Training Dilemma

[DH86]

I‘m having something of a dilemma with my training. My main interest is gi BJJ, I train nogi to round out my game and I enjoy both but gi is really my love. I‘m a four stripe white belt, I‘m been training for a year and four months for about twelve hours a week and can hang with most blues and get the tap with two stripe blues about half the time. I recognise that I have holes in my game and am not hunting after belts, my gym tends to give blues after two years training with 18 months being the quickest I‘ve ever heard of here.

My gym is more of an MMA gym but I really have no interest in striking. They currently run five hours of nogi and five hours of gi classes a week, aswell as a couple of hours of Freestyle Wrestling classes a week. I go to all available grappling classes, both the fundamental classes and the advanced classes (for which there is no specific required rank). They‘re changing the requirements for the advanced class to blue belt which would mean I would only be able to get one hour a week of gi (making all but Friday‘s class for blues and up), and the usual seven hours a week of nogi + freestyle wrestling I do. This is unacceptable to me, with gi being my main interest. I asked my instructor if I could go to the advanced class when the requirements og up and he said they‘re going to be strict on enforcing the policy – so no.

I like the gym and really don‘t want to leave, but will do if this is the case. Would it make me a douche to tell this to my instructor? I don‘t want to be giving ultimatums but really want to do the advanced classes too and think it‘s really unfair that they are changing the requirements, I know I at a suitable level to cope with them. Any thoughts? Thanks (and sorry about the essay that this turned out to be).

 

[Makhno]

You sound like a very dedicated student, so it's hard for me to imagine your instructor not allowing you to do the advanced sessions. I would wait and see what happens. Maybe he's planning to promote before the changes take effect, or maybe he'll allow you to be the exception. Having said that, if you're not allowed in the advanced class, i fully understand you leaving. I think you would be justified speaking to your instructor about it if it becomes apparent that is the case.

 

[justadam]

Are there other schools near you that have a better schedule? I understand the feeling of be loyal to your school/instructor, but when it comes down to it, you are a paying customer.

 

[DH86]

You sound like a very dedicated student, so it's hard for me to imagine your instructor not allowing you to do the advanced sessions. I would wait and see what happens. Maybe he's planning to promote before the changes take effect, or maybe he'll allow you to be the exception. Having said that, if you're not allowed in the advanced class, i fully understand you leaving. I think you would be justified speaking to your instructor about it if it becomes apparent that is the case.

Thank you. I could try talking to him more or I guess I could just show up on the day and see if anyone brings it up, though it would be pretty humiliating to be kicked out of class. Come new year the training schedule changes, and he hasn't promoted me yet, so I don't think it likely.

Are there other schools near you that have a better schedule? I understand the feeling of be loyal to your school/instructor, but when it comes down to it, you are a paying customer.

There is but I don't have a car (I'm a poor student) and my current gym is a fifteen minute walk from my flat whereas the other would take me at least forty-five minutes and it's snowing half the year here which isn't ideal for such a trek (we currently have roughly a half-meter of snow and the temperature is about -1C during the day at the moment). I'd do it if I have to but it's a fairly grim prospect.

 

[rockhead2046]

If you haven't been promoted by the time the change takes place, talk to your instructor about it and let him know your concerns. If it doesn't work out, you shouldn't feel bad at all for leaving. First, it is your money and you can spend it where you want. Second, you tried to resolve the situation with your instructor. That's all you can do. Good luck.

 

[MyBodyHurts]

I think if you tell him what your last paragraph is (about not wanting to leave but wanting to train more gi) there's nothing disrespectful or wrong about it. You signed up with certain classes in place that you could attend, including gi. Your instructor deciding to change the class structure or who can attend isn't your fault and it should be understandable to him if you choose to leave if he won't let you attend. I think if you just explain to him how you feel he'll let you attend.

As a side note, I don't see how it's good or makes any sense for the school to only allow white belts to attend one gi class a week.