10 Tips for White Belts to Improve at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fast
Brazilian jiu jitsu is a combination of martial arts and combat sports. It contains both grappling and ground fighting and is considered a part of MMA fighting. This is a good sport for those who have experience in other combat or martial arts sports and want to combine their skills. It’s also essential to know important Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu moves in mixed martial arts.
Starting out as a white belt in this sport can be exciting and daunting all at once. There is so much to learn, but with time and patience comes great reward. Still, there are some tips you can take into consideration that can help you move beyond your first white belt in this sport quicker than you might realize. The following 10 tips will show you how to get better at jiu-jitsu fast.
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1. Use Training Partners
You can’t properly train for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu without training partners. Even better, training regularly with the same person can help both people grow in the sport as they learn each others’ weaknesses and strengths. Training with another person will help you learn faster as you learn from your own mistakes as well as your partner’s.
2. Attend Training Sessions Regularly
Mastering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu requires regular training over a long period of time. The fastest way to improve your Jiu-Jitsu skills is consistency. If you are training only once a week, you may not see progress or retention of skills for a very long time. If you can find a way to train every other day, that is the sweet spot for improvement. Likewise, over-training can be just as detrimental as not training as much. You cannot force yourself to retain more than its limits, and you don’t want to exhaust yourself to the point where you are doing more harm than good. Finding a balance and keeping it consistent is key.
3. Learn The Basics, and Then Some
As a white belt, you may be excited to get out there and perform the moves you see others doing. However, a lot of the more complicated moves are built upon the basics. Therefore, it is important to understand the basics before jumping into the details. For example, the butterfly guard is an essential move to know as a beginner because it involves controlling your opponent with both your legs and arms, and allows you to avoid damage easier and transition smoother. With all of this being said, don’t be afraid to attempt moves that you are not familiar with.
4. Study the Masters
While hands-on combat with a partner or trainer is one of the best ways to learn the sport, it can also be beneficial to learn through videos or at live championship events. Learning how a world champion masters their sport can inspire and give insight into how to get to the next level of your own training. After all, even the greatest BJJ masters started out as white belts just like you.
5. Become Goal-oriented
It can be hard to stay focused on something new without guidance or direction. While having a coach and training partner can help with this, the only person who can truly lead you in the right direction is yourself. To get yourself on track, you can start with a BJJ journal to track your progress, and reach goals that you have set for yourself. Keeping track of your progress gives you something tangible to look at for when you feel like you aren’t improving, and can also help pinpoint your weaknesses and strengths.
6. Learn Through Combinations
While learning the basics is essential, many BJJ experts believe that the best way to learn efficiently is to learn through combinations. For example, the spider guard is a move that combines multiple positions into one. Learning combinations can help you understand how moves are connected and can increase your understanding of the sport as a whole.
7. Always Ask Questions
As with any skill that must be learned, you cannot grow unless you address what you do not know and seek for a better understanding. Whether it is seeking advice from a peer or an instructor, asking others for help in an area you are uncertain of will result in personal growth as well as within this sport. After all, a large part of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is founded upon the building of one’s character.
8. Enter Competitions
As a white belt, you may not feel ready to compete with others in this sport that is new to you. However, it is good to remember that your competition will be just as inexperienced as you. Entering competitions is a great way to get real combat experience that isn’t sugar-coated by an instructor or practicing partner. Competition will teach you early on how to react to unexpected moves, and introduce you to new moves you may not come across otherwise.
9. Start Out In Closed Guard
Closed guard, otherwise known as full guard, is a position that prevents your opponent from standing up or moving away. If you want a real challenge, try starting out in a position in which your opponent has you in a closed guard. In doing so, you will learn how to think creatively to get out of a compromised position, and thus will be prepared to get yourself out of a difficult situation in competition. In other words, be prepared to expect the unexpected.
10. Learn From the Masters
For many people, it can take ten or more years to achieve a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It is important to remember that a big part of mixed martial arts is learning the art of patience and control. If you take these tips to heart and keep up with a good attitude towards this incredible sport, however, you may find yourself achieving more than once thought possible.
Now that you know how to get better at jiu-jitsu fast, your next step is to find the best bjj gym in Houston to start out with. When you sign up for a BJJ class at O Athletik, you can learn from the masters themselves. Train with elites and beginners alike, and improve in this exciting and diverse sport. Browse our schedule and join our next BJJ class. To learn more about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the benefits of this great sport, visit our BJJ page.
