Loke,
To get more conditioning for grappling, think Nike: “Just do it.”
(Slightly OT: I saw magazine article once about Nike sweatshops, and there was this big ol’ warehouse with a bunch of poor laborers slaving away cranking out cheap Nike products, and on one of the walls was this HUGE banner with the swoosh logo and the words “Just do it”. :eek: It just looked bad.)
For Ryu,
My first BJJ experience(s):
non-class - A friend put me in a triangle choke, and I resisted wrong and almost had my head pulled off my shoulders. Couldn’t go to work that day and had to support my head with one hand to get up/lay down for a day or two. Same friend a week later put me in a short arm bar. I twisted wrong, felt and actually heard a tearing sound in my elbow and tapped like I was playing “Track and Field” on Nintendo. Couldn’t hold much weight with that arm for a few days. Some friend, huh ? (no serious injuries, BTW).
class-setting - Gassed out early (during warm-ups . Pathetic.). Tapped out to every color of belt that stood in front of me. Couldn’t tap out a 15 year old kid that I outweighed by about 80 pounds. Tapped out to a slightly older kid that weighed even less. Tapped out to a guy using only one arm because he had a separated shoulder. I had so much fun, I couldn’t wait to come back next week! (I had to drop out after a month though, because I couldn’t afford it any more :mad: )
"Fightfan,
When you say do the crunches with the guard closed and open, what does that mean?? "
When you get in the crunch position, bring your knees up(kinda like you have someone in your guard) and cross your ankles. When you do the crunch close your hands behind your neck and try to touch your elbows to your knees. For the open guard do the same except dont cross your ankles.
"The school is affiliated with the Ralph Gracie schools. Is that a good thing? Sorry, don’t know much about these things. "
Thats a very good thing!
There’s not a lot of standup because that is not what BJJ is primarily about. You note yourself you’re getting slaughtered on the ground, and THAT is where BJJ takes place. I don’t really think anybody makes an issue out of that–everybody knows it!
The fact that you can throw them easily is an advantage for you. Learn how to land in and maintain a superior position and it will make things much easier for you!
Ralph Gracie schools tend to be tough as nails competitors.
31 is not too old to compete. There are usually “masters” divisions at most tournaments. IF that masters division is divided up by rank as well as weight, that’s a good place to start. Otherwise, just go in your belt division… unless they let you compete in more than one division.
BJJ and submission grappling tourneys tend to be expensive. I’ve never escaped less than a $40 entry fee.
MP,
I wouldn’t say I can throw them easily, but I managed to not get thrown for the most part. As you mention, I guess the tricky part is to maintain control once you’re down.
Thanks for the info on tourney’s. It’s something I think would be fun to try a few times.
Final question, If you guys had the chance to train on a fairly regular basis at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, CA, would you do it? Or would you train at some of the other academies around (like the Machado’s etc.)?
Merry, No prob, we were talking about the same thin it seems.
Loki, I’m gonna shoot you that .pdf file. It’s the old Scrapper routines if you’ve seen it. Oh yeah, when you roll, remember to breathe OUT not just in, LOL.
Loke
I have to agree with Merryprankster on the Gracie Torrance school. Their rep is now a bit shakey.
My instructor/professor is Caique, who teaches in Carson, CA. He was the main instructor at Gracie Torr. untill he left to open his own school. When he left the Gracies, almost all of his colored belt students left to go with him.
He is an awesome instructor, one of the worlds best, and on top of that he’s also one of the warmest people you could ever meet. He really cares about his students.
Gracie Torrance is now being run (for all practical purposes) by Ryron and Renner, Rorion’s sons. The atmosphere is fairly relaxed and Ryron and Renner are hella cool. Both are awesome BJJ players with state rankings in wrestling also. Rorion just handles the paperwork and overseas instruction. I’ve done a private with Ryron and he is a good teacher. I learned 7-8 new moves in 1 hr.
Caique’s C-arson school is really relaxed. They leave the doors wide open so you can breathe in that cool Pacific air. There is a big family feel to the classes. Caique’s BJJ is first rate (he was a contemporary and student of Rickson in Brazil). He’s real patient and a nice guy. Everyone that meets him likes him. I consider him a family friend and an awesome martial artist.
Both schools are cool, and both parties are personal friends. Training with Ryron was like training with a homey. Training with Caique is like training with a friend or big brother. Regardless of which school you pick you just can’t go wrong with either (IMHO).
Quote:
Come to think of it, BJJ schools seems to charge quite a bit more than other MA schools. Why is that?
It costs money for gi’s and pretty belts…
:rolleyes:
Anyways, you asked if BJJ schools teach to fight without a gi, yes and no. In my area the schools have no-gi days, and days where you cannot use “gi-techniques” (although most “gi-techniques” can be used without a gi, jusst grabbing differently).
Also, ironically, gi’s actually teach you how to fight without a gi.
Kinda like lifting weights.
Visit some, then train wherever you are comfortable. I’ve met Caique and he’s reffed a couple of my matches. Very nice fellow. I’ve heard nothing but VERY good things bout him.
As far as the expense goes, remember that most BJJ instructors are trying to make a living doing what they do. Also remember that BJJ is “the rage.” Also remember that the training is so intense, most people wash out… factor the cost of living in there, and the relative rarity of BJJ and you’ve pretty much got higher prices.
Loke,
Well my choice was Chris Brennan down in Irvine which is close to home, fairly priced and all there classes are no gi. Up in LA, it would have either been Machado, Torrance or Caique in Carson which is just down the street from my place of work. It really depends on what you are looking for, I am not interested in competitions and was looking for something more street oriented. The Machado’s are great instructors but there focus is on competition, Caique is more Gracie pure water jooo jeestu it is going to be more “street oriented” in instruction so to speak.
As for pricing, Caique is cheaper by about forty or so dollars, but most BJJ places are going to charge $100.00 and up. BJJ is more expensive then most other MA’s because of the simple factor BJJ schools need a lot of space. Most schools can only fit twenty or so students at once in So Cal so they have to charge more to cover rent, plus add the time factor and you start to understand the cost.-ED
P.S.-The “Mecca” is Southern California (Orange County/LA) more or less.
Visit all of the different schools in your area and stick with the one that you get along with the peaple the best. Like it or not its going to be a while before you get the hang of it so youll be tapping a lot. Find the place that respects you the most and youll be OK.
GSD,
Thanks for your suggestions. I’ll check Caique’s school out, as so many of you have suggested his school. My main interest is self-defense and fitness, but if I get into competition that would be cool too.
What’s Chris Brennan’s school like? Irvine is a little out of the way for me, but if it’s a good school maybe I should check into it?
Looking at his website, it seems they concentrate on NHB or am I just reading it out of context?
I’m also planning to check out Cleber Luciano in HB, and Franco DeCamargo’s school in Orange, but Caique’s school is on top of my list right now. Anyone have any experience with the Cleber or Franco?
? (no serious injuries, BTW).
. Pathetic.). Tapped out to every color of belt that stood in front of me. Couldn’t tap out a 15 year old kid that I outweighed by about 80 pounds. Tapped out to a slightly older kid that weighed even less. Tapped out to a guy using only one arm because he had a separated shoulder. I had so much fun, I couldn’t wait to come back next week! (I had to drop out after a month though, because I couldn’t afford it any more :mad: )
