The likely scenario of a lesson or class will be this: you may have a ten to fifteen minute warm up, then your teacher will likely show a move on a student about three to five times and then set you up with a partner to practice the movement for five to fifteen minutes. Your partner is not supposed to be resistant, nor are you when learning a move, especially a new move. An instructor wrote on a forum: “My most frequent criticism of students goes to those who do the movements too quickly or with too much strength. Another pet peeve I have is when a beginner student starts to do other moves ahead of what I am teaching. If I am showing an armlock, my student should be trying to perfect the armlock, not learning a leglock that is wholly separate. I am not suggesting not expanding your transitions or options, but you need to know the particular move I am showing well before you transition to the next move. How can you perfect a technique if you have moved on from it in under a minute?”

Anyone can learn BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU at any level and with any body type. You should also believe in this. Sometimes angles need to be shifted to get the movements correct, sometimes your partner or instructor needs to actually place your body in the position where it should be. Take the time necessary and don’t get ahead of yourself.

Having said this, make sure again to focus on going rather slow. Make sure you perfect each and every detail of every movement. I am not saying you go so slow that you never finish the move, but make sure you do each movement at least a dozen times as slowly and as correctly as possible. If you are fast and correct, that is also fine, but BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU is very technical, usually more than meets the eye and immediate senses, so I highly recommend learning each movement slowly and asking questions of your partner and your teacher. I would ask the partner if the move feels right. Where do they feel the movement? For example, if you do a choke, it should usually affect a certain area of the neck and not simply just hurt your opponent or crank on their neck. I would also ask your professor if the move looks right or even try it on them. Ask if there is anything that can be done to make it better. Why not? You are there to get better and pay your hard-earned money to learn, so take full advantage of every opportunity to put your best foot forward.

You can do twice the work tomorrow if you don’t do it today, but you will never get today back.

Again, make sure to spend at least ten to fifteen minutes per movement. In fact, I would ask the professor about their teaching style before you sign up so you are aware of what is in store. Obviously spending more time doing it will make you better, as long as it is correct. Again (I continue to emphasize this for a reason), make sure you ask questions of your professor or training partner, or ask if they see or feel any flaws with your technique or the mechanics of the movement.

Come down to Arashi Do and try out one of our great Brazilian programs like Fundamental BJJ, Women’s Only BJJ or Children’s BJJ for ages 4-7 and 8-14.  All those and you get a 30 DAY FREE TRIAL!  What are you waiting for?  Call or text us at 780-220-5425 or email us at myackulic@ArashiDo.com