Why Rolling With a Spaz Is An Important Test Of Your BJJ Ability

Have you ever dealt with a big strong spazzy White Belt in BJJ, or have you ever been called a spaz? If you struggle with this situation in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu whether you're the spaz or you're the person frustrated with a spaz in your gym, I hope this video is helpful with your training.
In the video I start off by talking about my own spazzy beginning in Brazilian Jiujitsu as I was probably the most reckless, explosive and wild roll in my gym, and probably the craziest I've ever seen.
I also talk about how as a coach I've ever become frustrated with spazzy new people in the gym.
With that in place I talk about how I deal with spaz type people during BJJ training and why you should learn to use your skill against someone like this. It's an important test to how your techniques work against an untrained person. I also talk about how I overcame my ultra-intense beginnings to get a handle on my wild rolling.
I hope that for all the Spazzy types and people frustrated with them that the video will give you some useful perspectives on how to handle the situation.
Thanks for watching the video!
-Chewy
-----------------
Free Ebook: www.chewjitsu.n...
Video Courses and Products: www.chewjitsu.n...
T shirts: www.chewjitsu.n...
/ chewjitsu
/ chewjitsu
/ chewjitsu
Intro/Outtro Music : bknapp.bandcam...
If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.

[@SwordTune]

Chewy: You merely adopted the spaz. I was born it, moulded by it.

[@chcknpie04]

😂

[@GHOSTEFC]

😂😂😂👏🏼

[@terrytari1891]

I sparred a spaz who was a doctor (M.D.) he was a dirty fighter too. So I started fighting dirty too!

[@skreelthebarbarian]

@@terrytari1891 Thats the kind of guy you can trust to prepare you for the street.

[@fakrulislam9333]

😂😂😂

[@luker4847]

Nobody: Spaz white belts: You need people like me, you need people like me so you can point the finger and say that’s the bad guy!

[@bubbaho-ward3377]

So say goodnight to the bad guy…last time you’ll see a bad guy who looks like this 😂

[@BeatOutsideTheBox1]

Rolling/actually fighting a new student that spazzes should be the test for the blue belt

[@michaelharder9737]

I agree.

[@johnwilson1090]

Yes. Maybe even an old high school wrestler

[@shatterstarbox]

BeatOutsideTheBox1 I’m a one stripe white belt don’t know why I was put with the new guy lol. I just keep my guard closed but it seemed like a real fight.

[@unitedwestunt]

That sounds like a pretty easy test, unless the person is a wrestler

[@thomaswilliams3426]

Sometimes it is, Coach is always watching 👀

[@logangreenberg]

As an early white belt spaz the best advice I ever got was from a black belt in a roll who just smiled and said "Relax, you're not going to win." All of the sudden I eased up, stopped flailing, and started practicing jiu-jitsu.

[@36424567254]

that's actually hilarious

[@godisnotinvisible]

😂

[@DarkLordSwoledemort]

I'm going to try saying that to my professor. He may end up laughing so hard that I can break free and run away.

[@rstlr01]

My professor told me he did not want to hear me grunting and breathing. Coincidentally when I went from 100% to 50% effort, I can now handle rolling 15 minutes or more and don’t feel like I’m gonna die three minutes in😂

[@leftlegtrumpcard8152]

Before I watch this I’m going to give my opinion. A spaz is close to a self defense situation. They are not trained and will react as close as it gets to street altercation. If you learn to control the spaz you are on the path to controlling a street altercation. That’s how I look at it. If you are a spaz then keep going to the gym and training. That stage will pass in due time.

[@RicoMnc]

Great observation. Any martial art self defensive training needs to pressure test with these scenarios. Making it through the initial spazzy storm is a crucial test of the practical and effective value of your training.

[@spiritssnowfall9990]

Leftleg Trumpcard beautifully put. Thank you.

[@tapoutrobby1843]

Couldnt of said it better myself

[@SevenRiderAirForce]

I disagree on the major point that spazzes know not to strike or pull a weapon in the gym.

[@leftlegtrumpcard8152]

SevenRiderAirForce if your spaz partner touches your collar or neck then consider it a strike. If its perceived as a punch then you get smacked, if you perceive it as a knife then you are stabbed, perceive it as a gun and you are shot. Controlling those limbs is paramount in everyone of those situations. You can’t train against random strangers so you use what you have for preparation.

[@dang4225]

I awkward laughed for the first minute of this video - in the UK, spaz is a pejorative for someone who is mentally handicapped

[@thelizardkingdc]

Same as in USA / BJJ gym lol

[@PoshYoshii62]

yeah… lol i was gonna say why is he so fine with this word

[@MrDeano-eu9rg]

Short for spastic originally

[@donniehallaman7685]

@@thelizardkingdc lol that's funny man

[@metalkicker23]

A spastic

[@Augustin54]

I agree with the self defense mindset. The worst is the spaz that you fight til he gasses out then he wants to tap out of the round. No sir, come here and finish this round without all that spaz energy so you can know what bjj is about

[@ethanw08]

I am/was this guy my first day.....I thought round one was all we were going to do so I went 100% trying not to be tapped out. Got gassed out at 3 minutes, suffered through the last two. When the bell I thought to myself "thank god that workout is over...".....nope, still had 4 more 5 minute rounds to go! Almost threw up and passed out lol.....Since then I learned to calm the F down lol

[@ericr2617]

Its good to train with people like this. The main point of this whole thing we do is to defend our selves.

