New to BJJ and need feedback...

[Muffdiver]

First off, I'm a n00b to BJJ...Here is what our curriculum is like in class so I can get to the point of this thread.

1) 30min Stretching, situps, pushups, including Escape, & other transitional movements you incorporate in sparring.

2) 30 - 45 min. Techniques of the day being taught

3) 30 - 1.5 Hr Live Sparring

4) Once a week NO-GI training

Now here is my questions and observations that you can provide feedback on...First off, The techniques being taught almost always start from the mount or in the guard. Secondly, Sparring always start from the ground...and he hasnt shown any takedowns yet. The techqs. were awesome and I enjoyed it BUT when I tried this shit at home where I have NO mats and tiles for a floor I felt as if I was going to bust out all my vertabrae on the floor. I only cringed to think how half this stuff can be pulled off on the street ( Concrete, Curbs, gravel, stones, ect. ) Not to mention no stand up techqs. and I havnlt learned a takedown yet. Is this how other BJJ schools are ? We are affiliated with Gracie Barra.

FYI - Im not knockin it...I enjoy it but is this stuff as easy to pull off in the street as in the DOJO ?

Thanks

[Greese]

What were you trying that made you feel like that?
Maybe it is because you are not use to it, but I have trained on linolium and had no problems.

[Muffdiver]

I am not that well informed yet on the name of the techniqes...One was call a " helicopter " or thats how we call it here....its when you are in the guard and you fling your legs around to his neck and get him in a submission hold ( armbar or choke ) it was the transition of the swinging motion on my back that made me feel uneasy....

[chaosexmachina]

Wearing long pants and grappling on hardwood floor wasn't so bad (except the minor annoyance or friction burns)... Concrete might be different, esp. with shorts. But I'm thinking on the STR33T!, any adrenaline pumping through your veins might overcome any pain you might get from knees or other appendages scraping pavement.

[WhiteShark]

If this isn't a troll...

On t3h str33t! you should really not be doing guard work unless you have to. Remember positional dominance is more important and makes the other guy have to deal with scratches on his back.

[Chupacabra]

don't worry about the street. The only time your not going to have someones back in like 2 seconds is if they know some kind of submission wrestling.

[Muffdiver]

Okay...aside from the street factor, does the other points fit correctly in the curriculem...In other words is it normal that I am NOT learning takedowns or throws from stand up position and is it normal for us to be sparring from the ground position....

[Aesopian]

That sounds about right. I go to Gracie Barra Tampa and we follow about the same class format. Just stick with it and you'll learn takedowns. I happened to start BJJ a week that my instructor was teaching hip throws of all sorts, so my first classes of BJJ were actually mostly stand-up and takedowns. If I had started BJJ any time in the past month and a half though, I'd only have learned attacks and sweeps from my back, in either the spider or de le riva guard. Assuming your school runs in about the same way, you're instructor is probably focusing on one aspect for a week or two at a time, and since this IS BJJ, much of what you study is going to be from the ground.

Also, the "for t3h str33t" debate is so dead that I recommend just searching for old threads on it.

[MrMcFu]

I only learned a few takedowns in my couple years of BJJ, and those have only come during the last six months or so.

I suggest combining BJJ with Shooto :)

[DANINJA]

doing a good stiking art with your BJJ training will be useful for the street

[Muffdiver]

Thanks so far...I wanted to hear from others who are/were involved in BJJ that can confirm the classes curriculum and to know what I can expect in the future. I wouldnt want to spend anymore $$$ on MA so combining arts would not be reasonable to me...Not to mention I would probably burn myself out within 3 months.

[Muffdiver]

Since I do have prior experience in MA....albeit it IS Kung Fu...Its hasnt been all a waste, I was fortunate to have an instructor that knew what he was doing. I do still remember a lot of strikes we learnt. Worse comes to worse...Ill buy a bag and just hit the fucking thing. Or go to a bar get drunk and start a fight. Hell...it worked for VAN DAMN in " Kickboxer " right ??????

[Ronin]

IF you wanna start a fight with someone, go to a bar/night club/strip club and challenge a bouncer.
They will be very happy to help you out.

[TylerDurden]

Make it a point to ask the instructor about takedowns. It never hurts to ask about them, just phrase it politely. Don't say, do we ever do takedowns here or what? Try something more like, asking how you get someone down to the ground, make it open ended like that. Also look for seminars in your area on Judo or wrestling. There has to be someplace in Athens to learn a few wrestling take downs right?

[Beatdown Richie]

You could be at a school that neglects standup. Those exist. Starting sparring on the knees is normal, though. If you're worried about standup, go to a judo or wrestling club. If you want to get the best groundfighting, go to BJJ. Simple.

[Locu5]

from what i have seen, bjj schools seem to focus more on the ground work than takedowns or throws (my local atlaliens can correct me if i am wrong). ask your instructor about takedowns, throws, or the clinch, and what he thinks of teaching some of them. i am betting he is focusing one one part of the game at the moment and will incorporate the others either when it is time or when you are ready for it.

edit: also when you learn throws, etc, you will also learn to fall better which will help your sensitivity to moving around on the ground imho.