Do new people actually exist in BJJ?

[Darren]

What are some of the many many numerous reasons people would not want to roll with you in BJJ? Thank you!!

 

[wab25]

This is because unfortunately a lot of BJJ instructors don’t know how to teach an organized progressive curriculum.

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.

 

[skribs]

We got someone new!

Who's not a body builder nor wrestler.

 

[Darren]

We got someone new!

Who's not a body builder nor wrestler.

Someone who is done putting up with BS down here and now is putting up with the afterlife’s BS!!!

 

[skribs]

Someone who is done putting up with BS down here and now is putting up with the afterlife’s BS!!!

What?

 

[Darren]

What?

It seemed by the wording it was a joke question, so in my dry humor I answered accordingly.

 

[Steve]

This is because unfortunately a lot of BJJ instructors don’t know how to teach an organized progressive curriculum.

In my classes I make an effort to make sure all my students understand how the different parts of the art work together, reinforce each other, and are built on common principles. I also try to make sure my students have a handle on the fundamentals before introducing the more esoteric and specialized moves. But there are schools where you will just get a random selection each day from the vast arsenal of BJJ techniques and you just have to stick around long enough for the puzzle pieces to start fitting together.

Several years ago, Gracie Barra started to impose a curriculum on their instructors. Caused quite a kerfuffle at the time.