[@davideric8250]

I was rolling with a Wrestling insane Spaz a a few times and it was hard. I mean I was totally exhausted due to the stand up and was I was losing bad but he could not submit me lol. He hated guard so much .. it looks like he QUIT

[@davideric8250]

Seems to be a lot of Wrestlers who quit because they hate the Guard stuff

[@isupportthecurrentthing.1514]

Is it though ? We practice the sport aspects far more than self defence . Try putting some gloves on and rolling ; it's a different game . But of course the skills do translate to self defense . I play bjj because I love it .

[@ericr2617]

@@isupportthecurrentthing.1514 I agree completely. I roll with gloves on frequently and strongly believe every school should do the same. It keeps your grappling honest. Competing in competition is good and all but training in such a way that you can only deal with someone your size, who acts calm and predictable and follows agreed upon rules... Well, are you really doing a marshal art any more or just playing some kind of game?

[@vemonguy686]

I do it for the sport. I don’t go out other than that

[@austinhaskins9960]

I wish you were the leader of the gym I tried at 16. I was 6ft 255 and I kept getting yelled at my first day for just muscling out of things. I rolled with a purple belt, she tried to armbar me and of course my reaction was to... Pick her up. Coach didn't explain why that was wrong they were just huge dicks. I didn't slam her. Just never went back. But I've never minded people accidentally elbowing me or anything. I don't really notice unless the person is going 💯 and I'm going 10-30, Chewie, you got me to get back into BJJ and I just wanted to thank you for all of these amazing videos. I've learned so much about what to do and how to handle uncomfortable situations. Having PTSD can make conflicts seem much worse and these videos help.

[@WestcountryDude]

I'm a newish white belt, with very limited rolling experience, and just had a similar thing with a female purple belt! I never hurt her or did anything particularly dickish other than use some strength to successfully pass her guard, because I'm pretty clueless at the minute. She complained so strongly about it that I ended up feeling I'd done something really bad and I even had second thoughts about continuing at the club if not for a couple of the other guys complaining about her for doing the same to them. I guess we have to keep it a bit real even in BJJ.

[@austinhaskins9960]

@@WestcountryDude man, im so glad you're sticking with it. I quit after that because no one explained to me why the fuck I was getting yelled at. The worst was probably my stepdad who was 120lbs with epilepsy BUT wrestled in multiple weight classes and racked up over a hundred wins. There was a purple belt just fucking cranking his neck like he wanted to only injure him. He wouldn't tap but I'd rather drink piss than ever go back to that place. If someone would've said "hey, I know it's intense but we are just having fun. It's okay to get submitted. It totally would have been a great experience. Also, I didn't know a single submission so sitting in this girl's guard I just had no clue. All I knew was she REALLY threw on this arm bar and my brain said "uh fuck that pick her up and shake her off"

[@Crystals10000]

@@WestcountryDude honestly size and strength does matter and thats how it is so they need to suck it the fuck up

[@isupportthecurrentthing.1514]

I weigh 90kg and I got picked up from an armbar once . This dude was insanely strong . He slammed me down and landed on top of me , stacked ,with 120kg . I don't try armbars on giants any more .

[@Crystals10000]

@@isupportthecurrentthing.1514 yeap prob not a good idea lol

[@Rofflemywaffle]

Only in BJJ do people complain about strength but you're not allowed to complain about someone being too fast, too flexible, etc

[@kirkprospector4958]

Why can't you complain about it?

[@maxs.5625]

Dude honestly I would say it’s about who you’re going against. If you’re going against someone your size or bigger it’s fine to use a bit more strength. But if you don’t need it then I would say just try and use technique

[@TheShazaam2000]

💯 I used to hear it all the time. I was a 200lb weight lifting 40yr old who could move boulders (or at least thought so). As a white belt I knew to 1) get past the guard and 2) apply the only two moves I knew, Americana or Head and arm choke. Although I had good success, I was told I was too strong, I’m using too much strength, I muscled that move...etc. this from guys my weight class and heavier. I realized this was meant to be more of an insult than a complement, but I didn’t change my style with the large guys. Rolling with girls actually made me stop using strength and start picking up a faster more thought intended technique. Today I enjoy rolling with the white belts, the stronger the better. As stated, it is a great test of your Jiu-Jitsu.

