How to avoid being a "spaz"

[TheRealJason]

Hey guys. I've JUST started taking some BJJ classes, and am really enjoying myself.

I came out here to read some of the threads and keep seeing people mentioning "spazzes" and how they try to avoid rolling with them in fear of getting injured, etc.

Now, I am new to BJJ, and I just want to know how to avoid being "that guy". As my knowledge is extremely limited, when I'm rolling in class, I tend to try to just stick to what I know, and if someone uses a technique that I'm not prepared for, I usually just kind of let them take it and then ask afterwards what I did wrong and how I can avoid getting caught in that position again.

All of the guys that I've really talked to are really easy to get along with and don't mind helping me out. I feel kind of bad at times because rather than them rolling around with someone that is better than them and can put up a good fight, they are stuck showing me stuff, and beating me easily. For that reason I try to go with as many different guys as I can. That is helping me pickup different perspectives and little nuances of moves that I wouldn't get if I always rolled with the same guy, and also that way they get some good time in rolling with someone who knows what they are doing.

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

 

[jhunter]

I would say to relax. Everyone at first will tend to tense up and depend on strength alone instead of leverage and technique. This might cause injury to other people, but I really do not get upset working with people who are tense?? As for just letting someone just take it on you, I would try to avoid it. It gets on my nerves when someone just lets me submit them. I would rather you spaz out and do what you can to get free than to just let me take it. Maybe someone that is more into BJJ can help more, I just train it to prepare for real world fights and not grappling comp's. Most of the guys I work with are the same, so I have never really heard anyone complain about someone being a spaz?? I would love to take someone down who starts to spazz out. I could then just hold them down until they are out of breath and tap out because of that.. I would just say to relax when working and try to defend their moves and work on what you know if all it is is an armbar from the mount. Do what you know as you learn it, it will get to where you dont really have to think about it in a few months. Good luck and if someone does not want to work with you because they dont want to help teach you, find another partner..

 

[Commissar]

You seem to already have a good attitude. It's great to ask your training partner questions - for you, and for him. For you, you learn something. For him, it shows that you're trying to get better, and you're acknowledging that you have accepted there's a lot to learn.

To me, spazzing is pretty much just trying to overwhelm your opponents with strength. Using strength is fine, but the problem arises when you don't even try to use any technique you learnt, and replace it with aggression and strength. At the start, you will lose when you try to use technique against a better technical person, but thats how you learn.

 

[DaleCaliente]

One thing that NOBODY wants when they are rolling is an opponent who is jerky and uses strength and overagression as opposed to strategy and technique. In short, stick with what you know, avoid jerky movements when you are applying techniques, as i have seen beginners hurt someone when trying a move too spastically, and show the respect all show in trainig with partners.

 

[chdnny]

uuhhh.....

my experiences is, if your gassing during sparring.... your spazzin

during conditioning i gas out, but during rolling, iactually dont lose energy because i try to take it slow and technique as much as possible, of course explode at times but not all the time....

 

[Gsoares2***]

guys dont mind beating you easily.. they are trying new things and opening their games up. They are lucky to have new guys like you come in so that they can change from their normal game.

 

[TheRealJason]

Thanks for the tips guys.

I don't feel that I'm "gassing out" so much, but I certainly do get tired when rolling. I'm not in the best of shape and am trying to use BJJ to help me get on the right path there, but I'm usually ready to go again after a minute or two.

Maybe I just need to learn a few more techniques before I'm really comfortable rolling with people. I'm kind of stuck with only 1 or 2 techniques in any given position that I'm comfortable trying.

Anyone have any additional reccomendations for passing the guard? I've just ordered a book online and am hoping to have that in a few days.

 

[jhunter]

Anyone have any additional reccomendations for passing the guard? I've just ordered a book online and am hoping to have that in a few days.

Additional to what? Which ways do you know of now? I use one everytime and it works everytime. Its not anything pretty, but it is effective. You might already know the escape, so let us know what you know so far.

 

[Q mystic]

I would say a spaz is someone who constantly applies unneccessary force. Unless you win, then you are just aggressive.

 

[chdnny]

I would say a spaz is someone who constantly applies unneccessary force. Unless you win, then you are just aggressive.

yes, thats my quick theory i guess, spazzes are overly aggressive, they try to hard and they usually dont use too much technique(too much speed, power, which can hurt people) so more energy used more you gas

i just ask a dude, you gassing when you roll? yes? o, then you better chill out and think about using your techniques more

you know?

 

[RobT]

Don't worry about "winning", just use the techniques you know and lay off the strength. You'll get tapped, loads, who cares? Try to defend without using strength. One day, you'll start being able to pull off the techniques.

 

[VampireMonk]

Spaz is someone that:

is rough
has no control
is likely to injure people
is way too competitive
goes all out
cannot go slow
thinks that training is a proving ground
is afraid of loosing
thinks that kicking ass is learning
uses power
does not understand the benefit of efficiency
more likely to do whatever it takes to win
winning is more important than learning
compares rather than monitor themselves

 

[Monkeytowner]

Sounds like you are already not "That Guy". Great attitude already. I'm new and traing one-on-one with a BB and he kicks my tail every time. I love it! haha

 

[fightme]

It's really simple if you are not using technique, leverage or balance there is a good chance you are spazzing. Personally I found that if I slowed down and thought about what I was doing I was able to work on technique.

Of course there are guys who's technique is so good that they can speed up and still keep good form.

Watching two guys roll hard with good technique is like watching a human chess match.