How do you get your friends into Jiu Jitsu

Ive been trying to get my friends in Jiu Jitsu... Explaining to them how great it is but they are very pessimistic and say they are too small... I explain to them it's about the smaller person being able to conquer much bigger people. They are still pessimistic... Are there any good videos out that aren't too long that show how great JJ is... Most people think that because I'm in a martial art that it's breaking bricks and boards and doing weird Kung fu moves that would never work in an actual fight... If anyone has a YouTube video/trailer of jiu jitsu that's be awesome

If you find out, let me know. I've been trying for years. None of my friends have any interest in martial arts. They don't even watch fights.

Just keep choking them out until they decide they want to learn defense! :)

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Originally Posted by Phill Schwartz

Just keep choking them out until they decide they want to learn defense! :)

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Hahaha I only do when they challenge me and it's usually when we're all drinking.

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Originally Posted by Wade Hamilton

Ive been trying to get my friends in Jiu Jitsu... Explaining to them how great it is but they are very pessimistic and say they are too small... I explain to them it's about the smaller person being able to conquer much bigger people. They are still pessimistic... Are there any good videos out that aren't too long that show how great JJ is... Most people think that because I'm in a martial art that it's breaking bricks and boards and doing weird Kung fu moves that would never work in an actual fight... If anyone has a YouTube video/trailer of jiu jitsu that's be awesome

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxaw7HE1-LM

I have the same problem. All my buddies love MMA but they dont want to roll. I think they dont want to "lose". I try saying, it's just training, were just gonna get some moves down, were not trying to tap each other. I always take it easy when I do convince someone but IDK. And were all about the same size. I have a couple guys I met recently in my MMA class who say there interested but we'll see if they actually show up. Now my problem is I don't have mats to practice on. They're damn expensive. My assortment of old yoga mats is not really cutting it. If all the guys who expressed interest actually start showing up I'll have four guys. Not holding my breath though. I tried e-mailing the only two people who were on the map of 10th planet thugs and thugettes in my area. No response. I just have to get really high and wrestle my pitbull for now.:)

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Originally Posted by Aaron Gustaveson

I have the same problem. All my buddies love MMA but they dont want to roll. I think they dont want to "lose". I try saying, it's just training, were just gonna get some moves down, were not trying to tap each other. I always take it easy when I do convince someone but IDK. And were all about the same size. I have a couple guys I met recently in my MMA class who say there interested but we'll see if they actually show up. Now my problem is I don't have mats to practice on. They're damn expensive. My assortment of old yoga mats is not really cutting it. If all the guys who expressed interest actually start showing up I'll have four guys. Not holding my breath though. I tried e-mailing the only two people who were on the map of 10th planet thugs and thugettes in my area. No response. I just have to get really high and wrestle my pitbull for now.:)

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I like light rolling in the summer on grass outside and going over technique. I don't know why schools don't do it more often outside. I guess inssurance or something. Most give me the oldest excuse "I'm too busy" and the ones that really don't understand what JJ is say "I'm too small". I guess you can't force anyone to do anything, I'm just looking through YouTube videos and what you guys post to see if I find anything great I can send to them or get them to watch to explain what JJ is a bit more and pump them up to come out and at least try it a couple times... If thy hated it and didn't wanna come back at least they tried it... The reson I want my friends to join so bad is because I know they'd get hooked and love it just like me. It's the first step that's hard for them.

Just the same as the first step was hard for me and im sure for a lot of us.

I rolled a bunch with guys outweighing me by 50 to 100+ lbs.
Here's one against a buddy, fellow brown belt. He was 210 and I was 153 lbs. jiu jitsu keeps us at least stalemating, but if they guy wasnt as technical, I probably could have done better.
If I had a video of every big guy match i've had, it would be a neat mixture of taking the back(rnc) and leg locks.
Hope this inspires your buddies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FFV4aOdxsM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Originally Posted by Wade Hamilton

Ive been trying to get my friends in Jiu Jitsu... Explaining to them how great it is but they are very pessimistic and say they are too small... I explain to them it's about the smaller person being able to conquer much bigger people. They are still pessimistic... Are there any good videos out that aren't too long that show how great JJ is... Most people think that because I'm in a martial art that it's breaking bricks and boards and doing weird Kung fu moves that would never work in an actual fight... If anyone has a YouTube video/trailer of jiu jitsu that's be awesome

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What I have found is that my training partners become my friends:cool:

I've been able to get a few of my friends to give jiu jitsu a shot but only one of them has actually stuck with it for any real amount of time. I agree w/ Woolsey, my life has become so jiu jitsu-centric that most of my circle of friends are now people I train with. :)

The big guys think it's for small guys, the small guys think it's for big guys, the medium sized guys think it's either for bigger or smaller guys.

It's for everybody. Especially chicks. But they feel weird because the student base is predominantly male. I posted a pic like this on facebook to put that point out there:


http://www.bjjgrapplers.com/forums/a...2&d=1323819579

But it was a NoGi group, and the guys were in older (Teens/twenties) and in good shape, and not looking very happy for being in 2nd and 3rd. lol.


