Being tense when rolling

[kjg1672]

I have a training partner who has told me that I'm too tight and tense when rolling. At first I didn't think much of it, but he's the second person who's said it. It's kind of disappointing to hear because I've training BJJ for eight years, and being loose is something I've been told is important since I was a beginner white belt. I'm not a spaz when I roll; I just think I get tense when I'm training in the gi and grip fighting, trying to pass. This is especially if my partner is big like my training partner, who has about 60 pounds on me.

Has anyone else had this problem even after training for a long time? I'm kind of a nervous and anxious person by nature, so I wonder if there's only so much I can do to correct it.

 

[JustTheTip]

i had this problem for awhile. Concentrating on breathing helped the most for me.

 

[SummerStriker]

They are asking you to let them do moves and they will in turn allow you to do a certain set of prescribed moves. Just make sure you acquiesce constantly so that their ego is satiated.

You need to start interpreting them shoving you as them leading in a dance. Don't worry, if they feel threatened, they will push back.

I love rolling with physically dominant people that demand other people relax while they shove and use pressure.

Remember, it isn't tension if you feel like a boss and are using a prescribed juggling act.

 

[kjg1672]

They are asking you to let them do moves and they will in turn allow you to do a certain set of prescribed moves. Just make sure you acquiesce constantly so that their ego is satiated.

You need to start interpreting them shoving you as them leading in a dance. Don't worry, if they feel threatened, they will push back.

I love rolling with physically dominant people that demand other people relax while they shove and use pressure.

Remember, it isn't tension if you feel like a boss and are using a prescribed juggling act.

I'm glad you wrote this, because this guy isn't exactly my favorite training partner, and I think this may be his mindset. But, as I mentioned, someone else said it too awhile back.

 

[Dogstarman]

I've been training for a little bit less than you. I can't really tell you but I used to have a training partner, who I hated rolling with, because it always felt like a life or death situation with him. I'm not saying that's your problem.

I would always tell him to relax but he just couldn't. He was one of those guys that would squeeze the shit out of your ribs when in his guard and had pretty good cardio. I'm serious, he would go 100% every roll. I couldn't stand rolling with him because he would grind the shit out your ears and never let go head locks, even though you reversed him. His strength endurance was crazy because I had to do dick moves to make him release shit. I mean I would be on top side control and he would be squeezing my head, trying to pop it off. He wouldn't let go and just hold on for dear life.

Normally, with guys like that, you just wait until they get tired. This guy wouldn't though. It was crazy and irritating. He is the reason my cauliflower ear would act up. Me squeezing my head out of his crazy grip grinding my ear on his sleeves and him just holding on for dear life. I hated rolling with him. Sometimes my coach would make me roll with him. Especially after I said I hated rolling with him. He said he will make you tough. I said no, he will make me injured.

 

[Alpha Omega Man]

I've been training for a little bit less than you. I can't really tell you but I used to have a training partner, who I hated rolling with, because it always felt like a life or death situation with him. I'm not saying that's your problem.

I would always tell him to relax but he just couldn't. He was one of those guys that would squeeze the shit out of your ribs when in his guard and had pretty good cardio. I'm serious, he would go 100% every roll. I couldn't stand rolling with him because he would grind the shit out your ears and never let go head locks, even though you reversed him. His strength endurance was crazy because I had to do dick moves to make him release shit. I mean I would be on top side control and he would be squeezing my head, trying to pop it off. He wouldn't let go and just hold on for dear life.

Normally, with guys like that, you just wait until they get tired. This guy wouldn't though. It was crazy and irritating. He is the reason my cauliflower ear would act up. Me squeezing my head out of his crazy grip grinding my ear on his sleeves and him just holding on for dear life. I hated rolling with him. Sometimes my coach would make me roll with him. Especially after I said I hated rolling with him. He said he will make you tough. I said no, he will make me injured.

life or death...

 

[Dogstarman]

I'm glad you wrote this, because this guy isn't exactly my favorite training partner, and I think this may be his mindset. But, as I mentioned, someone else said it too awhile back.

You probably use tons of tons of pressure and won't give an inch. They don't like it and want you to give up something.

 

[DrJitsu]

Who is this training partner? Is it someone who is really experienced like you? Or more experienced? If so then maybe you reflect and consider some changes. Or maybe you just roll differently with this person. Maybe he is just looking to work a particular position or something. So it may just be a communication thing.

If it's just some dude, I say continue with the presh.

 

[kjg1672]

Who is this training partner? Is it someone who is really experienced like you? Or more experienced? If so then maybe you reflect and consider some changes. Or maybe you just roll differently with this person. Maybe he is just looking to work a particular position or something. So it may just be a communication thing.

