How BJJ Works

BJJ Beginner's Guide Part 2b: 15 Questions to ask Before Signing a BJJ Gym Contract (#6-10)

There are a number of important factors that go into picking a good gym, though not all of them will apply to your specific search. If you find yourself overwhelmed by this list, keep in mind that you don’t need to know the answer to every question. The purpose of this list is to get you thinking before you jump into a situation that is not right for you. Read through the questions, make note of what seems important to you, and take the time to think about questions you may not have considered.

The following list is categorized by a mixture of priority and difficulty; you may not know the answer to some questions until you've spent time training at the gym. If you aren’t interested in getting granular when picking a gym, then just take a look at the first few items in the priority list. If you are the kind of person that wants to be as prepared as possible, then read each question, and try to think of additional questions that may have been missing from this list.

#6 - Are Specific Uniforms Required?

#7 - Do Students and Instructors Compete?

#8 - Is Cross Training Allowed?

#9 - What is Their Schedule?

#10 - How Difficult is the Commute?

Read the blog post at: https://www.howbjjworks.com/bjj-blog/2018/8/19/ask-15-questions-before-signing-bjj-gym-contract

 

BJJ Beginner's Guide Part 2a: 15 Questions to ask Before Signing a BJJ Gym Contract (#1-5)

There are a number of important factors that go into picking a good gym, though not all of them will apply to your specific search. If you find yourself overwhelmed by this list, keep in mind that you don’t need to know the answer to every question. The purpose of this list is to get you thinking before you jump into a situation that is not right for you. Read through the questions, make note of what seems important to you, and take the time to think about questions you may not have considered.

The following list is categorized by a mixture of priority and difficulty; you may not know the answer to some questions until you've spent time training at the gym. If you aren’t interested in getting granular when picking a gym, then just take a look at the first few items in the priority list. If you are the kind of person that wants to be as prepared as possible, then read each question, and try to think of additional questions that may have been missing from this list.

#1 - Is the gym Beginner Friendly?

#2 - Are There Female Members?

#3 - How Much Money Will it Cost?

#4 - What are the People Like?

#5 - What Kind of Contracts do They Offer?

Read the blog post at: https://www.howbjjworks.com/bjj-blog/2018/8/19/ask-15-questions-before-signing-bjj-gym-contract

BJJ Beginner's Guide Part 1: How to Find a Local BJJ Gym

When BJJ first started gaining traction in the US, practitioners would drive hours just to learn from a blue belt. Nowadays, finding a BJJ gym that is both near you and offers black belt instruction is easier than ever. You may still have to do some driving if you live in a rural area, but you may be surprised by how far you’re willing to drive once you get started. For those living in or around a city, you should have multiple gyms to choose from.

1. Search for “bjj near me” in Google Maps or Bing Maps

2. Search for “bjj + your city + your state” in Your Favorite Search Engine

3. Look for a Website With Images, Location, and Schedule

4. Look for Current Reviews and Testimonials

Read the blog post at: https://www.howbjjworks.com/bjj-blog/2018/8/19/how-to-find-a-local-bjj-gym

BJJ Positional Hierarchy: Overview, Context, and Strategy

Within the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), a “position” refers to the bodily arrangement or placement of two grapplers. Each position comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. While there are a handful of generally accepted basic positions, not all practitioners agree on what to call them or which are the best. Additionally, new positions are being created and expanded upon all the time.

Naming Conventions

Positional Hierarchy

• POSITIONS IN THE TOP-LEVEL HIERARCHY
• POSITIONS BEYOND THE TOP-LEVEL HIERARCHY

Top and Bottom Positions

• TOP POSITION ADVANTAGE
• BOTTOM POSITION ADVANTAGE
• WHEN TO CONCEDE TOP POSITION

Position Before Submission

Positional Tactics and Strategy

Positional Changes

• TRANSITIONS
• REVERSALS
• SCRAMBLES
• ESCAPES

Developing a Game

Continued Learning

Read the blog post at: https://www.howbjjworks.com/bjj-blog/2018/8/6/how-positions-work-in-bjj

BJJ Rolling & Sparring: Overview of What to Expect

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, “rolling” is an all-encompassing term for sparring or drilling at varying degrees of intensity. BJJ practitioners may specify the degree of intensity by using a qualifier such as flow rolling (a low degree of intensity) or hard rolling (a high degree of intensity). When someone says, “Let’s roll,” it’s similar to a wrestler saying, “Let’s wrestle.” In this way, rolling can be similar to wrestling, sparring, playing, or horsing around with a friend. The degree to which both parties will exert force probably depends on the context of the situation, such as a warm-up roll before drilling or hard rolling to prepare for a competition). Additionally, other factors may come into play, such as your familiarity of your training partner or gym, such as someone you just met as opposed to a lifelong training partner.

Rolling to get Warm

• FLOW ROLLING
• POSITIONAL ROLLING

Rolling to Submission

• LIVE ROLLING
• HARD ROLLING
• COMPETITIVE ROLLING

Rolling Partners

• PICKING A PARTNER
• BEING PAIRED WITH A PARTNER
• DECLINING A ROLL

Awkward or Inappropriate Situations

• ROLLING WITH ANOTHER GENDER
• HOW TO ADDRESS INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

Safety and Discomfort

• STOP IF YOU FEEL UNSAFE
• DISCOMFORT CAN BE FINE

Rolling Gi vs. No Gi

Read the blog post at: https://www.howbjjworks.com/bjj-blog/2018/7/29/how-rolling-works-in-bjj