[@TheRebeccaReviews]

oh I complain about it all the time LOL! but that's because my technique sucks. I'm more likely to get hurt by a strong person though :/

[@36424567254]

actually the one thing that I complain about is super flexible people that didn't ever work for it. Cause i was never able to become really flexible despite trying, while I know I could gain strength if I cared enough to hit the weights, so if people are stronger than me, either they're heavier or I know I could remedy the situation if I didn't have other priorities.

[@iamtheai2759]

I love when new guys come in. I don’t care about tournaments or medals or any of that stuff. It’s all about self-defense, and those guys are the closest thing you are gonna get to an actual practical Jiu Jitsu application.

[@rupertmathwin9747]

Completely agree, that said I'm 45 and I rarely walk away from a newbie roll without some minor injury so I'm having to limit my newbie rolls

[@iamtheai2759]

I hear that. I’m 50, 😂

[@qs4life12]

I disagree simply because in a real situation there would be punches involved

[@thomaswilliams3426]

Closest thing you’ll get is a tournament. Very effective for testing yourself against a skilled opponent and managing mental sharpness, adrenaline, etc.

[@krane15]

How is it practical when the opponent is untrained?

[@brandonmcninja]

Dude, you're absolutely spot on with this. If we don't have the command that we wish we had over our technique, that can often manifest itself as calling the other dude a spazz. I feel like it's a really important part of my training to roll with all the new people regularly. They are unpredictable so it forces me to have "no mind" and just move with good Jiu Jitsu. And it allows them to feel how one should respond to hyper-aggression; with grace and confidence. You're the man, Chewy. Thanks for all you do in the community :)

[@CB-pi5hc]

Grace and confidence is a good way to put it. If you return the aggressive energy, thats when injuries happen.

[@MarcoDGallego]

I was a spaz. A training partner told me to lower my energy down to 50%. I did and then he told me the same thing again and I was extremely confused because I felt like I was using so little energy, but I lowered it again. Then he told me to lower it 50% again. I finally understood how I should be rolling, and now my spazziness is gone.

[@MrCmon113]

It's not their place to tell you how to roll. They can ask you to go slow against THEM, but not in general. Such a bitch ass attitude. You'll have years upon years to be slow and controlled. It's fine to flail around and try hard as a beginner (as long as you're not against someone much smaller).

[@nickl6752]

I just had a little spaz slam his knee into my knee during a take down drill. Now I'm injured. *DOWN WITH LITTLE SPAZES* Sincerely, A Big Spaz

[@jessicazhang6508]

Hahahahahha

[@JakeShivers]

I'm that guy. I don't know how to go slow when I'm getting my ass kicked. If I slow down, it just speeds up the ass kicking.

[@jessicazhang6508]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@HR-pk5dy]

This video is great! Our gym is filled (on the regular) with new big guys interested in mma that spaz. As a smaller female who came to bjj for the self defense, learning to deal with that has been very important to me. And speaking from that experience, I agree, it can been frustrating when you can’t make your jujitsu work. However, as per usual, your advise is spot on. Thank you!

[@berosar]

Bjj is not for self defense, it might even give you false confidence

[@ryanp6459]

Just realised I'm 100% spaz. Will try to tone it down from now lol

[@evanhenderson4232]

Same

[@johnnyflorence219]

I don't practice bjj. You guys are awesome by the way. When I wrestled and boxed I first came in as a spaz. Being a spaz is the easiest way to tell if someone has a good fighter mind set. It is easier to reign a spaz to chill out, than to get a person obsessed with technique to make it a dog fight. Don't abandon it completely. When wrestling or boxing, sometimes I would be behind, and my trainers say make it a dog fight. A lot of guys will bitch out when you do it. Spaz's are eager puppies that make good pitbulls. Relaxation comes with practice and time. I can't wait to start bjj.

[@seannm1245]

@@johnnyflorence219 Are you starting to train once your local gyms open up?

[@JiujitsuFIIT]

If people can't control your spazzyness they're bjj sucks. That's what I've been told by a brown belt I roll with..... Don't ever change

[@fulca4389]

I believe I speak for all the higher belts when I say “thank you!”

[@michaelstanley2037]

I often get called a spaz, but it's a strategy. I'm strong and athletic, physicality is my best attribute. I have technique and I don't purely rely on strength and athleticism, but when I get into some shit, I'm going to go to the exact place where I have the largest advantage and I'm going to make you deal with my physicality. It's not my fault that your bjj isn't good enough to combat my tactical spaz. Get better at controlling people, get better at scrambling, and spazzes won't bother you

[@50rads]

True, they should be thankful in a way. In a real fight, your opponent is gonna spaz, so you’re helping them prepare against a spaz.

[@Allanrpsx]

good luck getting better at jiu jitsu....

[@SourMoonBlues]

If you wanna be a spaz test dummy for a jiu-jitsu school that's great, but it seems like a waste of an opportunity to actually learn jiu-jitsu.

