Are you a White Belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu who feels better when they roll with a Higher Belt?
This is the question I received from our BJJ White Belt friend Brianda who asked, ” I’ve been training for four months and I know I’m improving a lot (everybody tells me), but when I roll with white belts. Why do I feel like I can’t do anything? When I roll with higher belts everything goes better and I can practice all the movements and submissions I’ve learned, is it normal?”
In this Chewy ramble video I discuss this common situation in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
So Why Do I Roll Better Against Higher Belts?
When it boils down to it this is caused by a couple things.
A higher belt (Blue Belt, Purple Belt, Brown Belt, Black Belt) is in much better control of the roll and is much more relaxed. This relaxed state is usually fueled by the fact that the higher belt can finish the roll and gain the upper hand at any point. This oftentimes leads higher belts to play down a little bit during BJJ training to allow the newer student to move around and attempt their techniques.
The roll takes on a back and forth flow dynamic. Rather than the super intense style of roll that happens when two people of the same level are rolling with one another. So if you’re a White Belt and you’re rolling with a higher belt who is playing around a bit. This is why you feel like you’re doing better against them during BJJ training.
Why Do I Roll Worse Against White Belts?
In contrast you might feel like you roll worse against a White Belt. This is because a fellow White Belt does not have the security of being more advanced technically. They don’t have the same control a more experienced grappler does. So, instead they are fighting life and death when pitted against another beginner during a Brazilian Jiujitsu class.
The roll then takes on a much more aggressive nature and makes it more difficult to execute techniques. And this would lead you to think that you are doing “worse” during the roll.
I go into more detail in the video and share a few stories. But don’t worry, in short, yes this is a normal situation.
If you’re running into this as a BJJ White Belt. I hope the video is helpful!
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1st-match.jpg531689Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-08-30 12:53:162017-08-30 12:54:52This is Why You Roll Worse against White Belts in BJJ
Do You Remember your 1st BJJ Tournament or Competition
Do you remember getting ready for your 1st Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competition or tournament? Do you remember the nerves associated with preparing and getting ready to step out on the mat against a complete stranger ready to go 100%?
If you do, then you remember it’s scary!
I remember my 1st Wrestling match which was my 1st taste of competition anxiety and the self doubt associated with it. It was tough. I didn’t feel like I was getting ready for a sports competition. I felt like I was preparing for my end. I couldn’t even imagine life after the tournament. It just consumed my thoughts.
White Belt Getting Ready For His 1st BJJ Tournament
Our White Belt friend Alex, recently sent me a message asking about how to deal with the fact that he is nervous for his 1st BJJ tournament. But in addition to that, and making it worse, is the fact that his friends who do not train are incredibly negative and telling him he isn’t good enough. This si tough because they are his friends and so their opinions are very valuable to him and mean a lot. So this is hard for him to deal with.
Keep in mind it’s his friends who don’t train Brazilian Jiujitsu that are vocal about his abilities. Not his friends that do train. He says that his friends who do train are incredibly supportive. In fact, they say he’s going to do incredibly well.
What To Do With Doubters
In this video I talk about various situations I’ve experienced in my life where doubters were there, ready to cut me down. Experiences like losing weight, stepping into BJJ and MMA, getting into the gym business and even starting my YouTube channel. I’ve have doubters in everything I’ve ever done in my life that was difficult but contained a worthy goal. And in many cases the doubters were the people that I truly care about the most. I share how I dealt with these issues and how I overcame them.
Hopefully this advice is useful to Alex for anyone who is struggling with doubters in extreme situations like a Brazilian Jiujitsu tournament or anything that’s challenging in their life.
Thanks!
-Chewy
P.S the passage I referenced in the video was. . .
“As you proceed through life,
following your own path,
birds will shit on you,
Don’t bother to brush it off.”
Want 3 tips on how to use your BJJ book effectively for training? Maybe the book is just filled with awesome content and BJJ techniques. Well how do you decide on which BJJ techniques to focus on and implement?
