Teaching myself BJJ -Need a DVD/Book-

TDonovan

TDonovan

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I am not able to attend the regularly scheduled goshin-jitsu clubs on time (I have 18 credit hours, am an RA, and work another job). So, I have no formal instruction other than what I can gather for free on the internet and see people use in televised fights.

I'd still like to train some BJJ a few times a week when the mat is open to the students. I have a couple friends that also have wrestling experience and would like to learn with me. We rolled for an hour or so last week trying out simple stuff like triangles, guillotines, RNC, and armbars (I really only have the triangle working well right now). We all got a couple taps by the end of the night and we agreed that it was MUCH more fun than folkstyle wrestling.

However, I was looking for a solid video and/or book with lots of pictures so that we can all work on our form and learn the basics of BJJ. I'm not looking for anything incredibly fancy, just solid instruction on basics and the base necessary to start training in the sport. I have no problem paying for a good book/dvd, so I'm not looking to just hunt for internet links.

If it helps, MMA oriented BJJ is really what we're looking for. We're not looking to buy Gi's. In fact, we'd like to learn a little bit about standup skills (boxing/muay thai/etc) as well.

Thanks guys (and girls)!
 
^ what he said. thank god, dave's school is 30 mins from me. i really need to get off my ass and train
 
Ist much easier to learn from DVD than a book.
 
I guess doing something is better than nothing, but you will only get so far rolling with fellow newbs. I like you started by trying out some stuff out with friends. Then I trained with a purple belt for a couple of sessions and learned more in an hour of getting my ass kicked by him then I ever did by screwing around with fellow newbs.

Since you are at a university you may be able to find some guys with experience who would be willing to do some informal rolling a couple times a week. This sounds stupid, but search peoples interests on facebook and you might be able to find some people.

But if you are stuck with your friends make sure you focus on the fundamentals first: sweeps, guard passes, and escapes before worrying about subs. If you ever roll with somebody good your guard will get passed almost instantly before even attempting a sub.
 
patrickodin said:
I guess doing something is better than nothing, but you will only get so far rolling with fellow newbs. I like you started by trying out some stuff out with friends. Then I trained with a purple belt for a couple of sessions and learned more in an hour of getting my ass kicked by him then I ever did by screwing around with fellow newbs.

Since you are at a university you may be able to find some guys with experience who would be willing to do some informal rolling a couple times a week. This sounds stupid, but search peoples interests on facebook and you might be able to find some people.

But if you are stuck with your friends make sure you focus on the fundamentals first: sweeps, guard passes, and escapes before worrying about subs. If you ever roll with somebody good your guard will get passed almost instantly before even attempting a sub.
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i think the problem with rolling with new guys is they are onlying trying for a tap, most do not understand that if they open their mind and talk to their rolling partners they will improve mat time by learing something instead of overpowering someone... whoever you roll with open mouth and mind and you will learn more than sitting down and wishing you would do something...
 
kishiro said:
i think the problem with rolling with new guys is they are onlying trying for a tap, most do not understand that if they open their mind and talk to their rolling partners they will improve mat time by learing something instead of overpowering someone... whoever you roll with open mouth and mind and you will learn more than sitting down and wishing you would do something...
Click to expand...

Good call, I just started talking to my partner the other day and was amazed at the usefulness of the feedback ("no that won't work" or "excellent foot position in half guard" etc.). And I'm learning too that, while getting tapped isn't as much fun as making someone tap, it is a heck of a lot more educational.
 
get "the path to blackbelt" by rodrigo gracie, its 20 bucks on amazon and covers all the basics
 
Of course I always push my DVD's www.KibunInc.com. If not go to Onthemat.com they have alot of instructional DVD's. As said above DVD's are eaiser to learn from then a book. Also make sure that in the DVD you get, the instructor speaks clear English.
 
dont expect to get great this way. but id recommend the cesar gracie dvds theyv got alot of all around jiu jitsu (solid basics, progresses to more advanced stuff, he also throws in some classic no rules style jiu jitsu e.g. kidney kicks from guard etc) for only 60bux.
 
My buddy just found a book by Royler and Renzo at the undergrad library, so we're going to read into that. We're also trying to work in some free mat time with some of the guys from the goshin-jitsu club. Hopefully next semester my schedule will have enough time to actually go to the scheduled club meetings.
 