[@mickyc4003]

Coming from a judo background I am a transitioning from a grade A spaz. It is actually helpful for the explosive movement required in judo and is a big difference from Bjj. If people in the gym are telling you that you don't have to "power out" of every transition -> your a spaz. If people talk about your "strength" generally your a spaz, if the roll is a blur to you "your a spaz". If you never think about your breathing ...you get the picture. The great thing about BJJ compared to judo is you soon get sick of getting choked out because you're too tired from a combination of tension, lack of oyxgen and explosive movement. This natural justice really helps to quell the spaziness. On point as usually chewy!

[@Chewjitsu]

Thanks brother.

[@Geoffcwest]

Thanks so much for saying that about the little spaz, as a big spaz myself I get sick of getting called out whilst the little spaz flys under the radar

[@espada9]

I never acted like a spaz as a white belt because I started at 43 years old but as a big guy I did use my size and strength when I didn't know what to do. No one spazzes when they have technique and see a path. A crucial thing to know for most white belts is, most higher belt levels will only go as hard as you do. Go hard and get smashed, try and use technique and learn.

[@JP-wd1ok]

Really like the mentality of this video, and also if you can't do your jiu jitsu on a spaz it probably won't work on the streets 🤷

[@z1rb]

This is great advice, I started looking at spazzes in this way earlier this week and now I look forward to the challenge rather than avoiding them.

[@DrMakak]

One of my last rolls I was sparring with a dude with about a month of experience. When I mounted him, he tried to set up a sloppy trap and roll, but he didn't trap my leg. "Huh, that weak attempt won't work.." I thought as he slammed my face into the mat with a panicky bridge. I stayed on top but it wasn't worth it.

[@Deathskull0001]

Well if this helps, it made me chuckle.

[@JackMRaganIII]

The ol’ face post.

[@godisnotinvisible]

😅

[@MrCmon113]

I don't understand what the problem is. You managed to post with your head and then what?

[@yibitibunny]

So, I'm a small woman, and still a white belt. I've been training long enough to be able to have teachable moments. When I roll with new spazzy people, especially men, I'll walk them threw different things they can do. It's more safe for me, and it forces them to slow down and think about what they're doing. That's just my input.

[@checkmate5101]

Small spaz squad unite!

[@7005andre]

Samuel Busch lol!!!

[@isupportthecurrentthing.1514]

Tiny Spaz is gonna be my new profile name .

[@itis4137]

What does spaz mean?

[@isupportthecurrentthing.1514]

@@itis4137 I believe it's short for Spastic which was the name of an organisation that helped disabled kids in the 80s .They later changed their name to Scope because the name had become an insult synonymous with people who can't move right . This is all from the top of my head , I could be miles off .

[@checkmate5101]

Terry Fandango lmao

[@googlewhackthis]

I've recently started BJJ. I've had about 3-4 sessions. Then an even newer guy comes in. We were simply doing drills (we aren't allowed to roll until we've been doing the basics for a few months). He didn't know this. So I'm trying to drill a movement where I have his back and I'm trying to get him down flat/get on top and have back mount. He doesn't realise that he's only supposed to supply gentle resistance, and let me work the movement. He fucking launches back and and headbutts me in my face. And escapes. Looks very pleased with himself. I actually didn't mind it. It taught me what it would feel like, and was a nice reminder that there's good variety in the gym, and you can never assume what you'll come up against...

[@fakrulislam9333]

Should have headbutted him back :p ... It's a drill... Didn't anyone explain it's for getting the technique down.

[@219garry]

Rolling with a spaz white belt is straight up what you're going to experience on the street so it's the best self defense training there is.

[@slowbromusic]

hey chewy, after watching your videos for roughly a week i finally went to my first bjj class today and it was amazing!!! i felt like i had to puke and could barely manage to even stand up at the end but the satisfaction of staying till the end was sooo worth it! thank you for all those helpful videos and greetings from germany, Martin

[@bjjbrawler1]

Great topic. Cause no one "in a street fight" acts like a mat trained grappler, nor gives you that respect or acknowledgement... fights are wild and unpredictable.

[@newyorksbeerreviews1280]

bjjbrawler1 True but it’s difficult to practice and develop techniques while rolling with spazes. Save that shit for an actual fight.

[@evanhenderson4232]

@@newyorksbeerreviews1280 it's also difficult for spazzes to contain themselves when they don't know any techniques (if they are green/beginner). They have to rely on strength and shrimping to get out of sticky situations. We need spazzes as much as we need trained folks in the gym.

[@Mati303s]

@@newyorksbeerreviews1280 you are not actually training if you think that way. Not for a self defense situation at least. You need to prepare for that as well. Develop your technique in a dojo as much as you want, but it may not translate at all to the streets.

[@michaellee6713]

I love spazzy people it taught me that with certain position I needed to grip a little better or tighter. This is also the time (especially with bigger folks) to really test my top pressure.

[@JohnBradleyOsborne]

This is me. Big guy. White belt. Realized I was a spaz and calmed down a bit. Now, I’m not aggressive enough. Trying to figure out a happy medium. Thanks for the video.