In this video I give several tips on how to use a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu book effectively. I focus my attention on Jiu-jitsu University, as an example since it was requested by one of the viewers.
He said that he bought this particular BJJ book in order to help him develop his grappling abilities and is wondering on how to make the best use of it for training and his BJJ development.
The Basic BJJ Book Tips Are. . .
1. USE THE INFORMATION! Don’t let the books, dvd and videos you consume go to waste. Put into motion the things you’re absorbing. Remember, information is just information. Execution of this information is what matters.
2. Focus on problems you’re encountering during your Brazilian Jiujitsu training. Oftentimes when we have a deficiency in our game. We somehow seem to find ourself there constantly. So it’s very helpful to plug the holes in your game. Find areas to help you focus on those areas is a good idea.
3. Focus on positions where you’re already effective. This will allow you to easily slide new techniques into the mix. Often if you’re already good at a particular position. Adding another technique you see in a BJJ book won’t be a problem.
3. Augment the training your BJJ coach is already covering. So for instance if you’re covering Guard Passes. Find more options on Guard Passing in the book to go along with what you’re already doing. This will help you further develop those areas and stay on track with your coach in your gym.
I also share an idea on how you might use a BJJ journal along with a BJJ book to hold yourself accountable in regards to the techniques you’re trying to add to your game.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Screen-Shot-2017-07-17-at-8.19.23-AM.png8681486Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-07-17 08:21:212017-07-17 08:21:213 Easy Ways to Use a BJJ Book to Boost Training
When you’re an older BJJ practitioner on the mat. Often you have to do things a bit differently than your younger training partners. Like moving a bit slower. Now, does moving slower during BJJ training make you lazy? This is a worry that one of our friends has currently with his training.
He is a 40 year old 2 stripe white belt and is wanting to move towards a slower Brazilian Jiujitsu game. This is because he often putters out during the Bjj rolling session when he tries to match the pace of some of his training partners. The issue he is having though is that he feels like his coach will look at him as if he is lazy and not progressing.
He also shares that he feels like he is kind of hanging on to his younger self and that part of the reason he goes so fast during training is because he is still trying to be that younger person.
In this video (below) I talk about slowing down your BJJ game to adapt to being an older guy or woman in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. While this is directed towards an older BJJ White Belt in particular. The same tip could be used for anyone in BJJ who is trying to make their game more efficient.
An Older BJJ Practitioner and Being Slower Doesn’t mean Lazy
As I share in the video. Moving slower when you’re doing BJJ doesn’t mean you’re being lazy or not progressing. In many cases, it just means you’re attempting to become more efficient with your movements and making everything count. Rather than expending lots of energy unnecessarily with movements that don’t really get you anywhere.
So whether you’re an older BJJ practitioner who is in the thick of Brazilian Jiujitsu and is looking to adapt to a slower game or if you’re just looking to slow down your game a bit when you’re rolling. Hopefully the tips in this video are helpful to you!
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/older-bjj-coaches.jpg10801080Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-07-05 07:40:582017-07-05 07:40:58Common Fear of an Older BJJ White Belt
Are Leg Locks in BJJ really that Dangerous? Some people avoid them like the plague citing that leg locks are so destructive that they shouldn’t almost not be practiced at all. As if they are some evil section of grappling that should be avoided at all costs.
But in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, as I think we all know, all submissions are dangerous and have the potential to alter someone’s life in a very profound way. I’ve met people who have had permanent caused by things like armbars or rear naked chokes (improperly applied), which many unanimously agree are “safe” submissions to use in BJJ training.
Rolling is a Serious Game
Because of this inherent danger in everything we do on the mats. I think it’s always important to remind ourselves of just how serious the game of Rolling can actually be. We have a blast and it’s so much fun. But when it comes time to finish our training partners in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. We have to be smart.
Accidents happen in BJJ and people get injured. It’s just how it is and there is no way around it completely. But one goal we should always keep close to home as a training partner is to do everything in our power to ensure our partners leave in the same shape they came in. So if they were healthy and uninjured walked into the gym. They should be that way walking out.
