Opinions on tapping or not tapping out your instructor?

[Justin W.]

I know a lot of traditional schools or at least those with Ricksons lineage (only schools I've been to) frown upon beating your instructor. So my question is, should you tap out your instructor given the chance or just let them go?

[Jason Hyatt]

Well frankly, if the option is there and he's not defending it I see no reason why you shouldn't. It shouldn't happen often and it should really only happen with the highest-level guys and/or those that have been training with that instructor for a long time (and are thus more likely to be familiar with his game). Grappling's chess and even Garry Kasparov has been beat. I think I get what he's saying though. I suppose depending upon your point of view it could be seen as disrespectful, but if he's a true teacher then both his ego and yours should be able to put it all in perspective.

That said, if you CAN tap your instructor regularly you're probably going to the wrong gym. I wouldn't pay a monthly gym fee, insurance, etc to a guy I can tap with just a few months/years training. I want an instructor with a lineage and pedigree that pretty well guarantees I'm not going to get the drop on him any time soon. If I were training at a gym run by a blue belt or a purple belt that might be a bit different. Brown-belt and above? No way. I tap that guy and I'm probably not staying around long. I'm sure I'll feel differently in ten years or so.

[Ryan Cook]

It depends on what kind of roll you're having. I think that it must be hard for instructors to gauge and then memorize every one of their students levels/abilities. So if they come in and roll too easy with you, give them some feedback. It'll be better for both of you. You both get a better workout and you might not have to wait for your next belt for so long. Either way, if your instructor is legit and you don't have a significant size/strength advantage, it was probably a fluke. Don't get excited.

[Sam Dibble]

Cool thread. I agree with the above in a way, although there are so many variables to the question. My head instructor is a 25 year BJJ veteran, very tough to beat, but because he trains fighters he gets gassed and tapped when they reach a certain very high level of training and beat him at his own game. He's sustained a knee injury recently that might require surgery. I would be very hesitant to rip on a submission and cause injury to any training partner, and its imperative the instructor feels the same way. So even if I had an arm straight or a choke tight, I wouldn't rip on it to the point of injury, to me the point is the control to attain the conscious submission. No student ever got anywhere going balls to the wall on his instructor just as no instructor got anywhere breaking his students arms. My instructors have always trained controlled intensity in submissions, and encourage endurance and killer instinct, we're all there to learn the hard way and have fun while doing it.

[Conner MACHINE Gibbons]

Agree 100 % with Jason. If it's there take it......if its there a lot, find a new school.

I have never Tapped my instructor ( unless you count when he's drilling me and gives it to me, to make sure I'm doing it right....But that doesn't count.) The day I tap him, I think I will pee myself a little. LOL.

[Ryan Clinton]

I go to a Rickson affiliate school owned by a Rickson black belt, and I would never even dream of being able to tap one of his instructors. I don't believe any of them hold more than a blue belt, but none of them are very concerned with belt rank, so I don't think their actual skill is reflected in their ranking. I don't think most of them have even made much of an attempt at increasing their belt rank. They just train and teach. The chances of a student tapping them are pretty slim. I usually get dominated while they are going about 50-60%, and anything I get is because they let me have it. I don't know what the etiquette is, but I just don't really see tapping an instructor as realistic unless you're going to a shit school, so I guess I don't really see tapping or not tapping an instructor as a choice. If it is a choice I'd find another gym. Just my .02.

[Justin W.]

First off, thank you for all the great replies so far. Now I'm not saying I'm better than my instructor by any means because he taps me out every few classes and has 10x more knowledge than me.

[Kevin Gibbs]

ever think that maybe he put himself in those positions? I know for sure that when I roll with people with significantly less experience I give them positions and sub attempts, then I'll defend and counter, I also know for a fact that the higher belts (Travis) and my instructor, Denny only go at a fraction of their all, and will give up position to see what I'll do, then counter and sub me.

[Doug "Minnesota"]

My instructor would be thrilled if I managed to tap him out. Hes told us that it's his goal to train us just as good if not better than he is. This should be philosophy of every instructor/coach imo.

[Shane Lee]

if he's a good grappler, then NO...

but, for him to be even better, yes, you will get tapped...

Ego is the mother of invention~MJ