15 Unwritten Rules Every Jiu Jitsu Beginner Needs To Know

[@Edbull13]

I come from weightlifting and did my first bjj lesson last week. Totally was too agressive and used too much power in my first roll. The guy was super chill about it and taught me how to breath and relax. I'm glad he was cool about it and didn't decide to just destroy me in revenge. Awesome humbling experience

[@dragoblad7803]

Same here man I come from rock climbing. Breathing is a huge part of the roll. Thinking over reacting for sure.

[@mikeheil713]

Same I do construction and just learned a lot

[@leebruno1722]

I think we were all spazzy boys when we started, no shame in that. Giving up cz your ego gets tested, thats shameful.

[@noclue6086]

@@leebruno1722what’s wrong with being spanzy? A win is a win especially since I’m a wrestler

[@Akira12974]

i accidently rolled way too intensely the first time i rolled and i hadnt warmed up and pretty much immediately hurt my knee. good to start slow..

[@MoshJunkie426]

I've learned like 95% of problems people have in bjj is ego related

[@zachhall624]

Edit bjj for life

[@LucasKingPiano]

The other 5% are smell related lol.

[@MoshJunkie426]

@@LucasKingPiano hahaha make it a point to shower before and after

[@Vscustomprinting]

@@LucasKingPiano I'd say more like diet related. Smelling like B O is one thing, but what you eat affects your exocrine system and really makes a mess of things

[@MoshJunkie426]

@Micheal Sudan nah we just out here trying to break bad habits, I still have problems with elevated slams because of my wrestling background

[@ThePatcam]

At my gym, a 4 month no-stripe white belt kept giving all us other white belts advice on everything...it got old quick. We got to sparring and he would stop mid-spar to "correct" our technique, at some points even acting like he was mad at us for not doing a technique correctly? One of the black belts overheard him, came over to him, and told him to stop talking like that during rolls or else he would show him exactly what its like to be disrespected while sparring. I could tell he was really embarrassed, so I felt bad for him but also was thankful for the black belt for shutting him up.

[@Individual_Lives_Matter]

My wife started a few months ago and two of the white belts do this to her, especially if she’s about to catch them in something. They’ve only been going a few more weeks than her and they’re not very good. I wish the teacher would take notice. Edit: I didn’t even know he covered that in the video.

[@micaiahelliott8821]

Same thing happened to me last week for the first time. I’ve been training for like 4 months and I was rolling with a significantly larger white belt (at least 250lb). We had drilled spider guard so I was trying to incorporate that. He kept stopping mid move to ask “what are you doing?” And then telling me how to do spider guard. I knew how to do it from the drilling section, I was just trying to see what it was like against resistance. He was trying to be nice but it felt super condescending

[@mon0theist_tv]

@@Individual_Lives_Matter that's the pro secret when you're about to lose a roll, stop to give advice lol

[@wingedsaiyan]

Dude I try explaining this stereotype to ppl sometimes and I can't get it across well without a whole explanation and example. I dont see them as much but they used to be common. Lol I'd hate seeing this going on anywhere near me.

[@carseman06]

@@micaiahelliott8821 Don't expect me to teach, but if you are trying to move 250lb, you are going to tire very quickly. Is there any way you can get your opponent to use his weight to your benefit?

[@MartialMind]

I remember when I was about 3 months into BJJ... We were practicing a Tai Otoshi... We were supposed to go super slow and work through each move, and my partner, a blue belt at the time literally wouldn't let me throw him. When it was time to throw me I would gladly fall and break fall, but he just refused to be thrown. He tried to play it off like "Oh My base is just so strong brah" but I could easily tell he was CLEARLY resisting. It was so comical.

[@eek771]

Unskilled uke and/or his break falls suck

[@maciejpiaseczny7216]

Ive had a 50 yrs old dude doing the same shit in my wrestling classes.. And then took him down 6 times during sparing

[@HolyMith]

Insecurity and he likely won't progress very quickly with that attitude.

[@Luccimatic]

@@HolyMitha bad uki slows down your progress too.

[@HolyMith]

@@Luccimatic yes if you partner with him he will slow you down. But you can just choose someone else, and very soon no on will want to drill with him because he's not interested in being a good uke. Thus he will only get to train with other people like himself and he will learn very little

[@heatto162]

I wrestled from kindergarten through highschool went to states every year, and one of my buddy's asked me to go to his bjj gym. I went, and he told everyone I was a state champ wrestler and it ruined my whole experience. Everyone even the instructor was going 110% with me, and I was like wtf! I went in there knowing nothing about bjj. I wanted to learn, and it was like they wanted to prove something. Of course I don't know what to do when your laying on your back. My whole sport is centered around getting you there. Just a shitty experience.

[@raulmartinez2924]

This happened to me too!! They had me with the brown belts the whole time wtf??!?

[@jamesbarfield7199]

@@raulmartinez2924 the jiujitsu guys think they’re better than wrestling guys . But us wrestling guys are so much stronger than they are on average .

[@Flbari]

@@jamesbarfield7199 more like jiu jitsu guy know that wrestler have better conditioning and we know that we shouldn't take you as a normal beginner or we will be smashed

[@natanb1408]

as a wrestler you might find it slightly easier in no-gi bjj which uses more stand fighting and quite a lot of takedowns from wrestling, single leg, double, duck unders. look up ADCC BJJ if you havent already (replying a year after your comment you might have already found this but just on the off chance you havent) and with my dad being a former freestyle wrestler and growing up practicing with him a bit and watching him i definitely had a decent start in no gi

[@iamcycle9014]

That's too bad for the experience you had. May I add another point of view. They regard you more experienced and even a threat....so take as a plus. I know if I know anyone has wrestling background..I respect their experiences and pull guard quick. Just a thought. I currently have a few wrestlers in my gym...they like rolling with me...they see the blue belt and want to see how they can contain me....I want to see if I came escaped or sweep...we have a good time. I submitted them a few times always showing them the defense after the roll. We generally have a great time...I don't mind hard rolls even with brand new much heavier guys because I want to see if all my knowledge is enough to at least slow them down. Win win...nothing personal.

[@victorb.m.3306]

This "dont call upper belts to roll" is some VERY oldschool bullshit. When i started, as long as you weren't THAT white belt, every upper belt would roll a billion times with you.

[@JakeV.]

Agreed

[@deckzonetcg8907]

I got checked very early cause I would always ask to roll with anyone above white. They eventually told me in a nice way that I would be a waste of their time and wouldn't learn anything.

[@logan5466]

@@deckzonetcg8907 Bro practicing technique on lower belts is literally the best way to perfect offense. And the lower belt can practice defense/escapes at the same time. It’s a win win.

[@craigcrissman4651]

@@logan5466 as a whitebelt I was super flexible so sometimes the higher level blues or new purples would roll with me because while I would always get caught in a technique I could be hard to finish so it would help them dial it in more than theyd be able on someone less flexible

[@erickirschenbaum2804]

I mean if it's your very first months it won't help you or him he will face no resistance and you will tap in a second.

[@warrennelson4286]

some of us are older; I started jiu jitsu at 67 and stopped last year at 69 due to our gym closing with COVID. When I begin soon at 70 I will feel almost like I'm back to ground zero. This video is helpful.

[@urbansamurai261]

Don't give up your a inspirational person

[@JWLuiza]

Respect!

[@horseman9582]

I thought I was doing well starting at 54 yo! Congratulations sir, you are an inspiration.

