Afraid of being laughed at? No worries.. after watching this video you’ll be well prepared for your first rolls on the mat…
WHY DO WE START ROLLING FROM THE KNEES IN BJJ?
As a Brazilian jiu-jitsu beginner, how do we start live training ( aka rolling aka grappling aka BJJ Sparring ). Your instructor will most likely have you start the roll with your training partner from your knees. This is for two reason.. both having to do with safety and injury prevention. First, a beginner white belt is not as familiar with takedowns as a more seasoned blue belt. Not knowing takedowns can pose a higher risk of injury for both partners. For example, being taken down requires the skill of break falling. Secondly, starting from the knees conserves mat space. Starting from the feet and moving to performing a takedown requires more space than starting a roll from the knees. Live training from the knees reduces the risk of grappling pairs accidentally running into each other. Now, that being said.. in the real world when are
HOW TO AVOID INJURY WHILE GRAPPLING FROM THE KNEES – A COMMON BEGINNER’S MISTAKE
Never EVER EVER EVER start from a position where you are on sitting on your knees and your feet are out. Tuck those puppies underneath you!! Feet that are positioned outward pose A VERY HIGH RISK OF A BROKEN / INJURED LEG. Tucked leg(s) allows your body to be pushed backwards. A foot sticking out from a kneeling position is like propping your body up with a twig.. that can snap if the right angle and force is accidentally applied by your partner during live training / rolling / grappling… and even during a regular class with just drilling.
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU BEGINNER – WHITE BELT GRAPPLING STEPS
STEP 1 – GRAPPLING STARTING POSITION
Before starting a roll we get into our starting position. In this video we cover two options.. 1) Start from your knees.. with both legs / feet tucked underneath you. Why tucked? See explanation above. 2) A beginner can also choose to have a more active / offensive position by starting her / his roll from the Combat Position. The Combat Position is a great position to practice, especially as a beginner, because it is also a starting point position for passing game ( passing only after your opponent’s guard is broken, of course. You can’t pass a closed guard .. unless you’ve just come on the mat after a dunk in an industrial sized vat of petroleum jelly… then you’re ready to party )
The future “You” will thank you: If you’re familiar with the Combat Position because that’s how you’ve started your rolls since “Day 1 Rolling White Belt” then moving onto developing your passing game from guard will be MUCH EASIER.
STEP 2 – SHAKING HANDS
Next, after casually getting into your starting position you’ll “shake hands” with your partner. This is either a fist bump or a horizontal hand slap followed by a fist bump. This is not a vertical high five or a formal “hand shake”.
WATCH THIS: https://youtu.be/w2h4sAR3D6w
To See How/Why Picking Training Partners Matter
STEP 3 – ADDRESSING GRIPS & GRIP FIGHTING – #1 WHITE BELT MISTAKE
If you were talking to a friend at a party and s/he grabbed your shirt, would you continue to talk about your sweet new mask or would you say, “Hey skippy.. I just bought this shirt. Get your mitts off me.” Exactly. In grappling (and everyday life as it seems..), if your lapel is grabbed this means your opponent has control over your torso.. bad news for you. You MUST ADDRESS THESE GRIPS THE SECOND IT HAPPENS. Grip fighting is the first step.. it happens in the first few seconds. It is how grappling matches start… whether you’re starting from the knees, standing, or playing a friendly game of pickup hockey. Grip fighting is key.. learn techniques on how to strip and break grips. Don’t ever ignore a hand that’s laid on on you.. especially when you’re wearing your sweet Three Wolves Howling at The Moon cropped t-shirt.
STEP 4 – YOUR OBJECTIVES
– Strip and break grips
– Get your own grips
– Aim to get past your partner’s legs
– Get your partner onto her / his back (or get to the back.. period. But pushing them onto their back is a more realistic start than getting your opponent’s back as a Day 1 White Belt)
– Understand top positions (watch link below)
WATCH THIS – Top Positions
STEP 5 – WHAT YOU WANT TO AVOID
– Opponent getting a maintaining grips
– Bottom positions (watch link below)
WATCH THIS – Bottom Positions
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