Aversion to Leg Locks in BJJ
Many people have a certain aversion to Leg Locks in BJJ. I know that during my first few years of BJJ. A lot of coaches at this time talked about the techniques as if they were evil and just bad! It reminded me of the Dark Arts of Harry Potter or something.
But overtime they’ve become more and more prominent in BJJ and because of this more and more people are practicing them as part of their Brazilian Jiujitsu. I believe their prominence was caused by the gaping hole that was created by the lack of people in Brazilian Jiujitsu actually focusing on the lower body submissions.
I personally had to let go of the consistent idea that I had about leg locks in BJJ. That idea was mainly that they were too dangerous.
I’ve actually found through years of coaching that with proper knowledge they’re just about as safe as anything else. In fact, inside our gym over the last 3 years I’ve seen less injuries related to Leg Locks since we started practicing them on a weekly basis.
People are more sensitive to them now, they know how to escape and they know how to apply them with control. They know when to tap and how to adjust their body through the technique.
I know you may not agree. But I hope you at least consider the way you think about Leg Locks. Are they you’re own thoughts based on your own experiences, or are they the beliefs of another person?
Because through my experience as a BJJ Black Belt and Coach. Whether we are talking about an Armbar, Kimura or a Heel Hook in BJJ. . . they are all dangerous.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/leg-lock-in-bjj-dangerous.png5541200Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-06-26 11:00:522017-06-26 11:00:52Are Leg Locks in BJJ More Dangerous Than Other Submissions?
One of my favorite submissions in Brazilian JiuJitsu is the Kimura. It’s a versatile BJJ submission that can be done from both bottom or top and a number of different Brazilian Jiu-jitsu positions. It can be used as a standalone BJJ submission or as a setup to other attacks and positions. And there are so many variations of the technique itself.
The Best Body Type For The Kimura
Just as a quick side note. From my experience in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. The Kimura seems to favor people with shorter stronger arms. Which is a physical quality I have. I’ve seen tall people use it. But it isn’t common.
In this video I take a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu question from Jeffrey from Twitter who inquired about tips on finishing the Kimura against someone who is pushing against his hip which prevents him from stepping over. I didn’t have a video of it but I assumed he’s trying this from side control.
Tips On This Effective Kimura
In this video I show one of my favorite Kimura finishes to use in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I do it in BJJ competitions and rolling in the gym. I bypass the stepping over the head part completely in lieu of just going around to North South to execute the technique.
What I like about this particular finish is that even if the person is grabbing their belt, or if you just can’t get their arm away from their body. You can still finish it. Just based on the way you twist the arm and attack the shoulder. Also, the way I am pulling on the arm usually does well to break the grip if there is one.
Just be careful with it, because they catch comes fast on this one. <====== Seriously, be careful with Kimuras. They’re incredibly dangerous if executed too fast!
So if you’re looking for another variation of the Kimura in BJJ. Give this one a try. If you do, I hope it works for you!
If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Effective-Kimura-bigger-people.png6371200Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-06-16 16:18:142017-06-16 16:18:14Effective BJJ Kimura Finish (Even Works on Big People)
I’ve really enjoyed these random questions with Chewy. It’s a little more of a relaxed format than my normal long Chewy rambles.
In this video the 2 main questions are:
Have I ever been in a Steet Fight? / Have I ever used my BJJ in a Street Fight?
What’s my opinion on the Belt Gauntlet in BJJ?
I rambled on pretty long about these two questions, sharing various experiences I had. But I found them interesting.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in a Street Fight
I know that Brazilian Jiu-jitsu being used in street fight situations is always an interesting topic. This is particularly due to the origins of BJJ. It was promoted as a fighting system and means for self-defense. Which it is! But overtime there has been an increasing focus on sport and BJJ competitions because of the fun factor.