[@ohnoitsu1]

I had to stop due to covid also, been 16 months and a whole lot of weight gain. It's definitely scary how much you lose but the very basics/your bread and butter techniques come back surprisingly quick. I hope you can get back on the mats soon

[@jeefsquaa]

God Bless you. Oss

[@alfiesolomon3531]

1) Don't oil check 2) Don't grind the nose to finish a RNC 3) Don't bite your partner 4) Don't finger his ear/eyes/nostrils 5) Don't fart on his face to finish an armbar

[@Andrew-js1tb]

Farting on someone's face especially after drinking a protein shake is my favorite way to finish someone. (:

[@sacramentallyill]

No oil check? 😞

[@Vscustomprinting]

@@sacramentallyill he is kidding. Oil check all day

[@Vscustomprinting]

@@Andrew-js1tb did you know that extra protein does nothing for you except dehydrate you and strain your organs? The average human needs about 55 grams. A huge person would need about 70-75

[@B-Killin]

I swear to you i have done #5 as a white belt. I got the tap at the moment of fart and i was confused how i felt about what just happened. Im sure my opponent has now given up all martial arts, is homeless and a raging addict now.

[@tkc3114]

I am 89 and started my 1st class yesterday. Loved it.

[@kristiyanindzhev6454]

I am 103 and I am a red belt

[@2kmichaeljordan438]

I am 6969 years old and I am a rainbow belt

[@daniellloyd1801]

I’m purple and I’m a 43 belt

[@teeszu]

I’m 6 and am fire belt

[@michaelfulton1080]

I am 96 and just started BJJ I feel like I’m 70 again

[@KerryJones12]

1. Don't drive your elbows into your partner's thighs when in closed guard. 1:10 2. Don't grab your partner's fingers to get control. 1:55 3. Don't jab into sensitive areas of your partner's body. 2:30 4. No schoolyard tactics. 3:11 5. No slamming! 3:25 6. Let the instructor be the instructor. You are not. 5:40 7. Don't be stubborn, just tap. 7:25 8. Don't talk people through moves that they're doing on you. 9:50 9. When rolling with smaller people, match their weight and strength. 11:45 10. Don't let beating people get to your head. 14:30 11. Don't try too hard. Match your partner's intensity. 16:50 12. Communicate injuries before rolling. 18:20 13. Don't be afraid to ask upper belts for rolls... 20:00 14... but also be aware of the cultuture of the gym you're training at. 20:10 15. No one is entitled to a roll with you. 21:15

[@magicalowl4322]

i had some one who didnt drive his elbows in my thighs he RAMMED IT IN

[@buzzries2040]

Nice summary.

[@terrydrake1524]

Thanks for posting this

[@victorsena8466]

The first move they taught me to open a close guard was the elbows on the partner's thighs (Gracie Barra School). They've also done this to me, it's very painful but I thought it was part of the game. So, is it "legal" or not?

[@brenosilvamorais2510]

@@victorsena8466still a dick move

[@aplacetobewithmythoughts7428]

Ironically I find new white belts rolling with new white belts (especially 2 heavyweights) the most exciting rolls to watch. It’s chaotic and you never know what’s going to happen at any given moment.

[@XanderPerezayylmao]

second day in bjj and I had this same thought…it’s like playing against a newbie in Smash

[@lapermits6193]

Sounds dangerous but kinda funny. Lol

[@soviethammer9111]

I can confirm as a heavyweight white belt.

[@KaninTuzi]

As a heavyweight white belt noob, yes, it's kind of fun when I'm rolling with another big noob. It becomes more like a battle of attrition than anything else.

[@Pandakiller523]

4 stripe heavy weight white belt here 👋🏼 after a 5 year layoff had my first class on Tuesday again and they put me up with the big boys and other white belts. When I tell you I had competition flashbacks on my first day I kept seeing stars throughout my rolls with the lack of cardio 💀 my new coach dapped me up and told me welcome and was happy to have me there. Long road ahead

[@schism1986]

"You're not gonna make many friends jabbing your fingers into peoples bodies in any way." Are we sure about this?

[@shelbukowski1443]

Please elaborate, Pedro.

[@MLong3524]

🤣🤣🤣

[@sonicfx5431]

🤨📸

[@furyano1251]

Lol

[@filipferencak2717]

I was gonna comment this, but you beat me to it 🤣

[@mrshinybald2739]

Your first point was literally the first guard move I was taught

[@emansfvera]

When white belts do this to me I break their posture and double arm bar them for doing that every single time lol.

[@Krutchhh]

Yea w posturing up it shouldnt easy break there posture an smack a double arm bar

[@BackyardBeatings]

Same

[@mariakraus7248]

I see no issue using them as levers, it seemed like the video was saying don't just hit their thighs with your elbows 🤷‍♀️

[@stevena3333]

I think there is a difference that should be noted, one scenario is putting the elbows on the thighs, hands on the belt, posturing up and putting the knee behind the butt to open the guard using good leverage. And on the other hand it’s smashing your elbows and rubbing them in for pain compliance hoping the other person can’t stand the pain that they just decide to open guard. One is technical and the other is being a d***.

[@aquaayol843]

I actually appreciate when they talk me through the moves because I don’t always know what I’m doing and it helps me with my technique

[@erikbudrow1255]

Yep, as long as they are being cool about it, not full if bs or just do it way too much.

[@AquarianRevolution]

This was INSANELY helpful. I am only 2 days in and you guys confirmed my mindset of not going crazy or being spastic because I have no idea what I’m doing lol so I appreciate knowing that taking it easy and going slow or matching intensity is the true way of being a beginner student. And it is VERY intimidating seeing a class full of blue belts or knowing one guy is a purple or brown belt. The thought of “trying” to beat them and the result is them just playing with you, making you a fool for thinking you could get the better of them, is very…idk, disheartening or defeating?

[@KazzArie]

You posted this ~2wks ago and I’m 3 wks in so we started about the same time. Some post somewhere got to me really early - being that we’re so new and most people are upper belts, the goal each week is to just stave off the inevitable a little bit longer 😄 try not to be intimidated.. just think like, “last class I tapped in 45s. This week I’ll make it to 1:05.” Or whatever. It’s about that incremental progress 🤲

[@Hangar1318]

I agree. This is super helpful. I've been doing Jiu jitsu for 3 weeks now. In my first class, a brown belt just went to town on me and submitted me. I had no idea what I was doing (still don't actually). They probably noticed this and helped me out, asked me to take it slow and focus on the techniques. It's been super helpful doing that.

[@levireynolds716]

Assuming you are still rolling, keep in mind that nobody in a real gym thinks that way about lower belts. Everybody started from the exact same place and we all remember what that first day felt like. Don’t think of it as “trying to beat the other guy” think of it as “trying to learn from the other guy” and that will help your mindset a lot. Good luck!

[@zuxxinisense2608]

@@levireynolds716 I have my first Training next thursday and im worried and nervous 😁 but i want to learn it

[@soundsidecolour]

@@zuxxinisense2608 don't be nervous brah

[@Osiris3344]

I have a few white belts that have been doing jiu-jitsu for a while that give me pointers. As a beginner I appreciate it but they aren't condescending, it's all about the delivery and intent

[@ahmedkhalid7241]

Problem is teaching them wrong habits. I used to "help" students a lot cuz i loved helping people, but now i see how it could be bad. I still love helping people, but i only do it when it's a move I really have a good understanding in. Most whitebelts don't grab the leg in triangles, for example. Which can work but whitebelts have no idea how to create angles without grabbing the leg.

