Do new people actually exist in BJJ?
- Thread starter skribs
- Start date
To be fair... there are a lot of TMA instructors who don't know how to teach an organized progressive curriculum... even when they are given that organized progressive curriculum to start with.
I run across Shotokan instructors all the time who have a hard time answering the question of why the Heian Katas are taught first. Sure, they are simple, and they are easy and they contain basic techniques.... But they can't explain what are the principles taught in the Heian Kata? What principles are taught in the Tekki Kata? How do the Heian Kata prepare you for the Tekki Kata? How do the Tekki Kata build on and expand on the Heian Kata?
To many people in TMA think that they have learned a kata, once they have it memorized... instead of taking the approach that once you have it memorized, now is when you can start to study it. These same people become instructors... not knowing how the kata work together, both preparing you for the next kata and building upon the previous kata.
My experience in BJJ was similar.... the instructor picks technique of the day, in some seemingly random order. The difference has been that the BJJ instructor really understands those techniques. The BJJ instructor knows how that technique relates to the other techniques and knows the core underlying principles that are common.
I see BJJ instructors as needing to work on organizing what they know, so that it can be transmitted more effectively. I see TMA instructors as needing to do much more study, so that they actually understand what it was that they memorized.
And of course, there are plenty of exceptions on both sides... of instructors that do have the best of both. But, if I had a list of BJJ schools and threw a dart at it.... Or if I had a list of TMA schools and threw a dart at it.... I believe most of the time, the dart would pick a school that fits my above definitions.
The good news is, both of these issues are fixable. The first step for each is the same.... realizing what you need to improve with your instruction.
Darren
Green Belt
Someone who is done putting up with BS down here and now is putting up with the afterlife’s BS!!!
OP
OP
skribs
Grandmaster
What?
Darren
Green Belt
It seemed by the wording it was a joke question, so in my dry humor I answered accordingly.
Steve
Mostly Harmless
Several years ago, Gracie Barra started to impose a curriculum on their instructors. Caused quite a kerfuffle at the time.
Hot Lunch
Master Black Belt
It looks like I could possibly be one soon. I have no prior grappling training. I inquired about judo yesterday at a dojo not too far from me. It's affiliated with USJA. The head instructor wasn't there, but the most senior person who was teaching striking classes at the time (who is a brown belt in judo) said something about the judo training being intended as part of the overall BJJ training there (if I heard him correctly).
The head instructor will be there today. Although I'd really be there for the judo, if it's a deal where I'm required to train in BJJ - and judo is simply part of it - then I'm ready to do this.
The head instructor will be there today. Although I'd really be there for the judo, if it's a deal where I'm required to train in BJJ - and judo is simply part of it - then I'm ready to do this.
Hot Lunch
Master Black Belt
Went in last night, found out that judo and BJJ there are separate, and that I can pay for just judo if I want. But if I do both, it's for an additional cost that's small enough for me to be a fool not to. In fact, when judo class was over, only one student (out of ten, maybe) left, while the rest remained for BJJ class.
Ordered a judo gi last night, and currently shopping for a BJJ gi. Should be starting next week.
Ordered a judo gi last night, and currently shopping for a BJJ gi. Should be starting next week.
Hot Lunch
Master Black Belt
Some styles teach Naihanchis before Pinans. If I was to guess why it's the reverse in Shotokan, it would be because remaining in the kiba dachi in Tekki kata presents an additional challenge to Heian kata, whereas that's not the case in the Okinawan styles that put Naihanchi before Pinan.
drop bear
Sr. Grandmaster
Expecting two different gis is a bit rich.
Hot Lunch
Master Black Belt
I don't understand.
He's talking about a judo gi and a BJJ gi.
Wing Woo Gar
Grandmaster
Again, I wish you, or someone who teaches like you was here to learn this from. I want to learn and I’m not a quitter but kinda hate the way it’s taught here.
Hot Lunch
Master Black Belt
I get that. But it sounds as if he's suggesting there's an absurdity behind getting separate gis.
Wing Woo Gar
Grandmaster
Maybe I need a different gi…
Not db, but I agree with him. It's an absurdity if they expect/require you to get different gis. Since you could use one for both, and gis are expensive.
If it's not expected, and you just want to have a specific judo and bjj gi, that's not absurd. I've got like 5 different gi's that I wear depending on what art I'm currently doing.
Hot Lunch
Master Black Belt
Got it. I don't believe that's an expectation, but when I had intended on doing judo only, I intended to get two judo gis (I think it's disgusting to try to make through the week on one). Now I'm starting out with one of each, and then I'll add as necessary over time.
I think the interpretation is that you'll do the Judo class, then change Gi in between classes. That does seems silly.
Oily Dragon
Senior Master
And they are very different for a few different reasons.
First and foremost, Brazil is hot!
The heavier judogis lend better to standup throwing. The thinner ones are better suited to sweaty groundfighting. Extended newaza in a traditional (cotton) judogi causes heat exhaustion, so the BJJ gis are fewer threads, and more breathable.
This is why nogi BJJ was created. Sweat wicking is best.
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