struggling to survive

[jonas]

you guys seem so chill yet so focused...I'm a 38yr old male who started bjj the last week of dec.2010, so to say the least I'm a total newbie. I have to say I'm getting discouraged pretty quick...I'm having such a hard time catching on, if not for private$ from one of the black belts I would be totally defenseless...are all schools "cliquey" and without comprehensive curriculum?I feel like what I'm getting is a mixed bag of whatever the instructor saw on you tube that morning and whatever else he feels like. I really wanna' get this stuff, any pointers for the new dude?I don't want this shit to quit being fun...arigato

[Isaiah Mendoza]

don't get discouraged. view every tap out as a learning experience and a step closer to getting your blue belt. focus on the fundamentals. no one walks into the gym being able to tap everybody out. it'll take time don't let your ego get you down.

[leach_jeffrey]

I tell all the new guys that when you first start you suck and have no idea what to do, but you have to just keep showing up and then one day you realize that you are crushing the new guys, so you must have learned something. Then later, you are giving the experienced guys trouble.

It's all about mat time. I see new guys start almost every week, but most quit. Stick with it and you'll be rewarded.

[Hoff]

That's the beauty and the curse of Jits - you jump in, feet first...sink, learn to float, breathe, a few strokes and finally after a while, swim.

Don't get discouraged, get motivated. The 10,000 hour rule applies...just enjoy yourself and understand you're going to have to unlearn as much as you learn. I'm 41 and 4 years in...feels like I started yesterday.

Stay strong.

[Louis Ho]

I'm 42 yrs old in a few months and I'm still rolling with the strongest guys in my school. You just gotta stick with it, listen to your body, and take it upon yourself to learn. I don't know anything about your instructor, but your instructor should try to help you build a good foundation. If he can't help you out, maybe you should find someone who can. But also, Jiu Jitsu is very much a personal journey. Learn to feel your body when you roll, develop the intuition that will improve your positioning. Don't always roll with guys that will crush you. And don't give up.

[Kenny Rembold]

i thot i could fight til my first jiu jitsu class, i was wrong. Im still not that good and a white belt but ive learned alot, im a slow learner, i watch videos over and over, it helps, dont quit, its too fun

[Jack LaBarge]

you guys seem so chill yet so focused...I'm a 38yr old male who started bjj the last week of dec.2010, so to say the least I'm a total newbie. I have to say I'm getting discouraged pretty quick...I'm having such a hard time catching on, if not for private$ from one of the black belts I would be totally defenseless...are all schools "cliquey" and without comprehensive curriculum?I feel like what I'm getting is a mixed bag of whatever the instructor saw on you tube that morning and whatever else he feels like. I really wanna' get this stuff, any pointers for the new dude?I don't want this shit to quit being fun...arigato

I've have trained at Tai-kai. Very Briefly!! They have excellent instructors! But yes, I thought the curriculum was all over the place. Making it very hard for a beginner to learn, and no not all schools teach this way. I left because of painful plantar fasciitis in both of my heels and I don't value the gi. Most of their training is in the gi. Don't get me wrong it's a excellent school with excellent instructors but I know what you mean about the curriculum. If your interested in seeing a school with a excellent curriculum...10th Planet Rochester. Go to their 10th planet rochester facebook page... training blog....they do a set curriculum...you would learn much faster there. I plan on training there(Rochester) HOPEFULLY SOON if my girl can find a J.O.B. I live in the Jordan-Elbridge area. I plan on going 2 nights a week so if interested in car pooling let me know. I'm sure your in a contract so when its up and if your interested you can contact me here.

[michael grzybek]

I guess I was lucky when I found my school. We offer a fundamentals class and advanced jiu jitsu classes, so I have been taking both classes and helping out our assistant instructor as a grappling dummy for the kids class. that has been a huge help in my jits along with rolling with the upper levels, They saw that I had no clue what was going on so they would show me simple things like posturing and lock down to help me get up to speed with the other white belts. Just put in the mat time and take what you can out of each day, you'll be surprised how it will just click one day.

[Ehsan_Karam]

NO, not all schools are "cliquey", not all schools have jumbled bits and pieces for curriculum. In fact, these are pretty good indicators that you may want to go train else where.

[AJ Camacho]

A lot of places seem cliquey but you have to remember that time is slower in a gym. I trained at one larger gym for 4 months and only 2 people knew my name. It was a great gym and nobody was rude to me but when you are spending 10+ (if not your lifetime) in this martial art 4 months is barely a blip on anybodies' radar.

Just put in your time and the rewards of skills and friendship will follow. Unless you're some insane social outcast with no ability to relate to people in any intelligible manner then the skills and friendship will always follow. Judging by your post though, you don't seem that way so you'll probably be okay.