[@gxtmfa]

They should get the coach to help you

[@5nip3r56]

@@ahmedkhalid7241 as a white belt, I try to give people an idea of the move, to remind them if they’ve forgotten it or so they can talk to a higher belt about it. But I try not to teach them a whole new technique, because I’m afraid I’ll give them terrible advice

[@JagwarX]

If I give a guy pointers it’s usually what the teacher told me I’m just reminding them

[@endeavor44]

I'm in a gracie gym and all the students are EXTERMELY helpful I'm the newest person there right now and everyone has 3+months of experience and they really help me during drilling, "keep your head close" and "don't forget this hook" are amazing to hear when you're learning

[@LucasKingPiano]

I don't care if you dig your elbows into my thighs. Complaining about that reminds of when you're a kid playing Tekken and after you win your mate starts bellyaching with the "thats not fair because you did that move, you're not allowed to next time..." nonsense. If they've found something that is making it hard for you to keep your guard then it's on you to stop them from doing it.

[@kogrady2409]

It’s just dumb and really doesn’t work well. The can opener is different but digging elbows into the thighs isn’t a legit technique that works on anyone decent.

[@LucasKingPiano]

@@kogrady2409 I think if it's uncomfortable to the point where you need to start complaining and asking them to not do it then I'd say it is working.

[@kogrady2409]

@@LucasKingPiano complaining is not something I would ever do. I will make that round a lot more uncomfortable for him than it would have been though. How many times have you seen that “pass” work in competition? Do you think it’s something they should be practicing or is their time better spent on learning actual passes?

[@kogrady2409]

@@LucasKingPiano I also don’t dig my fingers under their collar bones or rib cages because I’m not a dick to the people I need in order to progress. Rolling at a hard competition pace is one thing, using ineffective moves just to inflict pain and be a jerk to my training partners is something entirely different.

[@LucasKingPiano]

@@kogrady2409 I wouldn't put elbows in the thigh in the same category as collar bone/rib poking/finger manipulation etc. Their progression isn't my problem, if they want to try and pointlessly poke their way out of my guard then that's on them. It won't work and it won't take them long to realize that.

[@victoriawinnard968]

As a sub-120 pound female, I really appreciate the rule at 11:44. I am strong for my size, but the average dude can still muscle me around, and some do. Thankfully the gym where I train (s/o to Form Jiu Jitsu!) has plenty of guys who are aware of the weight difference and don't just pressure pass and smash me every time. Thanks Keenan for including this unwritten rule! All these rules makes practicing jiu jitsu more enjoyable for everyone :)

[@fromthedepths8226]

May i ask what you're training bjj for? At least a little bit for self defense i would imagine? Not trying to be a dick, but if you ever have to fight off a 200lb man who is forcing his weight on to you, would you not want to be as prepared as possible for what that scenario is about? Just trying to understand your thinking. This shit is great for everyone, and in my opinion should be practiced to the fullest extent. Just trying to stir some thinking, cause if you have to confront an attacker, rest assured he will not be taking it easy. Good day, miss!

[@fromthedepths8226]

One of the biggest pros to bjj i think is the advantage it gives a smaller size person. It gives you a chance to use leverage to make up for the size difference. Granted this is not always the case, as there are many variables, but I have more than a bunch of times been tapped by someone smaller than me who just had the knowledge to twist me up like a pretzel

[@victoriawinnard968]

@@fromthedepths8226 hey, good question. I have no illusions about weight differences in the real world. I'm such a small person (5'3", 116 lbs), pretty much anyone could mess me up without trying too hard. Practicing BJJ, I feel, at least gives me more of a chance. The understanding of weight distribution (off balancing) and leverage matters. But to more directly answer your question, self-defense is not a top reason why I do jiu jitsu. Doing BJJ has been great for me way beyond the physical aspects of getting in better shape and feeling more capable in the world at large. I've made some great friends at my gym, felt more stable moods, and I've learned to brush off negativity more easily. I've dug into my ego by competing, something I've never done before in any sport, and learned some valuable things about my Self. Ultimately, I do BJJ because it's taught me how to fail gracefully in the process of getting better. 😃

[@victoriawinnard968]

@@fromthedepths8226 there are advantages to being smaller for sure! I was going to mention this in my other reply but I felt I was already getting too wordy. I am flexible and strong (for my size, obvs) in addition to being small. Lots of bigger people tell me after we roll that I'm able to fit my limbs and myself into the small gaps they leave with their bodies. I can suck my elbows in as frames when in bottom side control and sneak in a butterfly hook or two if the person isn't skintight to me. So there's that!

[@victoriawinnard968]

@harlequin2280 being one of the smallest at my gym (including the kids), pretty much every single roll involves me overcoming a strength/weight disparity. Sometimes it's only 10-20 lbs, and sometimes it's a whole lot more. There's no problem with that! I roll with all shapes and sizes and genders. I see it as sharpening my "axe" against a more serious grindstone, which can really suck, but if driven into instead of avoided makes me a better practitioner in the long run. I've seen this played out in my competitions (I have uploaded all my matches on my channel if you're interested). Since I practice with bigger people, when I finally get someone in my weight class, it's like wrestling paper by comparison. And that is absolutely an advantage. What I, as a 1 year white belt and smol person (still a noob y'all don't get it twisted haha), am averse to are big dudes at my gym who don't see anything wrong with holding me in side control or mount for 5 minutes. What is there to gain from that, for either of us? At that point it's beyond practicing control of a position. I hope as I progress that this will become less of an issue because I will have learned the nuances of dealing with it. I train with world class professors and world class students, so I know I'm in good hands. I don't let weight disparities stop me from practicing ☺ often the hardest lessons are the ones most worth learning!

[@kylesandy324]

I’m a 17 year old blue and I must say the only reason I have been able to go up a belt quite quickly is from learning techniques from other people apart from just the instructor as often the instructors are mainly focused on their style where if you learn off everyone and if you don’t think something works for you don’t do it so that you can develop your own style

[@sleeplessdev7204]

Blue belt and above is a different story, they actually have some knowledge. If I get caught with something new, I always ask the person to show me the technique and defense. It makes all of us better

[@theaceco]

I've definitely been guilty of going too hard. Hadn't realized beforehand that we were supposed to take it easy and just focus on technique.

[@mosshisokid9143]

I am the same and now I can fully understand that my strength has nothing to do with technique and I’ve 2 weeks and most of the time I’m just trying to get out of submissions when really I should just allow for it to happen so that I too am learning yano

[@Zack-lq9tb]

Same!

[@Mike-ul7of]

fuck that man. go hard. just don’t hurt people

[@MrCmon113]

Lol. If going hard and focusing on technique are incompatible to you, you're practicing bullshido.

[@MrCmon113]

@@mosshisokid9143 Without strength, technique is meaningless. Something only works, because it efficiently uses your strength.

[@BobBob-il2ku]

If you don’t know what your doing don’t do it harder.

[@ryandkim2737]

"Always match their strength, and then do jiu-jitsu with them." Couldn't have put it better myself

[@Culvey]

That is something very difficult to learn... as a bigger guy, if i didnt have 14 years of wrestling and 3 years of coaching before i started Jiu-jitsu then I don't think i would have been able to do this effectively. I got my butt handed to me regularly when I started and didn't just muscle through, and it is tough not to start using more strength just to "win" a situation.

[@keyboard2758]

@@Culvey I don’t know as a wrestler I feel it’ll be a weird transition to be on my back and not go almost near full effort on every move and transition I’m starting in like 2 days any tips as a former wrestler yourself?

[@Culvey]

@@keyboard2758 Remember all those times that you had to slow drill moves to get that perfect technique... act like every move you are doing in class is a slow, technical drill. It was the mindset I had to take in order to not push each move. Also, make sure your instructor knows your background. A lot of them will throw prior wrestlers against higher belts in the first week to "humble" you and/or prevent potential injuries due to higher belts knowing how to handle the pressure better. The other thing you have to remember is... you are MUCH more likely to hurt someone with Jiu-jitsu than wrestling. So reminding yourself not to punch through the move is helping make sure you and your training partners leave class able to compete.

