Starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an exciting, potentially nerve-wracking experience. But that’s just because trying anything new and different is often a little intimidating. If you’ve done your homework to find the right BJJ school for you, then you’ve probably already settled on a place that suits your personality and schedule. Nice work! Now that you’re gearing up for your first class, here are three things to know before you officially start BJJ.
start with the basics
When you start training, it’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed. There are lots of techniques in BJJ, but don’t feel pressured to memorize and execute them all right out of the gate. You don’t need to master dozens of different moves to excel. And while technical knowledge is great, the ability to turn technique into skill can only come from one thing – experience. The more you roll, the better you get. So focus on the fundamentals, and work them again and again. Tweak and refine these basics, and you’ll be building an ideal foundation for the rest of your game.
focus on what you find most difficult
It’s normal for us to avoid the stuff we find hard and instead focus on the parts that come a little easier. The same is true in BJJ, but you’re far better served to shore up the weakest parts of your game. Maybe you find that fighting from the top is your preference, but if you have no bottom game, it’s eventually going to cost you. In the beginning, it’s all new so take the opportunity to focus just as much on the techniques that initially stump you.
ego is your enemy
One of the biggest hurdles to progress as a beginner practitioner of BJJ is ego. It’s humbling to be a fish out of water, but embracing this mentality is the fastest way to begin learning. When you can accept the fact that you’ll be quickly and routinely submitted, you open yourself to the opportunity to both relax and absorb everything. Everyone begins as a white belt. Everyone remembers the low-grade anxiety you may be feeling the first time you step on the mat. The best thing you can do is remember that submission is part of the game, and that your ego has no place on the mat.
If you’re ready to start BJJ and you haven’t yet considered training at Guerrilla BJJ in Reno, check out our getting started offer. We’d love to make your first experience on the mat amazing, so we invite you to come see the school, meet the instructors and sit in on a class.