So soon my first semester of BJJ will come to an end and I'd like to do some reflecting on what I've learned and gained from it. It seems as if a lot of poker players have taken this sport up the last few years and the inspiration from them really helped to get me started and I figured that if someone gets inspired by this post it'd be a cool thing.
First of all I'd like to state that I have very little talent for this sport, or I might just be generally out of shape. Not sure which one just yet but I find it ridiculously fun so I train 3-4 times a week and I do improve a lot. However, the level I started at was really low. Poker comes naturally to me. Never really studied the game much and mostly played by instinct for a long time and even though I plan to change that this summer due to me being sick of not figuring out NL2k, I'd still consider me very talented in poker. This makes BJJ a nice change of pace and I feel how it humbles me and makes me a better person.
So, what have I gained from this so far? I'll make a list:
1. A bunch of new friends and acquaintances. Probably at least one who'll prove fairly useful one way or another and a bunch of people I'm really happy to know because they're various degrees of awesome, impressive, fun etc. Many of these from groups I'd probably wouldn't interact much with unless it was for the sport.
2. Much better shape and looks. To be fair I'm still fairly out of shape and I've got a long way to go to a six pack, but losing a fair bit of weight, getting much better conditioning, being more limber and probably stronger in at least some ways is a big plus in my book. Highlight as far as comments on this came from this foreign exchange student I've been seeing who had been away for two months, came back and drunkly started to comment on how I should start drinking heavily again otherwise I might find someone prettier then her.
3. Balance in life. Now I don't care nearly as much about losing 10k unless I can't have a roll within 24 hours. Learning new shit, getting a good work out in and not thinking about other crap is really good for my mental health.
4. Pretty much stopped drinking. I think I've gotten drunk two times or so this semester and had a few beers a handful of times. I'm fairly sure that this will contribute to my long time health and better results both in life as a whole and in poker (no more losing 6-7 bi on 10/20 HU hungover!)
5. Gotten better at keeping calm under pressure. Now I actually try to figure out a way to get out of it instead of going into panic mode every time some 100kg dude is laying on top of me trying to rip my arm of.
Stuff I've learned.
I'm much better at grappling now then I was when I started but I'm still not as good as I though I was. (“I'm a big dude heh, that little guy can't do shit against me! Lol...”)
BJJ is damn cool and some small dude with good technique can easily out-grapple a much bigger dude. 60kg girls are dangerous despite appearances and never underestimate skinny dudes if they look self assure.
While grappling. Keep head tight to body and elbows in. Don't get flat on back. Try to grab stuff to be able to have some control over people's movements. Underhooks are cool. Don't panic. Hip movement is key to everything. Easy is good. Advanced shit gets messed up as soon as you get tired.
Triangle chokes are cool, but despite general awesomeness they're probably not the best thing to try from mount or the back unless you actually know what you're doing.
When in doubt: pull guard. If not possible, just keep things tight and grab something. If at all possible, make sure they can't move their hips or head.
While attacking; try to get cool angles. When defending; try not to.
Big guys are often slow. Don't get their weight on top of you and you'll be fine.
0 votes
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Stim_Abuser United States. May 20 2010 17:18. Posts 7499
dont forget posture. posture is the main battle in the guard. to either be breaking your opponents posture or trying to keep your own posture while trying to pass that guard.
grats though. bjj is the nutz.
Hey Im slinging mad volume and fat stackin benjies I dont got time for spellin n shit - skinny pete
Number four is by far the suckiest consequence of you doing bbj, since I've only been practicing on getting my liver to be tough enough to outlast everyone when pre-drinking to dropkick
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terrybunny19240 United States. May 20 2010 17:28. Posts 13829
its been 2 months since i started bjj and i fucking love it. its been so awesome that everytime i have to miss it i feel bad about it i train 3-4 times a week as well, but would like to train 4-5 :/.
i especially like how everything is now 'clicking' to me, whereas when i first started I couldnt understand how to use my hips and my weight in my favor. its also fantastic how sometimes just a simple movement can change the whole situation, and even though everything is clear to someone whos watching from outside, sometimes you just cant see it (because you are a noob! =] )
pretty much all the things in your list apply to me. I really like the atmosphere in the gym, especially because once you step in it doesn't matter if you are old or young, rich or poor. everyone respects each other. I roll with janitors and with people who own big companies, and its sick how none of this matters.
pretty much stopped drinking too, whenever I go out for a drink I just drink 2 beers or something like that.
On May 20 2010 16:18 Stim_Abuser wrote:
dont forget posture. posture is the main battle in the guard. to either be breaking your opponents posture or trying to keep your own posture while trying to pass that guard.
grats though. bjj is the nutz.
Yea true, forgot that one. Gotta work more on that though, when I get someone broken down in my guard I'm like "this sucks, how do I get my knee in for a sweep!" and then I try an omoplata and get passed .
Only recently have I discovered how much I suck at pretty much every part of this game and how fun it is to try and get better.
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Stim_Abuser United States. May 20 2010 18:02. Posts 7499
On May 20 2010 16:18 Stim_Abuser wrote:
dont forget posture. posture is the main battle in the guard. to either be breaking your opponents posture or trying to keep your own posture while trying to pass that guard.
grats though. bjj is the nutz.
Yea true, forgot that one. Gotta work more on that though, when I get someone broken down in my guard I'm like "this sucks, how do I get my knee in for a sweep!" and then I try an omoplata and get passed .