[@keyboard2758]

@@Culvey thank you for the advice and the quick response I really appreciate it and yeah a lot of this makes sense I’ll keep all of this in mind

[@TheCommonS3Nse]

One thing my instructer likes to do in these scenarios is getting the higher rank to close their eyes. It's a great way to make you focus on technique rather than strength. Not only does it force you to feel the openings rather than seeing them, it also slows you down because you can't really see what is going on around you. You're not going to blast through a technique if there's a chance you could smash your head off the wall, lol.

[@steveblais3583]

I remember when I started out I was just rolling slow and steady trying to learn/apply what we learned that day. The guy I was with was spazzing trying to win and be really aggressive. So a higher belt (who was huge) asked to roll with him next and immediately put him in time out and smiled at me the whole time. So great

[@erlingskjerven2589]

Aah, so you couldnt get him yourself so you got sombody to help. Bjj isnt for you bro😹

[@inertial_salmon]

@@erlingskjerven2589 if someone is overly aggressive when you're just beginning then you have 2 options: try really hard and potentially someone gets hurt (you learn nothing) or let someone more experienced show them that it's not about winning, it's about training

[@hakunamatata-w3873]

@@erlingskjerven2589 It's not fun, nor do you learn anything from someone constantly being aggressive and trying too hard when you're a beginner

[@arrantainsh8754]

@@erlingskjerven2589 what are you talking about bro. BJJisn't about ego. You dont understand the gentle art...

[@dimitripapadopoulos3196]

@@inertial_salmon but isn’t that training? Like working up a sweat by both giving their all is proper training is it not? Like wrestlers would be chewed out for not giving it all yet BJJ guys should just expect to not work hard. When I first started I was a child and I thought the whole point was to go all out. You learn which techniques you are really good at, you get better cardio, strength, etc. some were really weak and others were fine.

[@DisparityOfBeliefAndTruth]

I’ve yet to earn any stripes on my white belt; I’ve only been rolling for a couple of months. I’ve done striking for 16 years and understand and appreciate the concept of staying calm and going light to learn. Given the repeated lockdowns, the gym I train at has to keep closing. A blue belt friend from another gym that I used to give private Muay Thai & boxing lessons has been inviting me to do no gi with him at his house. I’ve just chosen to stop training with him. He’s 60 lbs heavier than me and almost 20 years younger (I’m only 150 lbs and in my late 40s) and he has no chill. Never once had I gone hard with him while doing stand up, but he just can’t roll lightly. Even flow rolling lasts less than a few minutes and before we even break a sweat, he’s muscling techniques, breathing hard and cranking subs. I stay going light and ask him to dial it back, but he can’t stay that way for long and gets hyper-aggressive. I like the guy but he sucks to train with.

[@BCcontractor]

Maybe ur going to hard so he goes hard back . I’ve never had someone go to hard even after I’ve established a tempo

[@trueblue9101]

A blue belt with a 60 pound advantage shouldn't have to crank subs and roll hard against his new friend

[@user-hw6np3sp3t]

Great points; I’ve been guilty of many of these over the last 12 years of my journey. From a practical viewpoint, I believe a basic “standard ground rules for training/rolling” session should be a basic / annual currency class for every new student up too the blue belt level (as a review).

[@minah875]

Also, accept the tips from the darker belts! I’m 14, a grey belt and I’ve sparred against a fair share of black belts and sometimes they go extremely easy on me, or other times they go harder but give me helpful tips as we go. I understand that sparring is to train but I really appreciate when someone with over a decade of experience can give me tips that have helped them. Always be polite to them. Sometimes black belts that you say hello to at the gym but don’t roll with will tell you “You and I are sparring together today.” Simply because they enjoy your presence and see something in you. They will genuinely want to help you if you’re a kind and polite person. Personally speaking, I prefer fighting against people who have been training for over a year just because they understand the rules and terms of respect more.

[@Iba0001]

#1 imo! Keep your workout clothes (gi, rashguard, singlet etc...) clean... no one wants to drink your sweat

[@scvbv3138]

Do i have to Wash it after every session?

[@GoldenMentalityYT]

@@scvbv3138 yes your gi or no gi stuff will be soaked in sweat

[@Mike-ul7of]

@@scvbv3138 yeah turn your gi inside out, wash with cold water only and air dry. use a drop (a dot is a lot) of fabric softener every few weeks to keep the gi from stiffing up

[@GaryLiseo]

Or getting ringworm. This should be for any active wear or clothes in general

[@Ec0n0m15t]

This is good stuff. I really like what you said about not being an instructor. I have always felt uncomfortable trying to coach people through the technique and I have found that as a blue belt, white belts overestimate my knowledge of Jiu Jitsu, but I’m still a baby!

[@rhabenic]

Lol, i always qualify most advice with "I am only a blue belt, not an expert" though I don't really try to teach anything I don't have a decent understanding on

[@sonicfx5431]

Dude same

[@albanskigangster]

As white belt I only give some advice during learning technics and only if the other guy has some problems and only if I undertand what is need to be done and only to the point when I can help if I can't help and he other guy has some questions then I simply say "go ask (here goes the name of bronze belt that is teaching at this trainning)"

[@HolyMith]

I'm an early white belt, and when we are practicing techniques I will offer advice if my partner is doing something repeatedly wrong that was specifically against the instructions. In addition to basics stuff like not falling on your wrists etc because they could get hurt and the earlier someone tells them the better. That being said, I do ask questions to more experienced people a lot. Don't know If that's annoying but I am there to learn and if I get shit advice I'll find out when I roll anyways lol.

[@wokekoala3888]

Thanks for this, I’m in my second week and am smaller than almost everybody. Sometimes I get folded by people who don’t want to give anything, and other times (usually colored belts or white on the brink of blue) will do exactly what the dude on the left said. They’ll give me openings to find, which sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. But now I know. It’s overall really fun and I’m happy I found it!

[@brenwan2190]

I'm very new to BJJ but I think I prefer rolling with upper belts over other white belts. When I've rolled with other beginners like myself, I feel like we both learn less since we're both still trying to feel our way through and aren't actually using real techniques on each other/incorporating real techniques properly. I was able to learn moves properly from the upper belts and also got to adjust to the normal resistances I'd be seeing in the future from other practitioners. They're usually friendly enough to show me a new move or something to keep in mind and I think most of them enjoy giving pointers and tips to beginners. I do agree that white belts who only have a few weeks of experience over others should definitely not try to explain things since it does result in flawed understanding. I'm glad I saw this video since I think I could've become one of those wannabe instructors on my own.

[@GirthGod]

Great video. You guys should do the black belt version. Because there are huge differences between how some of them carry themselves in gyms.

[@edwardarnett9815]

Totally agree

[@connoisseurofcookies2047]

BJJ is like having a conversation. First when you meet someone it tends to be rather tepid and there are limits to the language you use and the jokes you make. Once you have built rapport with each other the jokes become more crass and you'll have your own way of communicating without being misunderstood. There are guys I like to roll with HARD and others who I approach more politely.

[@isadurika]

that's funny, because at my gym the head instructor actually puts us to roll with higher belts from day one exactly because they know what they are doing and can probably defend themselves from any wrong moves white belts could do. And they are encouraged to help us understand the opportunities of submission when we're rolling. It's super cool. We have like 3 or 4 rolls every class with all types of belts and they really help.

