Taking my first step into a larger world

**kelvis** · Posted On: 7/16/2012 9:37am

Originally Posted by top knot

Well, an aborted go at Judo aside, I'm about to enter the world of the grappling arts, specifially, I intend to observe a class tomorrow night (monday night) and, if all looks well, sign up to start wednesday night. Wish me luck, any advice for a first-time BJJ student, who is a greatbigtubalard accomplished at 40-oz curls and remote-fu more than anything else, vis-a-vis the initial training? What should I expect (in a general sense, not this specific school, unless a Bully has been there)?
here's the place I'll be attending:
www.marrajj.com/
Thanks, in advance.

Good for you, me too! I start in September. I started a simular thread a little while ago and I got some good responses:
http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=117079
Congrats!

**Petter** · Posted On: 7/16/2012 10:20am

Originally Posted by top knot

Wish me luck, any advice for a first-time BJJ student, who is a greatbigtubalard accomplished at 40-oz curls and remote-fu more than anything else, vis-a-vis the initial training?

Don’t let pride get in your way: When you need a breather, you need a breather, and you won’t be the first to do so.
Don’t let ego get in your way: When you need to tap, you tap. Better safe than sorry, especially with joints.
Don’t spaz. Sparring is for learning, not winning. Better to make a good effort with deliberate moves than to madly throw your weight around to win at all costs (and risking injury to your training partners).
When in doubt, keep your elbows in. No one will armbar you while your elbows are tucked to your body, but they will armbar you if you leave your arms hanging out.

**RhinoUP** · Posted On: 7/16/2012 10:50am

Tap early and often. Make sure you know where to go to throw up.

**W. Rabbit** · Posted On: 7/16/2012 10:56am

Learn to love gi burn as a mark of honor, not shame.

Learn to love answering "oooooh what happened to your neck?!" with " just trainin'".

**Turrry** · Posted On: 7/16/2012 11:34am

After a month I've learned don't be afraid to ask stupid questions when given the opportunity. Stuff like, "how do I use my side mount escape when my arms are caught?", "what are my real submission options from mount and how do I keep from getting bucked off?"...

You'll get a chuckle or two but I promise those who are chuckling will learn something too.

top knot · Posted On: 7/16/2012 1:14pm

You guys rule! Thanks for all the advice.

**goodlun** · Posted On: 7/16/2012 1:29pm

I would also say at 1st focus more on concepts and survival and less on techniques.

top knot · Posted On: 7/16/2012 2:14pm

Admittedly a noob, but what is the difference between technique and concept (I *think* I get what you're saying, but I am totally not sure). The survival I get. just learn to be able to SURVIVE a roll/fight. gotcha, that will take me a goodly long while, I'm sure.
technique v concept = the concept of WHY something works as opposed to how to actually do it?
please correct me if I'm wrong.

**goodlun** · Posted On: 7/16/2012 2:43pm

I guess it would be best for
Stephan Kesting to answer this instead of me
http://www.grapplearts.tv/

I am not saying go out and buy his product (I do hear it is good though) but do look at the mindset he is speaking of and feel free to ask your instructor to ask them more in-depth questions at an appropriate time.

**Petter** · Posted On: 7/16/2012 3:28pm

The notion of a concept-first approach to martial arts always sounded a little odd to me. You can learn techniques without understanding the concepts (a shallow understanding), but can you meaningfully learn concepts without practising delivery via specific techniques? I think of concepts as things that are common to, and extrapolated between, techniques; the instructor should point them out and emphasise them, and the student should look for them, but surely the beginner first has to learn a few techniques to express those concepts?