I’ver never really been a self defense minded person. Mainly, because I knew the power of taking a combat sport and using it in live situations. One of the biggest benefits combat sports can give you for a fight is the ability to deal with stress and the chaos of a fight.
In the video I share 2 ways I used BJJ and Combat Sports to win a fight and avoid a fight!
The BJJ Gauntlet
The Gauntlet in Brazilian Jiujitsu is a bit controversial. Some people claim it’s brutal, barbaric, awful, etc etc. I tried to touch on my idea about it and share the reasons why I like it and why I continue to do it. Both as a practice for my students and why I continue to do it as a person. I still walk the gauntlet myself!
If you have thoughts on the gauntlet, list them below and share your ideas.
I hope you guys enjoyed this sort of random question video. It’s a different format that the typical ones. But hopefully it’s entertaining.Everyone has seemed to like them!
Thanks for watching!
-Chewy
Grey Chewjitsu Gis
Also, if you’re interested in getting a Grey Chewjitsu BJJ Gi when I have them made. Sign up to my email list. I’ll also give you a Free BJJ Ebook and Video.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-14-at-1.37.36-PM.png13362398Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-06-14 13:40:322017-06-14 13:40:32I Used BJJ in a Street Fight and BJJ Gauntlet
Recently I got asked a question about regaining the intensity of training following a big MMA match. Although the analogy that I use could be geared towards any martial art or any sport really. Because as I’ll talk about in a second, every high has it’s low and has to come down.
So our friend who asked the question, we’ll call Bob because he wishes to remain nameless.
Bob said, he had an MMA fight in his hometown in front of 1500 people. He won his fight in the 1st round by Guillotine Choke. It was great! He said he felt better than he ever has both mentally and physically.
The problem has come following the fight. He says after the fight he cannot recapture the intensity he had leading up to the fight.
I think we’ve all felt this way sometimes right? You were just killing it. You’re body felt great and then for some reason you lost that drive to train for some reason. Maybe you know why, and other times you don’t.
In Bob’s case, it’s clear why he lost his drive to get after his MMA training. He fought and rode this wave to a super high point. Rather, he is the wave and he build himself up to this big peak. If you guys have ever won an MMA fight. . . it’s an incredible high.
And a intense high like that can’t last forever. Eventually it has to come down.
Going back to the wave analogy. Think of a wave. It undulates. Up and mouth in a certain rhythm. It’s the duality of nature really. There’s an up and down, give and take, and ebb and flow.
And when a wave moves closer to the shore and builds up to a peak, and then what does it do? It CRASHES into the land! Just like Bob and his fight. He worked himself during his fight camp to a peak and then came CRASHING into his MMA fight. Winning in impressive fashion.
After the crash of the wave onto the shoreline. What happens with the wave? It begins to recede backwards. And then it will eventually build back up sending another wave crashing to the shore.
Don’t Fight The Downward Wave
Bob is experiencing the downward undulation following this crashing on the shore. And when you find yourself in this situation, you have to go with it. If you fight against it, you’re only going to weaken you’re future potential. If you fight against this natural rhythm and continue the climb for more intensity. Eventually instead of riding a wave down, you will come crashing down via injury or just complete exhaustion and burnout. Instead of fighting to get back to this red hot intensity. Ride the wave down.
I know because I’ve been there before.
As a MMA fighter or BJJ competitor who is obsessed with getting better. This downtime can seem infuriating and counterproductive. But if used right it can be one of the best points for growth in your game.
During this period of downward undulation when you’re in a more relaxed stage. Use it as a time to bring in new weapons into your game. Use it as time to grow and evolve.
For me, whenever I didn’t have an MMA fight looming over me. Or even now. When I’m not actively preparing for a BJJ match our tournament. I use it as time to play around with different techniques and options. Expanding my available avenue of weapons. Consider it research and development.
Then once a battle is looming on the horizon and I have to ready myself for the conflict. I sharpen my blade and prepare. That’s fight camp, that’s tournament prep. It’s grueling and focused around the A game and improving your ability to execute the weapons you have in your arsenal. Not necessarily to bring new ones into the mix.