[@vibovitold]

it really depends how large the skill discrepancy is. say, if you're a white belt and it's only your third class - you don't really NEED to spar with a seasoned black belt. this is an overkill. an average blue belt is enough to blow you out of the water. and there's this amibitious purple belt who would actually benefit from getting beaten by that black belt in a sparring - because they're also weaker, but they're good enough to appreciate the black belt demonstrating specific holes in their game. the black belt's superiority is mostly wasted on a newbie. i'm not saying this should never ever happen, but it's a matter of proportions. the best opponent to learn from is someone better, but SOMEWHAT better. still within your reach. beating you with moves that are comprehensible for you, and where the inaccuracies are distinct enough for you to feel. pairing sparing partners that are too far away in terms of skill level is not an effective use of their mat time. and it's not specific to bjj. if you're playing chess, and you're intermediate at best, you don't walk into a chess club expecting to play against grandmasters. once in a while, sure, but it's not the standard.

[@bencarey3492]

"dont call upper belts to roll" is probably the stupidest thing ive ever heard

[@jadenfox6520]

It’s pretty common unfortunately. I’ve been to a lot of school where asking brown and black belts to roll is pretty frowned upon

[@imgains2go553]

It’s a sign of respect, our academy gives rank the first dibs on picking their opponent to roll with. Of course you can ask but if the higher belt for example black belt wants a more challenging roll his first pick isn’t going to be the 2 month white belt.

[@bencarey3492]

@@imgains2go553 first dibs?? don’t you jsut all walk around and whoever’s up for it you roll with? seems too formal to me you should be having fun while learning

[@esthersalinas518]

@@bencarey3492 no yeah, that’s how we do it, they way they’re saying is kinda odd, the whole point is to have fun and to learn more, there’s is like too formal lmao

[@ringmasterblaze]

Agreed. At my gym everybody rolls with everybody. Rolling with an upper belt they can correct my technique and I learn a lot. Rolling with another white belt is usually pretty unproductive unless they’ve got a few stripes of knowledge on their belts.

[@SchollZee]

We have a serious spazz at our academy, one of the first things my blue belt mentor told me when I first came was "if you are going to roll with that guy over there, be ready to protect yourself" and that stuck with me as a bigger guy (6'4" 280lbs) I knew I NEVER wanted to be that guy who was big and out of control where people were afraid to roll with them.

[@BJiuJitsuTV]

#8 is hilarious! The "good job bro" with the tap on the back afterwards 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@Mike-ul7of]

probably the most common thing i seen in the gym haha although im guilty of this every now and then

[@BisexualPlagueDoctor]

I told this to brand new people when the instructor was busy helping other kids, I was a senior grey belt though, so I had been there for 3 years, so it was different

[@j.l.5966]

In other words, go to a Krav Maga class if you want to do Krav Maga.

[@EndrChe]

Unfortunately, I’ve gotten _worse_ about tapping early as I’ve progressed. “Not This Armbar Lord! NEVER!!!”

[@One_Mile_Up]

As a new(er) 2-stripe white belt... I gotta say... I think EVERY beginner should have to watch this video. I can't believe how many of these things I've done already or am currently doing. I can't thank y'all enough for posting this up!!! Bravo to you gents for this one! 👏

[@JoseAfonso81]

Great video. I'm 40 and I started JJ in January of this year (2022). I'm loving it. The academy where I practice has this great environment, this sense of family, where people genuinely care about each other and where egos are not promoted. When a newcomer arrives and its time to roll, usually it's a black belt that will roll first with that new white belt, precisely to teach the basics and make the white belt feel comfortable. The higher belts regularly roll with lower belts and they actively try to teach, and not merely to win. But they also make you progress - they know when to go easy and when to go hard, and they make you roll harder as they see you progress. Then, there is also the "invitation to apply technique", whereby the most graduate belts will "offer" lower belts with opportunities to apply a recently practiced technique during the rolls. Great sport; my only regret is not having started earlier.

[@juanmontoya7324]

Not sure about point #6 though. Blue and purple belts have always been very helpful to me and always willing to share knowledge/answer questions/correct me if I'm messing up.

[@dilly2000]

I feel like this is a review of all the things dark Keenan loves to do.

[@LateKurkku]

isn't Meregali dark Keenan?

[@FFmaxxx]

@@LateKurkku more like serious Keenan

[@josesoto3594]

@@LateKurkku damn I was about to say the same

[@BruceWayne-uk5tm]

spiderman 3 keenan

[@PathtoMidnight]

The Anti-Keenan, smasher of white belts

[@milesgoran6403]

Otherwise known as “15 unwritten white belt rules that’ll make the upper belts sub you very hard and often instead of telling you the issue because you can’t read their mind and don’t know that you’re doing something wrong.”

[@erickirschenbaum2804]

That no slamming one is true I came from a wrestling-focused MMA gym to a more jiujitsu-focused MMA gym that was bigger and usually when we got caught in a weak triangle in the wrestling gym we would do a little slam (not huge, but lift them a bit off the ground just the get some separation), learned that was a big nono and obviously never did it again in training.

[@shellbybenefield8285]

This was such a great video! I love the way you talk about consent and about rolling with smaller people in a non-patronizing way. I would take classes from you guys in a heartbeat, and I will keep watching your videos.

[@baywest]

@Blaze Blaze you sounding pretty sensitive with your reply.

[@uchoabruno]

#9! As a small guy, I can tell this is completely overlooked sometimes.

[@lionheartstanza]

Great video! Especially loved the part about insecure guys breaking down how to do a move with women who was about to submit them!

[@jameschan7764]

This is very good. I’m guilty of some of them, but better late to know than never. Thank God my professor is gracious with me.

[@jab0993]

I was taught in my first jiu jitsu class last night a guard pass that includes putting pressure on the thighs with your elbows by grabbing the waistband of the pants with one knee in the center of their hips and push away from you to make them release and then pass using a collar grab to turn the opponents head and a sleeve pull straight up in the air to start the turn into side control.

[@deboluccia]

First of all, thanks for posting. I have tremendous respect for both you guys and I agree with a lot of what you say. I also disagree with some things. I think when it's same sex sparring, people shouldn't have to feel like they need to not use their weight. My instructor who is a tiny world champ said, "If you're big, use your weight - it's up to your partner to figure it out." As a 165 lb female and therefore large but not immense, I have spent a jiujitsu lifetime getting smashed, but I pull with smaller females, even though I like to pass and even though I'm old AF, and that's my way of taking a handicap, but if I sweep them, oh well. Yes I'm going to use my weight. I think it's bad to get into the habit of "being nice" because the way you train is the way you're going to fight. After 12 years of being nice I now have to relearn all my subs to make them all tighter and meaner. On the other hand you literally see 400 lb guys in the corner wondering why nobody wants to train with them. One time I trained with a 300 lb guy, he said he was 310 so probably even more, and I felt sorry for him because everybody was just pretending not to see him, and he laid on me and somehow pulled my other side arm UNDER my body while he was laying on me. I was a purple belt at the time and I don't even think he had a belt or a gi but I tapped. But fundamentally all the tings you said, I can agree or disagree, but I feel like it's really important for instructors to COMMUNICATE in person with their students, especially if there is a problem. If a student comes in all stinky, or with grody nails, that's up to you to deal with, as instructors. Is it an easy conversation to have? No. But who else is going to do it? I come from a traditional martial arts background where you literally said ma'am to higher belts in the locker room even if it was one belt up from you. And if a higher belt said, "Trim your nails," you practically killed yourself getting to the store to buy nail clippers. But I have noticed in jiujitsu when I say, just as a random higher belt, Hey man, you need to trim those nails, or hey man, when was the last time you washed that gi? They act like I'm the asshole because their instructor didn't say anything. Posting videos on KZbin is not enough and I know men don't like to actually communicate. But if you don't want to do it then assign a purple belt enforcer or something to take the sting out of whatever needs to be said. Like, Hey dude, leave the coaching to Coach. Hey dude, I can loan you a clean gi today but from now on you need to either come in smelling like Bounce or you can rent a clean gi for 10 bucks. Hey dude, the pressure point stuff doesn't fly here. I mean these are conersations that need to be had in person.