[@gavinx7270]

I am 150 lb white belt with some expierence and I brought my friend to the gym (first time he has done jiujitsu) and he is 175 mega spaz but all I had to Do when rolling with him was let him tire himself out then it was an easy submission from there

[@CptAJbanned]

I think the key point for me is that spazziness comes from a lack of knowledge. You hit the nail in the head there. I've toned down myself over the past two years and since day one when people told me to chill out I was like "I'm chill! I just don't know what to do here so I improvise weird shit!" The more resources I have, the less spazzy the fights become.

[@artemthetrain14]

I feel like being analytical helps you not be spazzy. Thinking about what you want to work on before class so your mind is clear and focused when you roll. Also, switching from "I must win" in training to "I must learn" and being playful. Also, concentrating on your breath!

[@MrCmon113]

You can't "work" on anything as a beginner. You simply don't know what you're doing in ANY position. It's on the more experienced grapplers to neutralize a new person's efforts, not on the new person to hold back.

[@jeffbogue9458]

I've been training about 15 months now and I'll be 45 in 2 weeks. I'm a spaz, or aggressive, and have noticed everyone else in my gym is real relaxed and usually get the better of me.

[@angelchab5979]

Maybe because it hurts a lot more to get hit by a big spaz vs a small spaz.

[@j.b.708]

we used to have to roll with random dudes all the time. a constant stream of spazzes. kinda like a Gracie Challenge but no strikes. and it was just us whitebelts representing... it was a school that rented space in a gym, so the random dudes were usually lifting weights with their buddies and inevitably one of them would get dared to come try it. so the spazzes had the added social pressure of their buddies watching from the weight room. tbh i think that kind of variety is VERY good for you, like you are saying.

[@mistfolk]

I’m spazzing from laughter every time you say spaz. Haha

[@maitre6365]

We actually encourage our daughter to roll with the spazzes in the class. It forces her to get grips and hold them tight.

[@otalaedwin]

I love rolling with spazes, I find it fun to try and hold a mount on a guys that goes absolutely wild or try and test my armbar game on them.

[@FTWGamerTrue]

Something about securing that safe position and just watching your opponent drain themselves is so satisfying

[@limitless3146]

FTWGamer it’s the ground and drown. Nothing better than watching the wide eyes staring at the clock

[@MrCmon113]

Yes, I always make sure to roll with the young males before the coach gets to them and mellows them down. When I can control those guys without using too much strength, my grappling actually works.

[@Ghoobrr]

My older brother is 5 years older than myself so I was raised in the discomfort

[@jayrolopez]

Being a strong athletic person with a good command of their body but with little grappling experience I was really spazzy my first month, I am now entering month 3 of training. I know I was doing well but I was unsure about the “you’re really strong” comments as either a compliment or a jab. But now I’m just as strong but now I have solid technique. I got a compliment yesterday about my level of control and technique now compared to a month ago. Everyone has their different advantages, either strength, endurance, speed, overall athleticism, length, weight, flexibility, experience or techniques. Use what you have to your advantage and build on that and improve your areas of weaknesses instead of focusing on another’s inherent advantages... while of course protecting yourself from those who are unsafe to roll with. I had this discussion before, I feel that some of the most realistic training you can have is training with someone who is new, big and spazzing because that’s how a real fight will be. If your BJJ can’t stand up to that then it ain’t good enough yet.

[@electropentatonic]

I'm new to bjj and I found over the last couple of months that each person at the gym has their own speed. Some people have told me to slow down and more others have told me to be more aggressive. It's very confusing but I think I'm settling in a little better every week

[@spanishsteel]

I just saw a picture of Chewy and Eliott Hulse on fb and now I'm starting to notice small similarities in the way they talk, specially with the car that interrupted him haha

[@fakrulislam9333]

Same big traps and stocky build, same camera setup, same moving side to side wahile talking... Chewy comes across a quite likeable guy though, Elliot Hulse not so much, not to mention he talks quicker and gets his points across well without all the pauses and going off on tangents being philosophical.

[@APGJuggernaut]

YES! Thank you for calling out the little people that think muscling and spazing doesn't apply to them.

[@whoanellynelnel3874]

Deal with the spaz, don't blame the spaz. Got it! Thanks:)

[@deepsolar169]

I'm a white belt that started 4-5 weeks ago. I don't know if I'm a spaz, but I do know that I don't know a lot. But I can 100% say that this is true. I've been less "aggressive" as I've learned more over these last weeks. And I've found that the more that you know and the more that you implement, the more opportunities there are to take a second and "calm down" in the middle of a round.

[@phredbookley183]

Well, that answers the question of where the nickname came from. (I assumed his name was Chew-lin-sky or something.) Very cool that you own it so well.

