Ego's, leg locks and injuires in intro classes

[ErikMN]

My name is Erik. I wouldn't want to call myself a white belt out of respect for white belts. I'm a waping 5 classes deep in my journey. I started training about 4 weeks ago at a gym here in MN. Out of respect I will not use Gym/ Coach names.

So ive been to 5 intro classes now. I have a tiny bit of fighting/mma experience from my late teens and early 20's. I grew up in East County San Diego, and was a bit of a brawler in my youth. So I I'd like to think I'm no stranger to injury or battles. I'm 32 now, in decent shape and decided I needed a new hobby since MN winters are brutal and cabin fever is REAL! Anyways, in my 5 classes, I have now been injured 4 times. I will write 1 off as total accident as my partner that day was experiencing obvious training fatigue and totally by accident stuffed my right peck to my sternum drilling arm bars if I remember correctly. Anyways that wrecked my right arm and shoulder for 2 weeks, was still able to train and roll, just made sure I addressed the injury with my partners and kept it around 50% or so. But the other 3 times have been completely ego driven (not on my part), I've had to roll with the younger 20 year olds. Its obvious a lot of the students in the intro class have grappling experience, way more than myself. But again I have a tiny microscopic amount of ground game, and when the stars align Ive been lucky enough to get a sweep and gain a dominate position (unfortunately I don't know submissions so gaining and maintaining the dominate position has been my main focus. But these guys turn it up to 100 and go for broke at that point. Had 1 guy do some high level ninja roll nonsense and catch me in a heel hook (thank god I slipped it out of panic not technique) and then he jumped on a knee bar. And I mean JUMPED on it. I couldn't walk for 2 days after, had literally purple and black bruising around my ankle. And after that Ive had 2 more injuries due to guys jumping on leg locks and just ripping them as hard as they can. Ive since decided to leave that gym after last night I got put in some high level leg lock Ive never seen before. And now my left knee is trashed, and my left foot is purple black and blue.

I'm curious if my looks could be a bit of a cause for this. I kind look like a big feather to stick in your hat. I'm 5'10" 185, covered in tattoos. Pretty normal for So-Cal... BIG RED THUMB in MN. My wife seems to think people may be a bit intimidated by my outer appearance and feel necessary to go harder at me because I look like part. Its a theory Ive taken into consideration.

On last thing before the questions- This is all NOGI

Here on the questions-

A) With the high possibility of injury from inexperienced fighters using leg locks, do you guys feel they shouldn't allow leg locks in an Intro class.

B) With being a older guy trying to re-start, how does 1 go about finding more respectable/responsible partners to roll with

C) Is it true that in traditional GI leg locks are illegal.

I feel like perhaps going to the world of GI classes may more up my alley. But I want to make sure I find the right gym this time, as I cant afford to miss anymore work.

Any insight is greatly appreciated. As I literally have no friends to bounce all this off of and get some constructive insight. Thanks again

[mynewunit]

This gym does not sound like a great fit. I assume that in Minnesota, there are not a dozen BJJ gyms in a 20 minute drive. If there is another gym, even one step removed from BJJ, like sambo, Judo, wrestling, Krav Maga) give them a try. The red flags I see: the instructor isn't paying close enough attention if people are getting injured, white belts going this crazy seems like not enough focus on technique. No Gi can either be a mental exercise in how BJJ changes without a collar or belt to grab, or a way to look more like the the guys in the cage for "Bro's" in tapout t shirts. It would appear that these guys aren't purists. I would also assume they are not a "name brand" gym like 10th planet or Gracie, etc.

One internalization: If i said this to my professor, they would have told me to tap earlier. You don't need to feel the arm bar, choke, lock, to know you have been caught. Are you generous and early with your taps?

As far as leg locks and specific techniques for beginners, that is a school preference. I have not competed and don't know which specific locks are "illegal". Ask Jeff Glover or Bas Rutten, and by ask I mean google. They have spoken at length on the subject, and are both great practitioners of leg work. I know my local gym doesn't teach chokes to kids till they have a colored belt. That being said, I haven't seen the kids class ever drill a leg lock.

Try a different gym. Training partner info, look at all the too old threads. The ones with the embedded videos are probably the best.

[ErikMN]

It in fact is one of those particular name brand gyms. Which is the reason I went there. And you are correct in schools being few and far between. Did 2 years of Krav Maga years ago. I can only practice groin kicks so many times before I simply saw it as a women’s self defense class. I also thought them teaching disarm techniques to civilians was absolutely irresponsible. They should teach the difference between cover and concealment, and situational awareness over going hands on with a armed attacker. These folks were all walking statistics if they ever attempted any of that stuff, straight up.

I’m going to heal up and check out another gym further away and attend some gi classes. Your absolutely write on the tap out anology. Which made me literally laugh out loud. Ever been to east county San Diego... Santee Lakeside area circa 2006-2008ish? Flat bills, tap out shirts, and shitty tattoos for everybody!

Thanks for your input, I had a discussion with the head instructor via email. He swore up and down leg locks aren’t allowed in intro classes.... and I showed him my destroyed foot, knee, photos of infected scratches from dudes not trimming their nails and etc. all and all glad I had the experience honestly, now I know what to look for.

As for tapping early, absolutely. But they jump on them so hard and quick, damage is already done.

[mynewunit]

Legit. 
I can't hate on the 20 year olds. The only reason I don't have the lame Frat Tats is because I did't have the cash when I had the urge. 
I haven't lived on the west coast, but New York had the same crowd in the mid 2000's.
Talking with the head instructor was a good move. Each class / instructor has their own vibe. We have a bunch of (Area Code) MMA places that say they have BJJ and when you show up, you become the tackling dummy for the competitors and instructors. When I watch the kids classes and some of the beginner classes at my gym, a lot of people wait too long to tap. Like they are going to run out of taps, or it is better if they wait till it hurts. Just a common problem for beginners, nothing personal.

Keep up the good work.  I have a buddy in the 651 area who is a Jocko Trooper. Any chance you are near there?
Oh and Make ErikMN official and register.

[eriksd]

Great post. Common problem I think too. I experienced what I call 'White Belt Syndrome' where everyone is going for the sloppy submission and rolling 200% leading to chronic injuries. For me it was ankle, shoulder and neck. I mean, its a class, not a NAGA competition. That being said, I tried another gym that was Gracie affiliated. It was refreshing. The instruction was more thorough and traditional. And I also found that rolling with blue belts or higher tends to limit the damage. White belts (myself included at times) are so eager to submit, they lose sight of the craft. I think that is because whites want to not be whites... we are so trained in our culture to advance quickly, but jiu jitsu is that way. At all. When I've rolled with blues, purples and browns, they tend to go easier and are far more interested in help you than submitting. They KNOW they can take you out so they may experiment but they tend to be more mentoring and pedagogical. More often when I have been submitted by the higher belts, we stop and walk through what happened afterwards and I learn. My advice is definitely try other gyms and roll with higher belts. They have far less to prove, hell they are not interested in proving anything, are usually more mature, and will be more refined, meaning not sloppy, meaning lower chance of injury.

Stick with it.