[@illusionxmuta]

I'm a 250lb brown belt and I've felt my skills slowly deteriorate because of being "nice" the past few years. People always tell me that I'm heavy and my pressure is so strong, but they have no idea how much I'm actually trying to be light the whole time.

[@sotiriosnovatsis4529]

@@illusionxmuta We shouldn’t have to be nice. As long as we’re not causing our partner any damage/injuries and we give them a safe opportunity to tap, we should be able to use pressure points and our full weight. Like you said, being “nice” makes your technique deteriorate and it doesn’t help your partner learn effective ways of getting around such moves.

[@gagemasters7852]

just started jiu jitsu and literally everyone of these I needed to learn. I slammed someone in my gym after being slammed, therefore giving me the impression that it was ok. No one but the person I was rolling with said anything about it (including the sensei).

[@themenace5017]

Some great points . As a bigger guy I think the inverse needs to be said about little guy v big guy dynamics. I've had little dudes throw everything but the kitchen sink at me simple because they think a larger partner is more durable and harder to hurt. A can opener will F you up regardless of size. I've still got a kink in my neck from my white belt days

[@socalastarte6727]

I've been training BJJ since 2002 and I've dug my elbows into my opponents thighs nearly every time I've been in closed guard. Every competition I've been to, when my opponent wants to open my guard, they've dug their thighs into mine. This must be a school specific rule that I've never even heard of before. I've heard all kinds of rules over the years like you can't wear a black gi until you are a black belt, I trained at a school that prohibited its students from getting on a mat unless your were wearing your gi. Example: You couldn't warmup in your gi pants and a rash guard. You need to figure out the rules of each school as you go and be flexible and respectful of others.

[@Realblackiechan]

I was specifically taught to put one knee into the butt and then elbows to the thighs and push down so hearing this I'm like wtf

[@VoltedSoldier]

@@Realblackiechan that's because it will work on majority of lower unskilled opponents. Purple and up, if you arent standing up, u arent gonna escape anything.

[@stevena3333]

I’ve commented earlier, but I think they’re describing something specific and people are taking it personally and becoming offended. There is nothing wrong with putting the elbows on the thighs and leveraging to pop open a guard, there is something wrong when your simply digging your elbows into the thighs. Technique vs desperation.

[@gladiumcaeli]

@@VoltedSoldier To be fair at purple and up level you've picked up 1 or 2 other guard passes, so I still don't see the issue

[@Randomusername382]

From my wrestling experience the ones who win state and big tournaments all do the “d***” moves. I can’t imagine someone competing in combat sports and getting upset when someone does a move that hurts…

[@filosofiacomdavid]

You guys literally just described everyone in my former jiu-jitsu dojo, including the instructor. And, since I already had some experience with karate (my main art), aikido, kenjutsu, kung-fu and boxing, I figured out that jiu-jitsu was just too crazy for me and quit, thinking I was too old to accept macho-man ego trips from everyone there while I was being beaten up and not taught the moves. Maybe if I found a dojo where people behaved like you guys I would still be practicing.

[@Losdayeti4]

If you're ever in Atlanta you should check out Odyssey BJJ. They're amazing and no macho man egos

[@victorhugoferreira4617]

Please come back to BJJ. Most of the gyms are alright and even at the few bad ones you should only ever find some kind of problem with blues and whites, if any. From purple and beyond people are very responsible, technical and straight up KNOW they can tap a white belt like 30 times no matter the size, so they're friendly and let lower belts work on improving.

[@joeylabranche1014]

I like the way these guys approach BJJ learning.You don't go there to hurt people you go there to learn and share knowledge.

[@SuperBakersk8er]

“Thats my gym rival we fight til the death every single time” 😂 ya i have one or two of those buddys at the gym ahaha

[@albanskigangster]

I have one friend with which I ussually do the first roll and ussually we start from standing and then real fight happens it's not to hurt anybody but rather to have intense fight I remember once I managed to pull take down on him and we fighted very intense for like 4 minuts after which I was so exhausted that after it he made me tap after like 10 seconds but then it went better for me

[@rickt9569]

Yeah man...we have four of us that all started within the same week about three years ago so we all are on the same(ish) path and we have some death rolls...respectfully of course

[@geofflangdale8127]

Good rules. As a big guy, I'm very conscious of the whole "don't put all your strength and weight" into it. But as an old/slow guy, occasionally I wouldn't mind it if *everyone* remembered that dominating with physical attributes gets a bit old. I'm not going to get too salty about it but sometimes you get younger/smaller guys who would be the first to complain if I used my full strength and weight, leap around and go 10x as fast as I'm going, back out of my open guard and run around the mats like lunatics, etc. One of my least favorite things is when we're meant to be working open guard is guys who run away so far that I could just stand up... when professor wants us all on the ground, because it's dangerous to have half the class working standup and half working ground in a full class, I can't stand up with you, so you're not achieving anything by disengaging. It's fine when someone uses a little distance to break grips and then comes back in to attack my open guard, but the dudes who run away, circle endlessly... sigh.

[@Dumplestiltzken]

Wow never heard of adult time out before. Love it. Bringing it to my mats tonight

[@paulmaeda2939]

Everyone starting jiu jitsu needs to watch this video from start to finish. This is so helpful. Thank you, guys!

[@ivanatanassov6542]

Nice advises! Some of these we do even without understanding that they are not good - like using strength against smaller/weaker partners. It is always important to remember that when we spar in the gym it is not about the win but to learn - both of us.

[@codinginflow]

oh sh*t I've done that elbow move a lot because another white belt showed it to me

[@user-uk9er5vw4c]

it's a legal move

[@codinginflow]

@@user-uk9er5vw4c ok good

[@kirktarulis8666]

Maybe the video is referring more the dropping tbe people's elbow on their thigh or something. But I have been to a few gyms and this is taught as the most basic guard break...

[@christinekawase661]

Was taught it by my professors, so…but I don’t think upper belts use it

[@albanskigangster]

Well sometimes it was used to pass my guard but I couldn't really do it properly so I would only do it from time to time but some times ago one purple belt told me to watch out with it because it's allows for easier triangle choke so from that time I rather use my hand to push knee away from my body

[@spiralinglight]

Driving elbows into the thighs to open the guard or upset his hip dynamics was the first thing I was taught 2nd thing was the can opener.