Really Good MMA Fighters and BJJ Competitors Evolve
If you watch really good MMA fighters from fight to fight to fight or BJJ competitors from match to match. Watch how they evolve. They’re not the same forever. They continue to change and grow.
During this period of lower intensity. Work on evolving. Work on growing. When there is no fight fueled nervousness or anxiety associated with training where you’re questioning yourself, “am I doing enough?” Be a sponge and just soak it all up. Learn as much as you can.
This way each time your wave of intensity builds up. You’ll come crashing further and further down the shore. So that hopefully you can realize the true potential you have in you which will represent the high tide of your life.
But if someone fights against the natural current of their body for too long. The tide will recede further and further back till eventually theres just calm waters.
So if you’re in the same situation as “Bob” and you can’t get your intensity back up following a big win or competition.
Remember, this is normal, there is nothing wrong with you. Rather it’s the natural wave you’re a part of.
Instead of fighting the wave as it slides down. Go with it and use it to facilitate growth in your game by bringing new techniques and weapons into your game.
I also created a video on this subject!
I hope you enjoyed the esoteric wave rant. Hopefully it made sense!
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Intensity-and-training.jpg7221280Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-05-06 08:16:372017-05-06 08:20:18Why It's Good to Lose Intensity with Training
What is the most efficient way to train BJJ? Is training yourself Brazilian Jiu-jitsu an effective way to learn the martial art? Should you teach BJJ to yourself?
In this video I touch on this subject.
Our friend Nate on Youtube sent a message saying that he wants to maximize his time and save money by training with his friend in a basement first before he eventually joins his local 10th Planet BJJ gym.
He’s doing this to sort of bypass the White Belt phase of his training and prepare for his Blue Belt. So he plans to do this by using his friend to teach BJJ to each other.
Why Is Smart Not To Teach BJJ To Yourself
As I share in the video I think this is a bad idea for your BJJ growth. Primarily because I’ve done it.
When I started training Brazilian Jiujitsu. I started like Nate is thinking about and piecing together moves in my basement with my friends. This was the way I began my Brazilian Jiujitsu experience.
We did this for about a year.
I found a BJJ gym in Louisville where I would eventually train. And when I did eventually step into an actual BJJ program led by an expert. I realized I wasted so much time training myself! I learned more in that 1 day of training than I did in the year of trying to teach BJJ to myself.
In any form of Martial Arts. It’s always a more effective means to growth to learn from someone who has been there before.
If you’re contemplating joining a BJJ gym or training yourself. I hope the video is helpful to you!
When you’re going for takedowns in BJJ. What are you looking for? How do you decide which BJJ takedown to use?
Do you have a systematic approach to takedowns? Do you focus on looking for certain grips or adjustments from your opponent, or do you just lock up and cross your fingers that something will happen?
My Process for Takedowns in BJJ
In this video I give a little insight into what I’m looking for personally on my feet when I’m going for takedowns. Mainly I talk about how I determine the BJJ takedown I plan to use.
You’ll see, that just like any other position. I observe which grips i can secure and which grips my opponent gives me. From there I choose the best take down for the situation.
But most importantly, there’s a process to it! Just like any other position.
Often times. I see that most people don’t have a smart approach to takedowns in BJJ. They just lock up and move around until someone screws up. But yet on the ground they know exactly where they are going.
Likewise I try to give you some ideas on what you could look for when you’re on the feet in Brazilian Jiujitsu. So when you think about your takedowns. Think about the moves and positions and see if you have a process to everything.
You’ll have to excuse me a bit as I was super hyper in this video. And I’m kind of all over the place. This isn’t that unusual.
Hopefully these ideas will help you with your own Brazilian Jiu-jitsu takedowns. Whether its for training or competition.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Setup-Takedowns-in-BJJ.jpg7051280Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2017-04-05 09:55:272017-04-05 09:55:27How I Setup Takedowns in BJJ
