tallgeese

Just out of curiosity, Dobbersky what makes it a better fit? Just wondering. I too have looked at Aikido and found that it didn't fit for what I wanted at the time for slightly different reasons, but it didn't suit me either. That's not to say it's not a great art, but it just didn't fit with the response patterns I'd been working. Not to mention, for all the peach and harmony talk, getting all you wrists and small joints cranked repetitively isn't much fun.

Welcome, again, to your new addiction. I agree, having spent some time informally getting smashed by some judo players while in college, that I'd far rather do BJJ than judo. I just don't need the ballistic trauma. Singles and doubles I can handle, repetitive hip tosses, not so much. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Sweet!!! Man, was I ever young enough to be a yellow belt? 4/11 Drilled postuer in teh guard. Cross collar choke and defense. Finished by working some takedown reps off of jumping guard. 15 min free roll closed guard v. pass 15 min free roll

4/10 Light jog to warm up. Since the cold snap I can't make myself go back outside and I am sure as heck not getting back on the treadmill. Laps on the mat it is. Abs Back/bis

Very interesting interview with with the legend. It's interesting to see how his views and goals have changed with time: http://www.worldjiujitsuexpo.com/news.asp?contentID=37

And what works for each individual is important. One can't discount that, results are what matter. For me, and the guys on my shift (I am an active LEO), I teach a heavy aggressive based pattern. Use of force understanding is important to get one out of the problems you bring up, in fact size is one of the factors considered in Graham vs. Conner. A court case that every cop should be aware of, and quite frankly, wouldn't hurt most martial artists either. It's important to note, aggression does not have to mean striking them until they are a bloody pulp (although it might). It just means a forward pressing offense. For instance in the second "aggressive cop" video, most of what he's doing is pressing forward with takedown efforts. This works because it makes the bad guy stop his aggression and worry about staying up. There's lots of other training points to take away from this, but we're just looking at aggression vs. passive work right now. Also, all of the Gracie fights are pressed forward aggressively with minimal striking efforts and almost all revolve around aggressively getting the takedown. Just something to consider.

4/9 Back at it. Drilled posture in guard and the fundamental movements to prevent submission. Went into hip bump sweep for bottom guy after conducting the posture work. Finished with hip bump to arm in choke and used it to bait the triangle. 15 min free roll closed guard v. pass 15 min free roll

Here's just some highlight stuff from various videos I was talking about earlier. I'm not arguing here that my opinion is right, btw, Montana. Just pointing out where my viewpoint comes from. First up, a couple of passive cops: Without getting caught up in the specifics of tactics, I want to look at the mindset choices. Both (and they are indicative of a lot of these things) decide to back up, to defend. This sets them in the idea of defending. By creating distance (a valid choice in some situations- granted) they are making an effort to counter fight in a way. They are going to try to get to their gun or spray, or well pick an intermediate weapon. However, this leads them to getting overrun by an opponent with a mindset that is superior to theirs in regard to winning a fight. (Off topic, we spend way to much time talking about "surviving" a fight, ect. We need to teach our people to win fights) Now, for a couple of forward moving cops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrOEObm-cKo Now you see two aggressive cops both pressing the fight, both with far better outcomes to themselves. Granted, in the second I'd have rather seen the cop definitively win with less outside assistance; however, by continually pressing the fight with take down and tie up efforts he prevented major injury to himself or escape by the offender. A better outcome than a lot of these have. I would much rather be internet famous as one of the second two cops than the first two. Again, I know this is hardly scientific and does not take into account all the dash cam footage out there, but from my experience of using this stuff regularly in training, these sorts of outcomes are the norm. Aggression usually leads to better outcomes for the good guys. From my own experience on the job as well as being the guy that does our use of force review every year, I can say that anecdotally this holds true as well. Lastly, here's a clip from the classic Gracie in Action series- and perhaps it's easier for a non-LEO martial artist to wrap their head around. Now, before we go here, this is not a "this art is better than that" point for me. What is important is the mindset of each fighter. Notice how the decision to defend or attack effects each individual. In a way, these older videos are more applicable to us, as both martial artist and cops, than professional fight footage (although there have been great learning points with the advent of mma for sd minded martial artist). What we look at in these is a highly trained martial artist fighting someone who is not well versed in his form of combat. This should sound like a familiar analogy to martial artist concerned with being attacked on the street. The style could be anything, this is just the best video representation of it I have been able to find to date. Again, focus on the aggressive vs. passive ratio of how the fights begin. It's this beginning of each (there are 4-5) that is the most important to this discussion. Gracie fights: So, there is some of the back ground to my argument. I won't deny that being a counter fighter has advantages. However, I think that data from actual conflicts would give credence to the idea that pressing the fight in combative situations is a good idea.