Stew tried for 15 years to convince me to try BJJ and I vehemently avoided it. Now that I am addicted, I woefully regret not starting up 15 years ago. I have a lot of catching up to do.

It's one of those things you can't really convince people of. All you can do is just be an example and keep being passionate. I have one friend who's almost there after seeing my weight loss and muscle build doing just BJJ and no other exercise. The rest of my friends show curiosity and ask me to show them submissions here and there.

But it's just one of those things that requires them to actually want it. I mean, I've loved JJ since I was a kid, and I"m just NOW starting to do it (at 29). Shows you how powerful excuses can be.

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Originally Posted by David Rosado

Shows you how powerful excuses can be.

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AMEN, Brother!

I was going to say show them a MG absolute video, but somebody beat me to it.

Show them the intro to the mastering the rubber guard DVD, this sells most people I know on the concept ;D

I got the first step down, but can't seem to follow through. In the first week when I got started, I was able to get three of my buddies totally pumped for BJJ and got them to attend their first class. One of them acted like he was really into it and was already talking about going to a second class, but he's really cheap and was turned off by the costs (monthly fee, knee pads, cup, mouthguard, rash guards, etc.). One guy said he liked the class, but he already takes muay thai and already has all the gear, but wants to stick with muay thai. One of them is still in college, but went out of his way to buy all new gear for his first BJJ class. Said he liked it, but due to time commitments for school and money issues, will be starting once he graduates in spring of 2013 and finds a job first. Not 100% sure if this will happen, but if he ever decides to do it, at least he has all the gear.

To make matters worse, two of the guys above went to the Burbank location while Eddie Bravo was teaching this summer (even had an all-levels class so beginners could learn from him). They don't even know what a great opportunity they had.

One of my favorite things to do to get my non JJ friends into JJ is a very simple but fun trick.

SO there is a BBQ/Picnic/Gathering of friends..

simply say "hey who wants to make $20!?" (don't go too high because they will not think you will actually pay)

They all say "How?"

I lay on my back and point my feet towards them (Basically open guard) and I say "I will give you $20 if you can get past my feet"

So basically I am tricking them into doing JJ by trying to pass my guard. What proceeds to happen is really fun and funny. I will start adding sweeps and talking shit. The next thing I know all my non JJ buddies are trying all sorts of silly shit and everyone is laughing and having fun but of course no one passes my guard (duh!)...

Of course this then leads into showing them more stuff and suddenly they are all practicing kimoras and arm triangles on each other.

I have done this on at least 5 occasions.

On a side not it is also fun to do in bed with your GF.. "If you can get past my feet I will give you an hour long massage. If you can't do it in 5 minutes then I get an hour massage" Unfortunately it only works once.

If anyone finds a way to get their wives/girlfriends interested, please let me know.

Haha, right on, Cade! Of course, you must have an unpassable guard first!

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Originally Posted by James Steele

If anyone finds a way to get their wives/girlfriends interested, please let me know.

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just tell them rapist like to wrestle & if they still have an issue just say hey ! you spend hours in front of mirrors looking at your body, if you love your body why not protect it. & if training with dudes or the guard is too weird with dudes just say hey ! don't be silly, are you a virgin ? do you have a boyfriend ? then get over yourself, theres nothing sexual about training jiujitsu and it's not like dudes havent been between your legs before. so why not learn how to kill potential rapist from that position. sometimes girls are oblivious to reality and like to avoid the truth so being blunt and honest with them is the best way.

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Originally Posted by Brandon Woolsey

What I have found is that my training partners become my friends:cool:

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You know it!

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Originally Posted by Kurzy

Haha, right on, Cade! Of course, you must have an unpassable guard first!

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A 8 month whitebelt will have a good enough guard to keep noobs at bay..

Get them in a car and tell them that your buying them mcdonalds.

Have 2 sets of gym clothes.

Once you're at the gym not mcdonalds how will they stop you from taking them to class? They don't know grappling so not physically at least.

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Originally Posted by Ryan Brick

Get them in a car and tell them that your buying them mcdonalds.

Have 2 sets of gym clothes.

Once you're at the gym not mcdonalds how will they stop you from taking them to class? They don't know grappling so not physically at least.

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devilishly genius

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Originally Posted by Brent Smith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxaw7HE1-LM

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Loved that vid, especially the 5 seconds at the 2 min mark. Never has a 'booty scoot' looked so fucking scary.

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Originally Posted by DanConway

Show them the intro to the mastering the rubber guard DVD, this sells most people I know on the concept ;D

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Its like the're avoiding watching because they know the'll be hooked.

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Originally Posted by derrick ikwueme

just tell them rapist like to wrestle

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That's tits. thanks

Step 1: put them to sleep.
Step 2: drag them into class.
Success!!!!