Only recently have I discovered how much I suck at pretty much every part of this game and how fun it is to try and get better.
the struggle and journey to get better is definitely the best part. personally what i like to do once i break down the guard is get an overhook with my left arm ( im right handed ). pretty easy to control their posture from there. Once you get the over hook you can start trying to get your leg inside his left arm for the triangle or yea push his head to the right and go for an omoplata sweep.
getting the knee in isn't something you should be trying to force. its usually something you go for once he lifts up one of his legs to try and pass your guard. once he does this then go on your side get the knee in and come back to your back and you got a butterfly hooks. now since you go the over hand on the left arm just get the under on the right and get sweeps from there.
Hey Im slinging mad volume and fat stackin benjies I dont got time for spellin n shit - skinny pete
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Stim_Abuser United States. May 20 2010 18:06. Posts 7499
though details like this are vague in writing and hard to translate just try new things and have fun. not about showing how good you are its about getting better.
Hey Im slinging mad volume and fat stackin benjies I dont got time for spellin n shit - skinny pete
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Stim_Abuser United States. May 20 2010 18:10. Posts 7499
On May 20 2010 16:30 Raidern wrote:
thats a really nice post
its been 2 months since i started bjj and i fucking love it. its been so awesome that everytime i have to miss it i feel bad about it i train 3-4 times a week as well, but would like to train 4-5 :/.
i especially like how everything is now 'clicking' to me, whereas when i first started I couldnt understand how to use my hips and my weight in my favor. its also fantastic how sometimes just a simple movement can change the whole situation, and even though everything is clear to someone whos watching from outside, sometimes you just cant see it (because you are a noob! =] )
pretty much all the things in your list apply to me. I really like the atmosphere in the gym, especially because once you step in it doesn't matter if you are old or young, rich or poor. everyone respects each other. I roll with janitors and with people who own big companies, and its sick how none of this matters.
pretty much stopped drinking too, whenever I go out for a drink I just drink 2 beers or something like that.
lol yea ive met so many connections through bjj. dentists cops people who work at electronic stores. always getting good advice and sometimes deals. shit even an owner of a big club trains at our gym and we have huge VIP parties at his club on nights one of our guys fights.
all i need is a tax man to come train!
Hey Im slinging mad volume and fat stackin benjies I dont got time for spellin n shit - skinny pete
On May 20 2010 16:30 Raidern wrote:
thats a really nice post
its been 2 months since i started bjj and i fucking love it. its been so awesome that everytime i have to miss it i feel bad about it i train 3-4 times a week as well, but would like to train 4-5 :/.
i especially like how everything is now 'clicking' to me, whereas when i first started I couldnt understand how to use my hips and my weight in my favor. its also fantastic how sometimes just a simple movement can change the whole situation, and even though everything is clear to someone whos watching from outside, sometimes you just cant see it (because you are a noob! =] )
pretty much all the things in your list apply to me. I really like the atmosphere in the gym, especially because once you step in it doesn't matter if you are old or young, rich or poor. everyone respects each other. I roll with janitors and with people who own big companies, and its sick how none of this matters.
pretty much stopped drinking too, whenever I go out for a drink I just drink 2 beers or something like that.
lol yea ive met so many connections through bjj. dentists cops people who work at electronic stores. always getting good advice and sometimes deals. shit even an owner of a big club trains at our gym and we have huge VIP parties at his club on nights one of our guys fights.
all i need is a tax man to come train!
First rule of...
On May 20 2010 17:33 locoo wrote:
what exactly is BJJ/what does it mean? im a noob im guessing its like full contact?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
On February 19 2009 22:21 Confedrate wrote: i dont get it
does this work ?
watch the beginning and the last minute to see me ( if u interested that is)
i am new to facebook
but this is a video of me rolling a bit for fun with another guy who is a total beginner
i am the guy in the sprawl shorts who does go for the takedown but then gets to the ground softly ^^
well i try to give new schoolars the general concept of how it feels moving on the ground
My BJJ isnt too good though since i am an MMA guy and BJJ is just something a do a bit on the side
I like punching and kicking other people a lot more than grappling ^^
but BJJ works
its cool
U see what i did there with A8 ? He 4 bets and there we go insta jam A8 : ---booooom -- . hahahaha ( Krantz)
On May 20 2010 17:33 locoo wrote:
what exactly is BJJ/what does it mean? im a noob im guessing its like full contact?
Its the art of fighting without punching and kicking as main source of damage ( u do punch and kick in MMA even as a BJJ fighter but only to distract your opponent and follow up with a submission)
U try to get your opponent on the ground , while u get a good position on him.
then next u try to put him in a choke or a joint lock
Just as unreal this sounds ... but it really does work surprisingly well in real fighting situations.
If i was in a streetfight i personally would still rely on my fists
but its a fucking great addition for MMA and general fighting skillz
U see what i did there with A8 ? He 4 bets and there we go insta jam A8 : ---booooom -- . hahahaha ( Krantz)
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Steal City United States. May 20 2010 22:42. Posts 2537
i never play bad beat jackpot tables so this is good info
will read later
Intersango.com intersango.com
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HeRoS)eNGagE Canada. May 20 2010 23:31. Posts 10896
On May 20 2010 21:42 Steal City wrote:
i never play bad beat jackpot tables so this is good info
will read later
BJJ not BBJ!!
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hellokittery United States. May 20 2010 23:56. Posts 1399
Contact Users: 602 Active, 3 Logged in - Time: 21:57
i train 3-4 times a week as well, but would like to train 4-5 :/. 
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