I strongly agree with everyone's posts to date about the time factor. If we isolate the private lesson factor, though, I do have a couple of thoughts on it. It's an animal that is still alive and well in BJJ and for good reason I think. With privates (usually around 80-100 for BB's) you get undivided attention of your coach. He's seen your game, knows how you work, and probably has some good recommendations on what to work on with you for an hour of time. Go in with a general idea (like, for some of my own examples: holding mount, de la riva, breaking guard) and let him go with it. Give him a broad canvass to work with, then let him work on the things he thinks will benefit you the most. For me, these have always been fantastic learning experiences. If you're not routinely taking notes, certainly take them after private sessions. This lets you keep the details (and there should be plenty) right up front in your mind till you make them second nature. Maybe ask if you can video. If you can't or are uncomfortable with the request grab a friend asap and cut a video notebook of your own. Preferably very soon after the private. Lastly, start incorporating the materiel right away into your live training. Don't wait till you get it perfect. Chances are you'll never use it. Start it immediately and perfect the technique under duress. Then it will be yours. I agree with the time comments everyone's made, but from someone coming out of a background of getting the occasional private, I'd suggest it when you economic situation will allow. Usually, I use them if I'm having an ongoing problem that I've tracked (another great reason to keep notes) or feel like I'm in a slump. Good luck, let us know what you decide.

When we look at combative work, aggression is the best answer in almost every possible situation. Passive or defensive mindset almost always gets one overrun. Look at most every dash cam video you see of cops betting beat up, the single event that every one of them will have is the cop backing up, or defending, or trying to block while the aggressor runs over him and takes dominance. Now flip that, every dash cam video where the cop wins with minimal damage will have an example of an aggressive cop pressing the fight. Granted, this is not a scientific study, nor does it encompass all of the situations where those training in martial arts might find themselves, but it illustrates the mindset the gives one the best chance of winning. If you're training for self defense, it gives a fairly good indicator of the kinds of things we need to be looking at training into our students.

I think the final answer as to if you should question a tradition or not depends on your assessment of what you're in martial arts for in the first place. Most of your direction in the arts depend on an honest assessment of what you're in them for in the first place. If your goal is the preservation of an art form developed in a given country at a given time in its development then obviously no, you're not going to question tradition. If your goal is the building of a combative base in the most efficient manner possible, then yes, you should question any tradition that seems to be counter productive. You don't have to throw them out, out of hand but you should take an informed look at it. You should then reassess them as you gain training and experience. It's an ongoing process.

Having been the grappling type of one kind of another for a while, I've seen some (and quite frankly had some) nasty stuff from the mat. It's very prevalent with wrestlers to the tune of ringworm, impetigo, and shingles. All, I believe, fungus'. Which, btw, is the cause of the two issues you bring up. There are over the counter treatments that work well. If it lingers too long, a couple of weeks or so (I've gone to giving it four but that's just me) see a doc. They do make very strong oral meds that really knock the stuff out. Clean mats help, the always do. Don't neglect the cleaning of the changing rooms, which is where a lot of stuff can get transmitted. Encourage everyone to shower immediately after working out. Also, make sure people are covering and treating ANY skin abnormalities. That should keep it to a minimum. I know, it's gross. Wrestlers deal with this. I've been very lucky at my current gym, which has hand many less issues than others I've been at. Be glad that you haven't had to deal with a MRSA outbreak or any of the other nasties. Best to encourage people to get checked if there is any question rather than risk transmission.

