Becoming a BJJ instructor - any ideas?

[xo-karate]

I started a GJJ unofficial garage at my work place:-) Bold move, but it worked. Looks like a got 2 other teachers to join and one is taking his two kids (age 16 and 18 ) to roll with us. I'm bringing my godson (age 18 ) so we'll start with 6 persons:-)

I'm hoping to introduce "slow roll" in very early stage.

[pittbullJudoka]

Now keep in mind this is just my opinion. But to be a good bjj instructor you must first be not only good but very good at bjj. You must be able to break do the moves to the smallest details, and trouble shoot for others why a given position or move isn't working the way you show it. You must be able to watch students roll and antilize their game and give pointers of what they should've done or not done. You need a vast array of positions, passes, sweeps, and subs. The ability to help students game plan for different types jiu jitsu games they face.

Ribeiro's book it excellent for beginners and as a refresher for those that are at the intermediate level. I've been training with the same instructor for about three years now and only a few times has he repeated anything. This will give you an idea of how vast bjj as a system is. And at my level of training I'm starting to see why they say bjj is an ocean that you drag your foe into to let them drown. It seems no mater how many subs I throw up or counters I combined to get out of a given position he has a counter for whatever I do.

I do teach some BJJ at my home dojo but I'm grappling minded and if something doesn't work I go back to my BJJ instructor and we break down and trouble shoot it to the smallest detail to figure out what I've done wrong.

To tell you the truth I have filmed a series of guard passes a little of over a year ago and I'm now embarrassed to show it to anyone as my guard passes are now much more in depth when I teach them as I know have an understanding of how they really work. I'm in the mode of re teaching all guard passes and giving each person in my dojo different guard passes that will work better for their body type and this is due to understanding some guard passes work better for different body types and experience. This is something my BJJ instructor has done to me.

I do have one question for you, how long have you actually been training in BJJ? I once taught a lot of jiu jitsu before I started traing because I could figure moves out easier than most in my dojo. Once I started training in BJJ I realized I knew little to nothing about what of which I was teaching. There are so many minut details that I never knew existed until my instructor pointed out some bad habits I had. I would suggest you seek out a good instructor and begin training yourself and then find a partner to help with the drilling. Good luck.

[Harkon72]

I know of a local instructor who was coaching after 14 months of Mr. Gracie's course! I think he saw the MMA £££££ in front of his McDojo eyes!! Gain the experience first, many years of it before you teach, or all you will do is give yourself a bad reputation.

[xo-karate]

Idea behind Gracie garage is that the "garage leader" is not an instructor.

It's more an attempt to learn together.

I do go to an official club to roll with an instructor - an I do suck.

And I don't take any money from Gracie garage - it's free and instruction come from video tutorials.

I can imaging many better solutions, but it's not happening. This is a very nice option. I get to roll and others get to learn something about BJJ.

(They might even joint the same club, if it feels right for them - you never know.)

So why do I think it's good to do Gracie University lessons. It teaches those small details that otherwise would be forgotten - and it's easy rolling. It let's me go to the gym next day to roll with tougher students. It's an ADD-ON - not a substitute for normal learning.