question for instructors or higher ranks

[John P]

Hey guys and gals, i was just interested to know how you guys performed when you first started (first 6 months-1 year).

-did you catch on fast?
-did you feel like you were not progressing?
- how are you now (rolling,training, tournaments) compared to when you first started?

Eddie of course i think we would all like to here your story as well

[derrick ikwueme]

Day 1 I got Choked out, & my arm Hyperextended, but with time and "reps" & I mean "Serious Reps" on my own outside of class. in about 8 months my survival & escape skills got tight, At your level do reps on your own, & focus on survival and escapes thats it. throw a submission hear and there, but start from a bad spot & focus on defense and escapes. example: when rolling I make my white belts start from Turtle posish, or Mounted bottom, or Side bottom, & focus on there defense, Remember with tight defense and escapes, the Submission is just around the corner.

[Kevin Green]

When I started in the early 90s....I was good w my defense and wrestling and top control, but my mind was always on defense. Now I'm more then comfy in any position, I think more offensive and I have natural reactions in situations that come up now from all the repetition

[John P]

yea im working on defense and advancing to a better position. Sometimes Just when rolling i might "bait" an armbar or something just so i can escape from it or work on a diiferent position.

[Kevin Green]

yea im working on defense and advancing to a better position. Sometimes Just when rolling i might "bait" an armbar or something just so i can escape from it or work on a diiferent position.

After u log a shit ton of hours you will be 3 or 4 moves ahead and anticipating all your opponents options with each step and have a counter to each of his counter. My opinion, that has more to do w mat time than anything else. You gotta get to that point where u r comfortable no matter what position u r in...but putting yourself in bad positions n working out is a great way not only to get your escapes tight, but to give u the confidence to be Comfy anywhere.

[John P]

After u log a shit ton of hours you will be 3 or 4 moves ahead and anticipating all your opponents options with each step and have a counter to each of his counter. My opinion, that has more to do w mat time than anything else. You gotta get to that point where u r comfortable no matter what position u r in...but putting yourself in bad positions n working out is a great way not only to get your escapes tight, but to give u the confidence to be Comfy anywhere.

yes thats what i want to try and do, I think that's why i look forward to rolling as much as possible, in class i like learning new stuff but i look forward to rolling just to rep stuff and get a "flow" going

[derrick ikwueme]

yea im working on defense and advancing to a better position. Sometimes Just when rolling i might "bait" an armbar or something just so i can escape from it or work on a diiferent position.

Good Stuff, that's one of my sneeky tricks, "Bait" the Arm, pass la Guardia. Via " Stacking the legs " I love It. Your Lucky, I wish I had forums like this when I started, just talking to dudes like Kevin who can drop some science on you.

[Kevin Green]

Good Stuff, that's one of my sneeky tricks, "Bait" the Arm, pass la Guardia. Via " Stacking the legs " I love It. Your Lucky, I wish I had forums like this when I started, just talking to dudes like Kevin who can drop some science on you.

I know right! When I started I didn't have any youtube....getting a book or "dvd" was next to impossible. It was all trial and error...like, "oh shit, that hurt like hell, guess next time I should try something different"

[John P]

haha, the information is only good if you use it =-)

[derrick ikwueme]

True you have to use the info. But Jiujitsu "sucks you in" and it's easy to become a sponge. I love seeing the AH HA moment when it finally clicks to some one new, and there eyes get as " Wide as Saucers " Flying saucers that is.