[@andym1594]

oh dude - we've got a 4 stripe white belt who only has 1 gear. It's full speed for the world championships. He's a nightmare to roll with and a prick when he hurts himself (or someone hurts him), which happens about once a week. It's not the no-skill spaz (he's got skills), it's called a jerk for a partner. God help us when he gets to be a blue belt. Unfortunately our gym is mostly white/blue, so not many purple/browns to bludgeon this style out of him.

[@RicoMnc]

I was too old and slow to spaz when I started. If I'm rolling with someone spazzing a bit I can usually handle it by getting in close and working to stay solid in defensive postures. As long as I can keep their knees and elbows out of my face it works out ok.

[@davideric8250]

I am with you.. I am little too old and slow to also spaz. I sometimes hold them guard with the gable grip over their neck and bring my knees up

[@paweltrain3828]

keep spazy folks close that's a great advice, thanks chewy!

[@sgt.gunbunny5959]

Really puts things into perspective, thanks for the input.

[@DSVN23]

Isn’t the point of jiu jitsu to be able to smash these people should they attack you in a street situation??

[@jackb1672]

yes, but there's no need to "smash" your training partners

[@DSVN23]

Gold Twist there is if they’re spazzing out trying to smash you. It’s all love

[@justinscott1691]

Those blue mats look awesome, and thanks for the wisdom , as always an ounce of prevention is better then a pound of cure, keep putting out those fires before they start.

[@thaddeuscorea]

I was a spazzy white belt. Now I'm a better white belt. I wish I had received more coaching about it specifically. I spent too much time just squeezing heads. Really excellent insight on the point of feeling frustrated that "my Jitsu" is not working.

[@fluffybunny7668]

I'm really glad you're talking about this. I'm an 140lbs blue belt female and I find myself in the middle with this. 1) I tend to avoid new guys in general until they've been around for about 6 months because I don't want to get injured. However, on the flip slide/to your point Chewy, on some level, I also want to be able to deal with the spazziness. I know I physically can't prevent everything, but there has to be techniques I can do where I can be more effective. 2) I have also tried communicating with guys, too, when they are kinda man handling me. I tell them that what they are doing might work on me because I'm small, but then I ask them if they are interested in learning how to do something better that might be more effective on bigger and stronger opponents. Some guys are receptive; others aren't. 3) it's a fine line between me asking myself, "were they out of line/spazzy? Or does my jiu jitsu just need to be better?"

[@MrCmon113]

You need to find some 140lbs female spazzes to test yourself. Manhandling women and small guys is all you can do in your first couple of years. You simply don't know enough to be able to play fight with them.

[@Cg6461]

Chewy: I can’t tell you how much i appreciate this video. I am a white belt who just got into BJJ and am one of the biggest guys in my gym (I’m 6’3, 265 and wrestled in college in addition to playing football). I absolutely hate rolling against the smaller white belts because i feel badly when I accidentally hit them, or put them in a dangerous position. I just want want to get a good workout in and would rather be rolling with the higher belts if it were up to me because i learn more getting my butt kicked then muscling around novices. I wish i could share this video with them to let them all know i don’t mean any harm! I just want to learn and train.

[@isaacegglestone5526]

I think this is good advice as it also transcends into other arts not just BJJ. I've done a lot of BJJ but also cross trained in other arts for a large part of my life. I found for example when you are working with trapping range arts they often tell you when you bring the intensity up that you are moving to fast, or "freaking out" or just relax. While the advice is often good advice, I found that moving quickly into an unpredictable kind of "Spazzy" movement would clearly undermine their ability to deal with the situation. When they brought it up I would point out that street fighters won't follow their methods and they will often pull spazzy self preserving movements. You need to learn how to handle them. From my travels I have found that best teachers don't care when you make these kinds of movements because the ones that know their stuff well enough know these are good opportunities to take advantage of the situation and pull off a move that would end the fight immediately. They then train with you and let you off pull anything and everything you can and encourage it while each time they counter the situation until you are humbled into realising the methods work and then you start to relax and learn. The teacher also learns as you did because he will inevitably get caught off gaurd by something once or twice until he adjusts for it. If someone is not aware of their body movements this is a good sign they are vulnerable. But as you said, you need to be good enough at your art to see those openings and have practiced them a thousand times with at least simulated spazziness. I think your method of making sure to roll with anyone new is a great idea. Its also good to try asking your class to occasionally try something unusual outside of the methods to see how your partner handles it.

[@Travisimoo]

I rolled with a spaz and all it earned me was whiplash, a severe SC sprain, and a severe trapezius sprain.

[@justynkitchens4890]

I am fairly new to jujitsu and I am a spaz even though I do not try too, I am naturally athletic and fast that as a white belt I would beat the higher belts or give them a hard time, I try not too, because I know some of the people in my are starting to get frustrated. Great video I am going to try to calm down and not use my athleticism as much. Thanks

[@gipsybulldog3286]

Show no remorse

[@MB-to5gl]

I've never consistently watched, enjoyed or learned so much from any BJJ vids... Just some great info vid after vid...

