Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tips that Every Beginner Should Follow
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be one of the most difficult combat sports. This is especially true for beginners, for whom every position and technique is foreign, challenging and often confusing.
In order to master these techniques, practitioners are required to dedicate ample time and effort on the training mat to successfully incorporate them in the game.
Here are some essential tips that every beginner should follow to ensure speedy learning in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu -
Qualified Instructor
In recent years, the growing popularity of Jiu-Jitsu as a combat sport has resulted in the opening of many academies that provide professional BJJ training to practitioners.
While it is easy to get overwhelmed with the numerous choices available, it is essential to find a reliable teacher having the requisite certification from a Jiu-Jitsu confederation. An unqualified teacher might not be able to properly guide learning, which increases the chances of injuries.
Cleanliness and a competitive environment in the academy are some qualities to consider when selecting a BJJ academy.
Consistency
When it comes to securing success in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or any other combat sport, consistency is the key. Most beginners are often too enthusiastic about practice sessions in the first few weeks of BJJ training, but as the initial energy subsides, they become inconsistent in their approach.
BJJ involves a lot of muscle memory, thereby, frequently missing out on training sessions may cause practitioners to forget the techniques and moves. It should be kept in mind that BJJ champions like Roger Gracie, Ricardo Vieira and Mackenzie Dern did not make it to the top overnight, but they trained intensely for years before establishing themselves internationally.
As BJJ requires ample training to master the basic movements and techniques, it is also necessary to maintain the balance between exercising and rest for good health and fitness.
Repetition
Repetition of BJJ techniques will eventually ingrain a reflex-like reaction and application, allowing the practitioner to fluidly perform all moves during a combat. It is better to practice a BJJ move multiple times against a resisting opponent than attempting to learn over thousand different moves all at once. Therefore, it is important to first learn the basic skills and positions such as guard, side control and mount through continual repetition before moving to the advanced levels in BJJ training.
To quote the famous martial arts legend and actor, Bruce Lee, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