[@Bangandthedirtisgone]

It really is unwritten. In my first lesson I thought I would pay a great complement to the brown belt I was paired up with by providing great resistance! My thinking being that I would simulate someone who's more aggressive to give him the gift/challenge of dealing with someone he might encounter in a real world scenario. I assumed he might be bored of everyone else in his class being so compliant and easy to beat. (Most were blue or white belts if I remember correctly.) I didn't understand that that was not the point of it nor the accepted approach. In my head it all made sense. He was high ranking and I'd show him my respect by saying "Hey! I'm gonna be difficult but look how good you are and that you've easily overcome my best efforts." I have a natural inclination to try to make everyone around me feel good. It's a survival mechanism resulting from emotional trauma in my youth. It's a desperate need to make my surroundings feel as safe as possible by endearing myself to everyone. Knowing that though is only the first step in managing it. It's a lifelong thing and can be exhausting. I had no idea what I was doing. My mindset was also in 'fight mode' rather than 'learn mode'. I was nervous being in place like that surrounded by big, tough and physically capable men. Scared, basically. I also had associations with 'fighting' in my head. After all I was in a club/dojo where men go to 'fight' each other. V hard to understand the Jiu Jitsu approach. I kinda went ultra-spaz. Not in a particularly frenetic way but just in that I wouldn't let him do the move and resisted as hard as I could all the time thinking how great I was for providing him with such a satisfying challenge. He changed things up and quickly and easily pinned me with an incredibly painful knee on belly that I couldn't escape from and I still remember the desperation and hopelessness. He told me to slow down and breathe which I did and finally he complemented me on my 'best roll yet' after I further listened and calmed down. We're all different but I just didn't know that stuff and went in with totally the wrong approach and understanding. I'm glad he wasn't a dick; I'd dread to think what would have happened if there wasn't the culture of teaching those below you firmly but with patience and humility. That experience stuck with me for ages and caused me (correctly) to reassess lots of my preexisting beliefs about well, everything really. That was years ago and I haven't been back to a class since then till a few days ago. Not because it was such a bad experience but because I just wasn't that interested in doing BJJ in the first place (I went originally cos a friend was really into it) and well, life. That has slightly changed and recently I've found myself drawn to it as form of discipline, fitness, strength, confidence, mental work out and potential source of friends. This time I went in with a more mature approach and all seemed to go more smoothly. Still got alot of aggression but I guess it's just not the place where you can take it out, that is elsewhere. Jiu Jitsu (and I suppose all martial arts) def makes you work on yourself not just your physical capabilities.

[@MrCmon113]

>My thinking being that I would simulate someone who's more aggressive to give him the gift/challenge of dealing with someone he might encounter in a real world scenario. You're completely right. Motivated beginners are my favourite sparring partners, because they're a shit-test for what you know. Even more so than tournaments, because they show what works against a completely untrained person. People are afraid of "spazzes", not because they're afraid of getting hurt. They are afraid of losing. >I have a natural inclination to try to make everyone around me feel good. It's a survival mechanism resulting from emotional trauma in my youth. I can see that. Stop it. You were right, they were wrong. Think for yourself.

[@rickgraham7641]

I hope this doesn't sound weird but I found it helped rolling with kids at the gym when trying to find that output sweet spot. I was SO concerned with their safety and experience over my own that it really put me in the right mindset for training rolls. Technique over strength, being as concerned with your partner's safety as you are with your own, if not more.

[@chickasawmike1319]

This is great info for those of us who want to start. I am a 48 year old white belt. I can not afford classes, so I only had the one free class, but it was so fun! I would train 5 days a week if I could afford it.

[@olebilly]

You had a free class how are you considered a damn white belt

[@chickasawmike1319]

That was three months ago. I have been training for a month but I had to take a month off for injury. Thanks for being a douche though. Also you are white belt until you get promoted, regardless of how classes you attend.

[@emmarichardson774]

Had a bad roll tonight and this was exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks for taking the time on this.

[@LuckyRob007]

Some other ones: 1) trim your finger nails and toenails 2) personal hygiene is important 3) wash your gi

[@thomasorchard]

@@MrWar2244 How do you prevent your stripes from coming off? I don't want to lose them in the washer!

[@girurerumu]

I’ve started practicing 2 weeks ago and I’m already guilty of a couple of these. Thank you for sharing.

[@letsgetit90]

Which ones??

[@tommack8650]

Great video for beginners. I just took my first class at age 60 and 155#. The instructor at 270 lbs taught me side control without putting any weight on me. A woman at 125 lbs taught me to tap instantly. Respect and humility - 2 most important lessons I learned. Thanks

[@jonnyhernandez4502]

Jiu jitsu culture is SO much different from wrestling which is where I come from. Slams (wrestling is more takedown focused and we go through plenty of training on how to do it safely and non excessively but we will drop you hard enough to wind you or sum) and digging knuckles/elbows into ribs and hard cross faces are not considered bad sportsmanship its considered "fighting" and was encouraged. I have seriously had to tone it down in bjj. Imo I think bjj would benefit from some more of the competetive intensity of wrestling (it could be my gym, no idea at all) but im still having a great time with the sport! Super glad I found this video! Us whites arent trying to be dicks! Its all love

[@phoeviamia]

Supra big thank you!! all your words reach what i live as white belt (+ -25h gi + no gi). I am a French who left to live in Bulgaria without any fighting baggage, the level of my club is very high and it is not easy to navigate between frustration of not knowing how to get out of a firm guard or be the worst in the club even against a combatant 10 years younger than me. I am often afraid of boring them during the fights ... even after 150 / 200h of youtube BJJ videos from X or Y and feeling to know, we feel that we are not taken seriously heheheeh

[@RealWolfgangTV]

With number 7, I personally have witnessed that beginners dont know when exactly they've been beaten. Lets say you have a perfect armbar in on a beginner, he's not gonna know he's been bested until he feels that his arm is going to break. So 7 is kind of something that can only be learned with experience in my oh so humble opinion

[@ArthusofAzeroth]

Absolutely love these rules! Honestly these can be applied to any martial art, not just jiu jitsu. Bottom line: you’re there to learn, don’t be a bully and don’t hurt people and especially, leave the teaching to the teacher.

[@beedotsl]

I definitely have experienced some of these and guilty of committing some of them. Will improve myself and be more aware. Thanks guys 🙏🏼

[@janlamprecht9229]

Great, I started 2 weeks ago, I now understand I know SO LITTLE that I didn't know or do any of these things. I'm just keeping a low radar, thanking the guys for there help and being grateful for their patience. I'm 38 and my body aches.

[@diffinis193]

I was taught to jab my elbow in lol

[@Luiz997488]

Number 1 is done so much against me i dont even feel pain there anymore lmao

[@christopherpitt2196]

😂

[@Allen.Saylor]

That is me, I am the white belt with elbows

[@U_Lambda]

Yeah I kinda disagree with number one, part of jj is making your partner uncomfortable to gain position

[@legrandfromage9682]

This is my go to move tbh I didn’t know it was frowned upon

[@U_Lambda]

@@legrandfromage9682 my gym doesnt view it negatively lol the white belts are taught it

[@williamlatour3468]

Awesome video! Lots of help. I’m 4 classes in and definitely doing some of this. Helps me a lot thank you!

[@JadynOlmstead]

Went to my first BJJ class last night completely blind, with some ~intermediate weightlifting experience, and this video is so helpful for knowing what I was doing wrong!

[@WebSurfer447]

The person who introduced me to bjj told me to use my elbows to break closed guard. he is a purple belt so I listened, and then used it while spar rolling and luckily someone told me that’s considered rude (and he was super chill about it) so I stopped but I was embaressed about seeming like a dick. Glad this video is out.

[@thomasorchard]

I was taught to use the elbows early as a white belt to break guard. I never thought it was frowned upon by others. My new BJJ school, nobody ever uses the elbows to break guard, so I stopped using that to pass.

[@gxtmfa]

That’s strange advice from a purple belt

[@albanskigangster]

Once I got advice from purple belt to not do it but not because it's dick move but because it's easier for him to put triangle choke when I'm doing it

[@thomasorchard]

@@albanskigangster True. Your opponent can just shove that elbow in and throw up his legs for a triangle.

[@fizeekpoaster]

I am 103 and I'm starting my first BJJ class tomorrow. This video will be very helpful ☺️

[@ElDuardo01]

Father!

[@josegomeztroncoso7218]

Really?

[@BraidsOfHonor]

103lbs calm down not 103 years old

[@baywest]

Lmfaooo!

[@omniking3386]

Great video, sounds like you have a great learning environment in your gym. Our school emphasizes etiquette as well. Oss.