If it's just some dude, I say continue with the presh.

He's been training about 4 years, about half as long as I have. He has said to me twice that he used to roll really hard and then got hurt, and the same would happen to me. I told him in 8 years I have never been injured, which is true. You may be right about the communication thing, though

 

[lechien]

Nah. I think ts is fine. Everyone got a different style

 

[Jiu Jitsuka]

Sometimes giving up 60 lbs to an equally skilled training partner will make you tense up and fight a little bit harder to keep say a top position.

 

[berimBOWLoh]

takes some ppl more times than others. i was often told i was too tense when rolling for quite awhile. Prob close to purple. Now im told im one of the most relaxed mofoz in the gym. i dont know what triggered that, i just feel comfortable as hell now.

 

[throwboes]

During sparring: If tense means you're gassing yourself out and / or burning your grips then that's bad. If tense means you fight for every grip and every position then that's good. As long as you can still think straight about techniques, I think it's fine. Anything less and you're going to develop bad habits I.E. not addressing grips or conceding sweeps and passes.

If you're flow rolling, then yeah, loosen up.

The 4 year mark is about right for the "loosen" advice. That's when everyone seems to know everything and feels comfortable telling someone who has been training 8 years advice about "how to roll". In a few years, that guy will just train and leave this kind of advice to the coaches.

 

[inverted vortex]

He's been training about 4 years, about half as long as I have. He has said to me twice that he used to roll really hard and then got hurt, and the same would happen to me. I told him in 8 years I have never been injured, which is true. You may be right about the communication thing, though

dude sounds salty. anyone who's been training half the time that I have and tries to tell me how to roll.....I think i'll just keep rolling how I do.

 

[Vitamin C]

If you're not gassing out, do what you do mang.
Like others have said, only if you're specifically flow rolling or working a technique cooperatively should this even matter.

 

[mattemate]

During sparring: If tense means you're gassing yourself out and / or burning your grips then that's bad. If tense means you fight for every grip and every position then that's good. As long as you can still think straight about techniques, I think it's fine. Anything less and you're going to develop bad habits I.E. not addressing grips or conceding sweeps and passes.

If you're flow rolling, then yeah, loosen up.

The 4 year mark is about right for the "loosen" advice. That's when everyone seems to know everything and feels comfortable telling someone who has been training 8 years advice about "how to roll". In a few years, that guy will just train and leave this kind of advice to the coaches.

Why is my girlfriend in your avatar?

And I was also going to ask TS if he ever flow rolls. It opens up a lot of possibilities, and I think sharpens technique, which allows you to relax. It is a lot easier to relax from a strong position (whether defensive or offensive).

 

[Russky]

He was one of those guys that would squeeze the shit out of your ribs when in his guard and had pretty good cardio.

This is me in the beginning Years of bicycling + some judo + zero bjj skills.

Judo coach taught me how to get an unbreakable grip, put guy on the ground, pin, and then make his life miserable, so he does not think about escaping. With bicycling cardio control skills I could do that over and over without getting tired.

 

[throwboes]

Why is my girlfriend in your avatar?

And I was also going to ask TS if he ever flow rolls. It opens up a lot of possibilities, and I think sharpens technique, which allows you to relax. It is a lot easier to relax from a strong position (whether defensive or offensive).

Flow rolling is awesome. Can be less tedious than drilling some times.

That chick is a babe, you're a lucky man

 

[kjg1672]

Why is my girlfriend in your avatar?

And I was also going to ask TS if he ever flow rolls. It opens up a lot of possibilities, and I think sharpens technique, which allows you to relax. It is a lot easier to relax from a strong position (whether defensive or offensive).

I almost always ask to flow roll for the first roll, especially if it's open mat since I probably don't have a sweat going yet and I'm not exactly a young buck, but I should probably do it more.
Ironically, now that I think about it, when I ask to slow roll my partner usually shakes his head yes and then comes at me 100 percent.
I think if anything I can get frustrated with grip fighting, which may make me tense up.

Thanks for the responses F12ers. They were helpful.

 

[Steve08]

He's been training about 4 years, about half as long as I have. He has said to me twice that he used to roll really hard and then got hurt, and the same would happen to me. I told him in 8 years I have never been injured, which is true. You may be right about the communication thing, though

Hmm. That's reassuring because I've never had an injury from BJJ either. I basically have only one year, or maybe a little bit more than that for experience, and I have often felt apprehensive about the concept of being injured, since I thought it was more or less a given. But, this gives me hope!