Gyms: Choosing the Right Place Matters for New White Belts
May 17, 2019 10:07:46 GMT -8
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Post by eriksd on May 17, 2019 10:07:46 GMT -8
Hey Everyone,
I wanted to share some experience I've had with other new white belts or those looking to start bjj. I've tried a few different gyms over the past year and each has its pluses and minuses, but I think there are certain elements that make a for a good place to train. I must say that I have liked all the coaches I have trained under and liked many of the people I have trained with, but that said I believe the right place to train has to fit your needs as a student and athlete. After all, you are talking about committing a lot of time and money to this place. And to get the return from your efforts, the gym has to fit your learning style, schedule and personality.
At my first gym I felt the instruction was ok, but disorganized. There was no clear curriculum and I remember learning techniques as a nascent white belt that were far too advanced for my knowledge of bjj. How can you lasso an arm on your first night of training when you don't even know the guard or the mount? That was frustrating. We rolled a lot there. Hence injuries were high... I am not saying that rolling=injuries, what I AM saying is that white belts rolling too soon often=injuries. Its important roll, but I do not feel its effective until you have a base of skills and strength. For instance, I remember rolling with other white belts and neither of us new enough bjj to do much but wrestle around. I would often find myself in mount and start thinking 'ok now what do I do?' Or very quickly and violent folded up and tapped out... which was humbling (good) but also led to frustration very quickly. And on a side note, as a white belt, I'd rather roll with blue belts or higher... the ego has long been worked out there and I have found that higher belts (especially purple and up) have no interest in tapping you out... they know they can. They are safer and usually don't go 110% at you. They know how to relax into the fight. More often than not, they are interested in helping you learn. So, as such, I was injured there and out for 4 mos (ankle then neck injuries), and didn't go back.
The next gym was a Gracie gym and excellent. There was a clear and progressive curriculum. There was a great instructor. I learned nuances and details that opened a whole new door and change my perception of bjj. The issue was the time of the classes and cost of the gym membership made it difficult to join. In addition, I the feel of the gym was, shall we say, rigid. I like structure, but I was looking for a community. After training a week there, I did not feel entirely welcomed (though I will offer sometimes it takes longer than a week to be accepted into a community). But the gym was expensive and it was going to be difficult to fit the training into my schedule. So after a trial week, I moved on.
I eventually found a new gym, run by a black belt that had all the components I needed. This is where I train now. They offer early AM classes, had a clear curriculum or progression of techniques, and the instruction was incredible. White belts are encouraged to roll but only after enough time has passed that there is some level of competency. I've learned more bjj in 2 mos there than I did at the the other two combined. The progressive curriculum has brought me through key submissions from the guard, essential sweeps, guard breaks and reversals, and we are now in the mount where I am learning the same submissions plus the Americana, essential chokes, and take downs... not to mention the movement drills to build muscle memory for escapes and gross motor movement of the body. While I do think that exposure at prior gyms plays a part, nothing stuck until now. I attribute this to a few things: the first is the instructor. My coach is a black belt and teaches in a way that is clear. He's patient, but exacting and has high expectations. We cannot sloppily get away with a new submission or sweep. He is concerned with his white belts getting it right and learning nuances that become bigger issues later. The magic in bjj is in the details. He cares about getting the details right. Second, the progression of the curriculum builds a level or repetition that is essential to really burn the moves of bjj into the brain. This is important for someone with no wrestling background and starting later in life (like me). Third is practice. I practice whenever I can on my own. That helps me to remember the movements and build confidence. And I am able to contact my coach outside of the gym with questions.
So the long and short of my advice and experience is: Try a few places. Look for a curriculum that addresses beginners to advanced students. Train with a brown belt or higher (that's my personal opinion). Avoid places that emphasize rolling too soon (recipe for injuries). Find a schedule that fits your life so that you can dedicate yourself and be consistent (life happens, but going to class is key).
Just my two cents.
I wanted to share some experience I've had with other new white belts or those looking to start bjj. I've tried a few different gyms over the past year and each has its pluses and minuses, but I think there are certain elements that make a for a good place to train. I must say that I have liked all the coaches I have trained under and liked many of the people I have trained with, but that said I believe the right place to train has to fit your needs as a student and athlete. After all, you are talking about committing a lot of time and money to this place. And to get the return from your efforts, the gym has to fit your learning style, schedule and personality.
At my first gym I felt the instruction was ok, but disorganized. There was no clear curriculum and I remember learning techniques as a nascent white belt that were far too advanced for my knowledge of bjj. How can you lasso an arm on your first night of training when you don't even know the guard or the mount? That was frustrating. We rolled a lot there. Hence injuries were high... I am not saying that rolling=injuries, what I AM saying is that white belts rolling too soon often=injuries. Its important roll, but I do not feel its effective until you have a base of skills and strength. For instance, I remember rolling with other white belts and neither of us new enough bjj to do much but wrestle around. I would often find myself in mount and start thinking 'ok now what do I do?' Or very quickly and violent folded up and tapped out... which was humbling (good) but also led to frustration very quickly. And on a side note, as a white belt, I'd rather roll with blue belts or higher... the ego has long been worked out there and I have found that higher belts (especially purple and up) have no interest in tapping you out... they know they can. They are safer and usually don't go 110% at you. They know how to relax into the fight. More often than not, they are interested in helping you learn. So, as such, I was injured there and out for 4 mos (ankle then neck injuries), and didn't go back.
The next gym was a Gracie gym and excellent. There was a clear and progressive curriculum. There was a great instructor. I learned nuances and details that opened a whole new door and change my perception of bjj. The issue was the time of the classes and cost of the gym membership made it difficult to join. In addition, I the feel of the gym was, shall we say, rigid. I like structure, but I was looking for a community. After training a week there, I did not feel entirely welcomed (though I will offer sometimes it takes longer than a week to be accepted into a community). But the gym was expensive and it was going to be difficult to fit the training into my schedule. So after a trial week, I moved on.
I eventually found a new gym, run by a black belt that had all the components I needed. This is where I train now. They offer early AM classes, had a clear curriculum or progression of techniques, and the instruction was incredible. White belts are encouraged to roll but only after enough time has passed that there is some level of competency. I've learned more bjj in 2 mos there than I did at the the other two combined. The progressive curriculum has brought me through key submissions from the guard, essential sweeps, guard breaks and reversals, and we are now in the mount where I am learning the same submissions plus the Americana, essential chokes, and take downs... not to mention the movement drills to build muscle memory for escapes and gross motor movement of the body. While I do think that exposure at prior gyms plays a part, nothing stuck until now. I attribute this to a few things: the first is the instructor. My coach is a black belt and teaches in a way that is clear. He's patient, but exacting and has high expectations. We cannot sloppily get away with a new submission or sweep. He is concerned with his white belts getting it right and learning nuances that become bigger issues later. The magic in bjj is in the details. He cares about getting the details right. Second, the progression of the curriculum builds a level or repetition that is essential to really burn the moves of bjj into the brain. This is important for someone with no wrestling background and starting later in life (like me). Third is practice. I practice whenever I can on my own. That helps me to remember the movements and build confidence. And I am able to contact my coach outside of the gym with questions.
So the long and short of my advice and experience is: Try a few places. Look for a curriculum that addresses beginners to advanced students. Train with a brown belt or higher (that's my personal opinion). Avoid places that emphasize rolling too soon (recipe for injuries). Find a schedule that fits your life so that you can dedicate yourself and be consistent (life happens, but going to class is key).
Just my two cents.