4/3 More of the same at work with more bad guys. pm: 60 min free roll

Being the non-traditionalist here, one might expect me to jump on board with the OP; however, I'd have to strongly disagree. Even as a guy who is all about evolution of training practices, I'd be remiss to say anything disrespectful about Wado, or any other trad art. There's something to be said for practicing a given style for the years it takes to be good at anything. Art lineages aside, which others more well informed than I on the subject can speak to, let's look at a couple of other factors out of the initial post. First up, you really need to look at goals and means to get there and make them match. Any legit art will move you toward combative training; however, some have different methods and paths that may or may not be to your liking. It's best to make sure that these match. I've come to not like kata as a training method. Fine. Others do. Also fine. What I shouldn't do is go to a kata based training school to work out in. If you like certain aspects of an art, great and not those from another then train in the one that makes the most sense to the way you learn. It does not mean that one is inferior, it's just designed differently. You also bring up MMA. I love MMA. However, if you want to be good at it, go to an MMA gym. It's the quickest way to learn MMA. It's about matching what you want out of the art to the art you're studying. There are certain arts that are better at certain things. For instance, if you really wanted to learn to fight with a stick there are a couple of options. Some Okinawan systems use the hanbo, or short stick. There are really good striking applications and joint position possibilities out of that system. But it's only part of the system. Or, you could go train in escrima of one form or another. Arts devoted entirely to stick work. Which do you think would make you happier? The same applies to unarmed arts as well. You have to start with a realitic assessment of what you want and an in depth look at each to make this match. There's no lesser or greater, just how each fits to what you're looking to do with it. sojobo talks about the budo of his art. It's a great reason to study it. It's never really fascinated me beyond an intellectual level so maybe that's not an art for me. Mine's not for him. We each get to where we want to go, and learn some combat skill along the way. Neither art is invalid. Just my 2 cents.

4/2 Movement to contact and force on force for the department. 90+ min of free roll. Worked on getting a new (to me) sweep from spider. Spent a little time sharpening a collar choke I learned recently.

While you were busy with your training, i was training real life scenerio's by having Sensei Walk pull a live blade on me during Liverpunch's wedding reception. GOOD TIMES!!! I love the fact that we all act like a bunch of heathens in church until you come in and announce that Tim Walk's here and we need to behave ourselves. Nice! Well, at least he didn't actually stab anyone...this time Seriously, I still have marks from where he stabbed me with a fork. Over a buffet. True story, granted, the marks are a bit of an exaggeration . But that doesn't change the fact he did it!

So, you still got a chance

4/1 90 min free roll by rounds. 30 sec rest intervals. Worked a few new sweeps in, really spent time taking back from butterfly and other open guard positions.

I agree. But in this day and age there are plenty of ways to get from point A to point B. If there's a teaching method that doesn't jive with how you learn then I'd find a place that uses methods that do "click" for each individual.

welcome to the boards!

Welcome to KF!

I agree. I do want to point out; however, that a lot of people (I'm not saying you, just generalizing) fail to realize that you can end up on the ground regardless of how little you want to. For this reason, cross training in a grappling art (at a bare minimum) is a mandatory concern for an artist concerned with self defense (as is escalation to modern weapons usage, ect.). Not only will this give you a better chance of actually getting back to your feet while sustaining a little damage as possible while down, but it will give you attacks from the tie up where striking is minimally effective. Let's not forget that tapping or getting someone to say "uncle" is in place of actually breaking stuff up and putting people to sleep. Much in the same way that standing joint manipulation in more traditional arts is often misunderstood in this manner, people often forget that any art designed to break up joint has value beyond the "tap". I'm not saying that you're overlooking these things, just that they often are when people make the above argument.

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself if you're getting what you want out of training. There are a million reasons to train, and more than a few ways to train for each of these reasons. You have to honestly look at what you want, what you're getting, and how your school is prepping you to get there. Adjust accordingly.

3/29 Drilled spider guard position and sweeping. Moved on to butterfly guard maintenance. 35 min free roll.

Welcome to your new addiction . Training solo with BJJ can be a bit more challenging, but not impossible. So much obviously works around drilling and rolling with a partner. To simulate this, you can use a dummy. There are some pretty functional DIY plans on the internet that let you build a good enough model to work movements on. This can be helpful when you're new. However, if you can make 3x's per week to the mat, then I wouldn't think the time of building one, or the expense of buying one, is worth it. Certainly optional. A better, or a least more return for your time, is working mat drills on your own time. Even a small amount of space, padded in any way, can give you plenty of room to work on shrimping motions back and forward. Some hip work and other drills will quickly show up in class warm ups and are really functional movements. Think of them as the "foot work" of jits. I also like a downed heavy bag to work posture on. This can go a long way to help you to positional dominance. It lets you start transitioning from mount to side to knee in, ect. I'd also check out Andre Galvao's book "Drilling to Win". It's got some great solo drills to work as well as plenty of two man. It's a great compliment. Good luck and keep us posted on how the training goes.