[@erlima5]

once again ,great video Chewy. thank you

[@TheAytchMan]

Chewie, I think the spaz effect mirrors the levels of competence as we go through the different levels of Jiu Jitsu. As new white belts we're unconsciously incompetent - we don't even know what we don't know, and the spaz happens. The panic, the reversion to a survival mode in the face of getting crushed, trapped, unable to breathe, etc. Going into blue and maybe even purple, we become consciously incompetent - we know that we don't know stuff, but we're learning so things start to slow down or become clearer. From purple into brown I think we move into conscious competence where we know what we know and can apply it over a more broad set of circumstances. Into black and beyond we reach unconscious competence where we don't have to think anymore (for the most part) about what we're doing and the magic happens. I'm a new purple belt, and I can feel things coming together - but I've got a long way to go. Just this week a giant new white belt who has wrestled some dominated me and another purple belt from top mount, but through the spaz, I was able to think it through and escape to a better position - eventually. Great video! Thanks, and it totally happened this week.

[@DFsupreme]

I remember rolling with this lady once, and she was super spaz. She kneed me in the nuts countless times during the roll, thank God I had a cup on. But then I tried a gator-roll into an anaconda choke. I was mindful about our size and weight difference, but it was something I've been wanting to work on at the time. She tapped, okay, cool. Then she got mad, snapped at me and told me I needed to calm down.

[@Madcombat1]

This is pretty funny too, I had a roll today with a smaller guy and he was trying all these things to escape my half guard where I kept him there for a majority of the roll until I was able to sweep him onto his back and go onto the offensive. I more or less played with him, and he kept placing his body into the most comprimsied positions such as essentially causing the blood flow to go straight to his head repeatedly or trying triangles when he essentially had no good frame to make it work. I wasnt exhausted or out of breath, but this guy was. By the time we finished he told me I was spazzing out. I replied "Brother, your sweating and your breathing is rugged at the moment. I laid in a half-guard for most of the roll." He went very quiet after that. A competator told me once that alot of people who spar with a person they've not spar'd with have anxious energy, they're uncertain who they are sparring with and when they confuse their own anxiousness with the jiu-jitsu of their partner. Nervous Energy.

[@needhambunch]

Awesome vid man!! One thing I can be happy about is as a BJJ white belt, I have rank and experience in other arts (most closely to BJJ I am a brown belt in Judo). So from the time I started rolling in BJJ I was fairly slow and methodical, which did shock a lot of the upper belts whom I think expected me to be typical and just go crazy. But I do know how it is to deal with spazzes lol we get new people in all the time and well, just have to deal with it lol Anyway, thanks for the vid it was great as always!!

[@freshstart3555]

Stay blessed y'all. This video was fun and informative. So a spaz is adrenaline base person trying to figure out what to do in a rush. Not centered and calm looking for technical aspects or routes during the roll. Alot of laughing. May I control the spaz. Use the force

[@awildswirl2641]

You saying Spaz is killing me, my mom says Spaz a lot and it's just hilarious

[@anthonyfernandez5431]

My 2 training partners are spaz and it has helped me a lot sometimes I feel really frustrated about my techniques but when I roll with other people I dominate the whole roll.

[@crossfitbilly]

RIght on Chewy! I am that smaller, older, Blue belt trying to deal with the spazzes in my gym. I do get frustrated that super physicality beats my technique and, it is something that I am trying to get used to dealing with. Sometimes it works, sometimes, not so much :-)

[@Poopnoodle36]

had this happen to a few times. They do things that are abnormal and it throws you off. I got my butt kicked. I would get frustrated, but it would make me think all day. Really helped by waking me up and not getting to comfortable when training.

[@biashacker]

A spaz replicates what you would encounter in the real world. That is why a spaz is perfect for learning self defense.

[@presde34]

I am a white belt training for 6 months. I started rolling with this new guy who is almost twice my size. He always gets me on the bottom but he cant submit me. I always look forward to rolling with because I am trying to figure out how to do reversals on him. Those rolls are tough because there are times when he will just rip my arms out with his strength. But i love it because it feela like I am really getting tested.

[@seanking6184]

I don’t know why but your “ Grrr stop being a spaz” made me chuckle as Im envisioning you choking a noob as you say it 😂😂

[@hogdog5889]

Control the spazz, be aware of their flailing. I think if you get a solid knee to the face that your “self defense” strategy is not working. It’s part of it, it happens at all levels occasionally and you have to be ready for it or your just being complacent due to the rules and etiquette of the sport aspect of a self defense art

[@yaronkarmi3393]

The clap at the end is mesmerizing

[@rohitchaoji]

It took me a while to stop being a spaz. As a beginner, the instinctive reaction to someone mounting you or controlling you on the ground is to thrash around trying to get free. Especially because you have zero understanding of any of the positions in the beginning. As I started getting familiar with positions and situations, I started getting comfortable with what to do when in them and was able to relax. I still find myself in positions I'm completely unfamiliar with, but the reaction is no longer that of panic. Instead, I try to restore myself into a position where I can work from, or I just let my opponent/partner proceed and see if I find any openings to make my moves (most of the time, that leads to a tap when I'm rolling with someone more experienced). I think being familiar with how your body works in those unfamiliar positions really helps not being a spaz.

