -tapping is good
it means your training with some one capable of teaching you something!
Your training level at Purple, Brown and Black belt depends a bit on your ambition.
But if you can start teaching that will really move your game on .
How do you find ways of training regularly:
- visit other clubs nearby and far away regularly.There is a whole protocol of etiquette in BJJ about visiting other clubs. If observed good things happen. If not observed people will not welcome you
- Go to camps at weekends.
- get some mats and invite friends to train specifics, and do daily solo drills
- Cross train with . yoga Judo, boxing, wrestling are all good.
- Go to competitions. Great ways to network, meet people
- Start your own club at a university or College or community centre
- BJJ holodays - e.g. Rio
- write a good Meet Fighters profile that shows your a good and serious BJJ person and looking for partners.
- Come and visit me and train!
In the above discussion you mention an etiquette for training at different JJ clubs. Can you explain please?
I ask because I started training at a JJ club (Japanese/Traditional) and have no complaint apart from the fact that we do very little grappling there. The little grappling I did made me realise that I'd like to do a lot more training in it. Anyway, there is nowhere to train purely in wrestling in the area (apart from MMA classes) but I found a place that does JJ/wrestling. I spoke to the tutor and he said they do 2/5 stand up JJ and 3/5 wrestling so it sounds more like what I want.
Because of family circumstances I haven't been to my JJ class for about 3 months but I get the impression people drop out for a while and I intend to go back. Obviously, I don't want to offend anyone by trying out a different class..
I get to train twice a week, each week get about an hour of warm up, techniques and then half an hour mat time, more or less.
I feel like I need to get more time on the mats to really get into the game.
The gym I go to doesnt have mat access outside of class hours.
Am considering signing up at another bjj gym as well as they have classes daily. Ok why didn't I just sign up there? Coz I prefer the coach at the bjj gym am going to. And it's not as commercialised.
For now am just gonna do solo drills to fill up the gaps.
I'd also suggest chatting with your instructor as well as with your training partners. If there is enough interest among your training partners and someone sufficiently senior present, your instructor may be open to expanding the schedule, even if for an open-mat session or two. Where I train in Chicago, some guys who come to train in the mornings have worked this out with the instructor to open the gym a few additional mornings a week. If that's not an option, your instructor should hopefully be sympathetic to your situation (and to your possible departure!) and offer an alternative.
I agree with yiu a smat time is essential but do not know availability where you live, whether they have things such as free open mat sessions as we have here (San Diego, USA) . Cost is obviously a major factor. Perhaps your coach at the 1st one may have some influence elsewhere to get you gthe added mat time that you need or perhaps someof your trainign partners may have access for you to mat time either for free or low cost. Shoud u ever visit San Diego you can lots of mat time abd no car is needed. Thanks
BJJWrestlerLasVegas (14)
10/16/2016 4:03 AMI agree,open mat sessions are good and we have plenty of free ones in San Diego, almost all easy to get to by transit (A car is NOT needed in San Diego). This way you can try techniques you have just learned to see how they work on others rather than just a knowing training partner to see how they will really add to your game.It is an excellent option as well fpor those who face ageism and other discrimination on this site, ti have a place to get on the mats and roll. At open mats I have never run in to the ridiculous ageism and discrimination that I have found on this site,everyone is usually willing to go against everyone in turn, the only exception possibly being if there is a large weight difference. I go to them and organize them as well here in San Diego and as soon as my knee injury heels plan to be at them again. There is no substitute for mat time!
IndyWarrior (39)
10/16/2016 4:30 AM(In reply to this)
In fairness to what I will assume is the majority population of meetfighters, though, most guys aren't here purely for the sport of this.
I'm not defending ageism, but our culture sells a sexual desire ideal which strongly includes youth.
Take sex away (as it is in any open-to-the-paying-public jiujitsu school) and that ideal becomes irrelevant.
IndyWarrior (39)
10/15/2016 10:31 PMExcellent advice from experienced guys, to which I'll add this (I've also been at jiujitsu for some time):
Class is instruction... The desire for open rolling is strong at pretty much every school I've ever been to, but once open rolling starts, if you can find someone interested in drilling, take advantage.
Open mats are great for what the open rolling session of most classes get used for: live work. The beauty of open mats is, they're typically cheap (sometimes free), and you'll get a huge variety of training partners (if you're hitting up open mats at multiple schools).
But approaching an open mat like an opportunity for new instruction can rapidly become frustrating.
Just my two cents. :-)
Tynesider (84)
10/15/2016 11:09 PM(In reply to this)
And much appreciated Indy! I have been going to.a traditional JJ class which I have really enjoyed but I find I can't fix the moves in my mind as I don't het the chance to practice. I'm going to.go to BJJ classes where open mat sessions are available.
FitScot (38)
8/04/2016 9:14 AMIt took me a while and to try a few schools before I settled into my jiu-jitsu Academy where I now train 3 times a week. It was recommended for guys in my age bracket to train 3 times a week to allow for learning to settle in. I have managed to back my training up with the odd private lessons.