[@jamestuomey]

Great video, I've been guilty of a few of these but hadn't really noticed how annoying they were until you guys laid it out so clearly... Thanks for the warning!

[@orlanskimer]

Number 10 is too true. I had a white belt tell me multiple times "come on, stop taking it easy on me" because I was flowing with him to see his skill repertoire. He's on perma time out with me.

[@raphaelhudson]

Interestingly I don’t think the elbow move is considered illegitimate in judo , it is often taught as a legitimate beginner technique, and remains useful at all levels as part of transitions class so long as it’s controlled pressure and not a strike . I don’t see what is wrong with it from a mild discomfort perspective. Being stuck in a close guard isn’t very comfortable either.

[@dingo9644]

the difference is that just driving the elbows in to the thighs with no intention other than delivering pain to the opponent is being a dick while if u do it technically by keeping ur posture high, grabbing their belt etc..

[@bruceboom7378]

Yea I was taught that in Judo last sesh lol

[@victoriaanthony4004]

Great way to describe how to roll with women, thanks for that 👏🏾🙌🏾

[@joelopresti5471]

I’m in my second year in D1 wrestling and I’ve trained in a lot of MMA gyms including my main club and the cultural differences between both sports is honestly pretty wild, going to start when I’m done with wrestling and going to hard/aggressive in bjj practice is always a worry that’s in the back of my mind.

[@jasontatume1372]

You got advice for getting into college wrestling program?

[@joelopresti5471]

@@jasontatume1372 good grades and be a state qualifier and you’ll be able to go to 90% of D2/D3 schools as well as a decent amount of D1 programs.

[@reb219]

Completely with you. Former wrestler here and the lack of intensity and pace is maddening. I came to BJJ to stay in shape and with most opponents it just doesn’t happen. I don’t ever want to injure anyone but causing pain (not injury) and discomfort is such a huge part of wrestling that I fail to understand why it’s such an issue. Saying you’re “not going to make friends” because of it doesn’t hold water. Some of my best friends are guys I wrestled with and it is constantly painful… still great friends.

[@jamesduzjitz_91]

@@reb219 its your competitive mentality. Nothing wrong with it all around, it's just alot of people are only hobbyists and arent looking for a death match all the time. There has to be some sort of balance and making an agreement with your sparring partner prior to a roll always helps if you wanna get that extra oomph out of a match.

[@fireandiron4181]

@@reb219 Yeah, I wrestled a bit in high school and then me and my buddies used to grapple in the Marine Corps all the time, and pain was just a part of the game to be honest… this is kinda strange to me to hear them saying some of these things. Pressure and muscle gouging feel like things that are just part of it, you can’t trust everyone to not do it to you so it’s best to just get used to it so that it stops working on you. Obviously within acceptable limits. If there’s something really easy for me to do that’s gonna cause you some discomfort, and you release a submission or give up a position because of it, why wouldn’t I keep doing it?

[@reigninblood123]

I’ve been digging my elbows into knee joints for many years. Never had any complaints

[@ryanrodgers1590]

I was fully expecting wrist lock, and fish hooks, but this is really solid info for a white belt like myself. Now I think I may need to apologize to a few of my fellow gym members.

[@qrdi81]

I hate insecure white belts with alpha male syndrome, where every roll is fighting for survival. I'm a 40 years white belt but hate that mentality as it prevents both people to learn more.

[@kogrady2409]

Eh... I never complain about people going hard. I might not want to roll with them every round at 43 but I encourage people going at competition pace if that’s what they want to do.

[@MrCmon113]

You mean you're afraid of being tapped by a beginner. Damn I hate it when people actually try to overcome my resistance in my fighting sports...

[@nicola6789h]

15 moves every white belt MUST learn!! People HATE him!

[@redrosecountycamp5309]

As a white belt I love rolling with upper belts, I feel like I never win but I learn so much

[@lucaslimal3]

Using the elbow to pry closed guard open is the 101 of opening guards. Everybody in my gym does this. We are encouraged to do this. If you can't handle the pain you can always open your guard and try your moves from there.

[@kaylacopass96]

I actually tried the elbows to the thigh. My coach told me not to, and I’ve only done it in Krav Maga, which is ok.

[@eschelar]

This is a little awkward for me because I am a big strong dude and most of my opponents are smaller and weaker. So I don't use much strength, especially if I take a top position, any strength I might be exerting is to modulate the weight that is being placed on my opponent. A lot of our white belts are very nervous to use strength and even if I literally just sit down with zero defense or resistance, they can't achieve a sub position. So I feel like the right thing is to tell them they can go a bit harder on me because I'm a big guy, not be so nervous and hesitant. A lot of those opponents are not using enough force to execute the move (ie a sweep or an escape), so rather than just doing it for them, I just encourage them to go a little harder. But if I do that, then I'm breaking the rule about talking someone through something. Most of the time, talking someone through something happens when I'm just chilling, especially if the instructor has taught something and I will say "just do the technique the way it was taught and you will get the tap" and "take your time, remember how the move was taught". My thinking is that it's better that they slow down and practice the technique from the class than to spaz out and do it half wrong and I tap easy. But now I feel like I'm being douchey if I do that. White belt 2 stripe here... I'm not great and I don't pretend to be, but is do always like to encourage my opponents and leave them feeling like they did a great job. I think that's happening but now I'm second guessing... I have some injuries recently and ultimately I really want to be the best partner for the other person.

[@KazakDax]

As a 105 lb woman who rolls with larger/stronger people, I would suggest just being honest and open. I don't think it means you are breaking some rule about "coaching", as long as your intentions are good, I think it will show. I'm white belt and have gotten really good advice from other white belts, and never thought they were being douchy for giving it. I think most people (even the smaller ones) get used to refraining from using their "full power" because they dont want to be a spaz/dick, so it's difficult to readjust and then use much more power than you are used to when sparring with a bigger person. Also, there is the chance that they ARE using their full power, and it just isnt enough to phase you. There are so many times I have someone in side control and they say "ok, put all your weight on me".....and I'm like "uhhh, that is all my weight" 😂 (definitely not my go to move bc of that) It's strange practicing with someone much larger, but I do think there is a lot I learn from it. If you consistently have people wanting to practice with you, I'm sure you are a good partner. ✌ Also, Jiu Jitsu translates to "gentle art", and I regularly remind myself of that

[@lydial5695]

First. Ouch, a couple of my toes got stepped on. I took notes and will adjust. Next, I'm a tiny female and there is one male white belt that just smashes because he can't get past my technique. I used to avoid him but now I'll choose to roll from time to time so I can work on how I respond to being smashed. I do usually have to take long breaks between to let my body heal (I'm old) but I've found it very weird that he hasn't learned to stop smashing..... I also haven't successfully figured out how to stop the smash. 😂

[@motamanifest]

Learning each time you roll. You got this. Keep training. And choosing partners smarter for longevity and fun.

[@jesesiordia]

Over-under?

[@MrCmon113]

Smashing what?

[@HeavyAndLow]

In all honesty these two seem really cool. Whoever has these two as friends is very lucky.

[@draxman1940]

Lol my friend always goes “you don’t got it” and I let go thinking he’s serious

[@BadSensation]

This is a fantastic video. Thanks for pointing stuff out that would probably take weeks, months or years to really understand as a white belt. Very much appreciated!

[@Dusty3D]

Slammed by a blue belt never came back. Next club.

[@wmhs02dm]

Tell us your a beta male without telling us your a beta male

[@felixii4931]

@@wmhs02dm you're*** learn proper grammar before trying to sound tough

[@Dusty3D]

@@wmhs02dm I'm a PhD. That puts me in the 1%. Most "alphas" are just dumb. Unless you're a Navy SEAL, STFU.