Originally Posted by
Aaron Gustaveson
I see your point, thing is you dont have to teach how to escape being slammed, you just give up the guard. You do have to teach people how to properly apply, defend, escape leg locks and they have to know what they even feel like to make a decision on when to tap. You're right of course that the potential for serious injury is greater in theory from being slammed but your talking one hell of an effort that most people cant pull off and you'd have to slam the guy from standing full upright to be serious risking major injury. I guess what I mean is it much easier to throw on a heek hook and hurt someone without giving them a chance to tap than it is to stand up with someone wrapped around your head and slam them.
If my coach saw someone stand full upright with a guy on them, he would let them slam them. Hes not anti-leg lock in anyway, not even for newbies but they have to be shown first and have it explained to them that damage can be done before it really hurt much and basically dont be a dick when applying them. Its easier to say no leg locks until all the newer guys get tired of being tapped and leave and then everyone else knows its cool. Otherwise every fickin night he'd have to start off with a little tutorial for dudes that probably will only show up a couple times. I did have other martial arts and grappling experience but I've only got 7 months on my jui jitsu white belt and he had me doing heel hooks after two weeks because I show up, stay late and am not the type to crank on a training partner inappropriately.
This is a small gym, there's no official "slams in the guard are ok" policy. In fact if there was a policy at all I guarantee you they would not be allowed. I was getting slammed repeatedly from like a 16"-24" off the ground and I was fine and still trying to work on a guy thats not as good as I am.
Since you're know as the king of leg locks a great coach, I am very interested to know how you handle newbies and more potentially dangerous techniques? Do you have beginners classes where people just start off drilling and get instruction before you just let them roll, no holds barred? I was hoping you would respond when I made this post.