A couple of MMA gyms have open mat sessions where you can go in with a partner and just train. You might be able to get a buddy to do so, I am hoping to get the odd Sunday session training in as my school is shut on a Sunday.
musclejudo (27)
8/02/2016 10:45 PM4 not loosing the connection at least 1 per week...
4 lifestyle at 2 - 3 times per week - bjj is a lifestyle sport as well ...
4 competition as i do - round 6 times per week bjj (technic, drilling sessions, sparrings) 1 grappling session, and 1 wrestling training, grappling in no gi makes your game tighter and the wrestling/judo gives u progress in your standing game...
at least some private lessons with a trainer re as well a good investion - we spend our money for so many stupid things... so sport is best investion...
in addition 2 times stamina training with running or biking and 2 strenght sessions at a gym and not to forget - some wellness to recover the muscles... like different sauna types, whirlpool, jacuza... train at a good club, makes good friends there cause bjj is a sport you learn best with others and never forget you learn from anybody everything....
all in all - its an exciting complex sport and everybody has a different frequency....
dragonuk (21 )
8/03/2016 9:09 AM(In reply to this)
Great advice. I had forgotten to mention private sessions
In the UK these are often remarkably good value for money
and will expand your game enormously.As you say we can
waste our money in many less wholesome ways.
dragonuk (21 )
8/02/2016 12:25 PMInteresting discussion. It all depends on your level of fitness and ambition.To start with 3
times a week seems a good level, you acquire basic fitness, skills, and learn how to be a good
training partner and not just injure people through your ego being out of touch with your skill.
Once you reach blue belt you can step this up. I train every day if I can, sometimes I train
several times per day.You have to find your level , and listen to your body, and not get
injured. Rolling lightly and technically is the key. Don't be afraid to tap -tapping is good
it means your training with some one capable of teaching you something!
Your training level at Purple, Brown and Black belt depends a bit on your ambition.
But if you can start teaching that will really move your game on .
How do you find ways of training regularly:
- visit other clubs nearby and far away regularly.There is a whole protocol of etiquette in BJJ about visiting other clubs. If observed good things happen. If not observed people will not welcome you
- Go to camps at weekends.
- get some mats and invite friends to train specifics, and do daily solo drills
- Cross train with . yoga Judo, boxing, wrestling are all good.
- Go to competitions. Great ways to network, meet people
- Start your own club at a university or College or community centre
- BJJ holodays - e.g. Rio
- write a good Meet Fighters profile that shows your a good and serious BJJ person and looking for partners.
- Come and visit me and train!
Tynesider (84)
10/13/2016 8:11 AM(In reply to this)
In the above discussion you mention an etiquette for training at different JJ clubs. Can you explain please?
I ask because I started training at a JJ club (Japanese/Traditional) and have no complaint apart from the fact that we do very little grappling there. The little grappling I did made me realise that I'd like to do a lot more training in it. Anyway, there is nowhere to train purely in wrestling in the area (apart from MMA classes) but I found a place that does JJ/wrestling. I spoke to the tutor and he said they do 2/5 stand up JJ and 3/5 wrestling so it sounds more like what I want.
Because of family circumstances I haven't been to my JJ class for about 3 months but I get the impression people drop out for a while and I intend to go back. Obviously, I don't want to offend anyone by trying out a different class..
Any advice will be appreciated.
Tynesider (84)
10/13/2016 8:11 AM(In reply to this)
This is in response to Dragon UK's earlier post.
dragonuk (21 )
10/13/2016 8:31 AM(In reply to this)
Here is a good article on etiquette when visiting a club
http://www.bjjee.com/articles/bjj-academy-etiquette-unwritten-rules/
Sparringbuddy (52 )
8/01/2016 1:51 AMI get to train twice a week, each week get about an hour of warm up, techniques and then half an hour mat time, more or less.
I feel like I need to get more time on the mats to really get into the game.
The gym I go to doesnt have mat access outside of class hours.
Am considering signing up at another bjj gym as well as they have classes daily. Ok why didn't I just sign up there? Coz I prefer the coach at the bjj gym am going to. And it's not as commercialised.
For now am just gonna do solo drills to fill up the gaps.
Opinons? Past experiences to share?
tenacity (78)
8/01/2016 5:27 AM(In reply to this)
I'd also suggest chatting with your instructor as well as with your training partners. If there is enough interest among your training partners and someone sufficiently senior present, your instructor may be open to expanding the schedule, even if for an open-mat session or two. Where I train in Chicago, some guys who come to train in the mornings have worked this out with the instructor to open the gym a few additional mornings a week. If that's not an option, your instructor should hopefully be sympathetic to your situation (and to your possible departure!) and offer an alternative.
BJJWrestlerLasVegas (14)
8/01/2016 5:15 AM(In reply to this)
I agree with yiu a smat time is essential but do not know availability where you live, whether they have things such as free open mat sessions as we have here (San Diego, USA) . Cost is obviously a major factor. Perhaps your coach at the 1st one may have some influence elsewhere to get you gthe added mat time that you need or perhaps someof your trainign partners may have access for you to mat time either for free or low cost. Shoud u ever visit San Diego you can lots of mat time abd no car is needed. Thanks