TD,
As all the posters have emphasized training with an instructor beats training out of a book or dvd. However from personal experience and eye witness accounts I can confirm that ANY training is better than none.
During HS the 2nd of 4 brothers had joined the wrestling team, that year he was on jv and did ok...winning about half his matches. The year ended and we checked out a book from a library which had hundreds of moves in it..it was an old book but still very effective. Due to space we could on practice escapes, reversals and pins and just basic takedowns and defnse that required very little room. The following year when it came time to wrestle off for the starting job he won the spot over the incumbent starter who was a senior. That day the former starter grabbed his stuff and left the team for good. Not only did he beat that kid he beat another starter from the prior year who decided to try his hand at that weight class. That kid stayed aboard and just dropped too the 125 lb division instead of quitting. He ended up the year with a 20-7 record and qualified for regionals after taking 2nd in the district.
It just goes to show that ANY work is better than none b/c had he done nothing chances are he would have been on jv again since his weight class and thse around it had experienced seniors. Grappling is verfy hands on and if you can get the work in and practice certain positions over and over you WILL improve.
You sond like you have a good plan because competing against others and a watchful coach will fine tune and improve your game overall!


good luck!
 
I would like to add.....1st sorry 4 the typos above.
Next I want to share thoughts on how this method eventually HURT in the long run.

We were practicing on an old mattress which meant we had no room. So to practice takedown defense we would start with the technique on and then defend from there. The problem with this is he became very good a td defense but never got great at the actual td. The situation was made worse by the fact that he could tempt his opponents to attack at which time he would counter , score and then usually get the pinfalls. Well by the time he was facing VERY good opponents at districts and regionals he was behind the eight ball against guys with GREAT takedowns that could get by his defense.

In other words he was a defensive minded finsher. But when he faced a guy not easily finished he was at a huge disadvantage ESPECIALLY against guys with great TD's.

How this applies to you is, there is a tendency to go after all the fancy subs. Thats fine but sometimes against better opponents you have to take small progressive victories. So since you are now practicing BJJ make sure you ALSO work hard on sweeps and establishing control positions as well as transitioning between these same positions.
 
As others have said, try your best to find someone with experience to help you and your group of guys. I have hundreds of tapes, dvds, and books of fights, competitions, and instructionals. Don't look for gi stuff and don't look for instructions that emphasize submission techniques yet. Stay with basic general instructionals that emphasize basic position skills and escapes - and later get into submissions.

The series I found best for clarity and scope for beginners are:

Bas Rutten - his very first series put out by Panther
Mario Sperry - his first series of vale tudo instructionals
Erik Paulson - he has many tapes out under various titles
Tony Cecchine - catchwrestling series
Mark Hatmaker - he has several titles out, start with "Escapes from Impossible Holds"

You might find some of these cheap on eBay.


Some good books are:

Submission Fighting Techniques by Iverson
http://www.amazon.com/Submission-Fi...ef=sr_1_3/103-2193897-3539038?ie=UTF8&s=books


Mark Hatmaker has some good inexpensive books too, see Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Holds-Barred-...ef=sr_1_1/103-2193897-3539038?ie=UTF8&s=books


If you are ever in my neighborhoo, San Diego, let me know. I'll be glad to teach you some stuff free on my mats.

Good luck

[email protected]
 
I have no problem recommending any of Hatmaker's videos or books. They are all legit and worthwhile having.
 
to be honest i have seen only one of his vids and to say the least i was not impressed. I could choose harsher words but i won't. You can get waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better dvd's than hatmaker's stuff.
 
Yeah I talked to some guys at the free mat and there is an actual BJJ instructor in the area by the name of Jack McVicker. I'll see if I can contact him and go to at least a couple classes per week.

Today was effing awesome though. We learned a basic sweep, and practiced the americana, kimura, armbar, and some more triangle. I definitely love the americana, I had it work 2-3 times flawlessly. The way we practiced today was we'd start in full guard. Man on top would have to either try for full mount or a submission. Man on bottom would either submit or reverse position in order to "win". We rolled for about an 1hr 40 min, and I definitely had fun. My neck is KILLING though, as I tweaked it pulling out of a deep guillotine, and then my other buddy cranked on it later (he's doing judo and is excellent at wrestling).
 
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