[@pivotdudee]

i'm new to BJJ (only got 1 stripe level of new) and dealt with my first spaz the other day (not as bad as some of your stories though). Man was spazzing so hard i thought i was attached to a jackhammer or something haha. I made sure to give him the biggest hug he ever got and it went alright

[@rojoification]

big spazzy guy checking in!

[@chcknpie04]

It’s really reflects my blue belt journey. As a blue belt, my goal is to be able to reliably tap big strong wrestler types you have almost no jujitsu training. When I get my purple I’ll start wearing about actually beating other jujitsu players

[@mvd3775]

As a relatively strong 20 year old male who's completely new to BJJ, I'm trying very hard to become more relaxed during my rolls. I'm trying to slow down and be more methodical and not hurt anyone.

[@johnhagebeuk8]

Great video everyone can really relate to. Thanks brother 👍🏻

[@jimmyjones2185]

rolling with a spaz gives you a real idea on how you would handle a real situation. Although extremely annoying if you can tap the guy out and make him uncomfortable he will chill out when rolling with you. Just gotta put a lil extra on the head control when putting your shoulder on the guys chin.

[@qstogg7955]

Spazz’s are important they expose your weaknesses and strengths

[@JoseRodriguez-bi4us]

Man, what a great video. Thank you, Chewy!

[@stevied3121]

I'm 220lbs and I'm a beginner. People are for sure wary, so I've had to be hyper aware and sometimes go softer in order to dispel the spaz preconception.

[@colbymorris9004]

I think there's a lot you can do to mitigate a spaz (mind you I'm a newb white belt speaking and maybe a spaz myself). But as a spaz myself I can tell you that the thing that stops me dead in my tracks is when the experienced guy really takes advantage of utilizing their body weight so while I'm spazzing and using brute force they are calm and rested letting me tire out. Once that's done then they just can usually mount and put their body weight on my diaphragm causing me to gasp for air. I'm sure more experienced belts could elaborate more.

[@batmanwayne4977]

Can we see a spaz video?? I'm sure I am one, just never seen it

[@s216674]

Ha! I complain about the little spazzes along with the big. LOL Good advice though, and your points are well taken. The thing I would add, however, is that while it is a good test of where your jiu-jitsu is at, there is a big difference between a streetfight and training in the academy. If I get hurt because of some guy who is spazzing out and I can't train because of it, that is a problem. And yes, it has happened. I wouldn't necessarily expect to get out of a streetfight completely unscathed.

[@nosik673]

First time rolling... *knees somebody in the eye*

[@groundcontroltomajornong8085]

thanks chewy....great advice, & some helpful comments here also...i looked at video title & said ''what's a spaz''?...turns out i'm a ''spaz''..i already knew that though,and am quite relaxed about it...just never heard the term used for some Jiu Jitsu newbies..i have often been told how strong i am,& don't tire easily..now i know thats's code for spaz..lol

[@treyjones775]

Good advice dude.

[@Susanne33062]

The coach has been assigning me to work with a big 250+ spaz lately. The guy injured my wrist. I told him a couple times to calm down, don’t use all your strength, and focus his energy on learning. He finally calmed down when I told him (on the third time) that I will punch him in the nuts if he injures my wrist again. Point made.

[@schitz-poppinov8657]

thank you so much for saying this

[@sumfesh8574]

The spazziest spaz in my gym is a small but super muscular dude. I've had black eyes, busted lips and neck injuries from him but my guillotine defence and positional control has gotten much better from rolling with him

[@johnnycaralta]

A lot of times, people run themselves into your elbows and legs. It's incredibly nuanced.

[@chuckduncan9098]

Spaz is not size specific. I agree. I had a higher belt explain to me after he roughed me up a little. You get back what you deliver.

[@legrandfromage9682]

People who complain about "spazzes" are the worst. I make it a point to roll with at least one spazz per class.

[@Delamthedestroyer]

I was like that until i got my front teeth smashed out by a flailing elbow. At 45 I have to be a bit more selective about who I roll with these days.

[@MrCmon113]

It's fine if you're a woman or small person. But when you're a man and you have to tell the highschool kid to slow down, because you can't control them, that means your grappling doesn't work. You should be able to control a motivated "spazz" that's roughly your own size without using much force. Otherwise, wtf are you doing?

[@MrCmon113]

@@DelamthedestroyerDo ppl not wear mouthguards at your gym?

[@marconjakecanonoy]

I like rolling with spaz jiujitsu practitioners, they give me a good challenge to test my 2 stripe white belt skills 😎