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Rufino Dos Santos
5 year(s) ago • 1201 views • 33 replies
TPBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I vividly recall my former instructor telling me (at that time the enforcer) to tap as fast as many times as possible, on trial class and new people! :( Not that I had many occasions to do that... but I didn't agree with that policy as an effective way to promote BJJ and the gym
It will work for some (did for me!) but definitely not for most. Things have changed for the better no question.
Even as recently as when I started (almost 10 years ago) I think the attitude was way different from today. It felt like already the introductory course was designed to make new students quit. Really hard bootcamp style fitness program on top of full-on sparring right away. After that, in the regular classes, I remember getting so badly thrashed during every session it took me a year to be able to go to class two days in a row, I was so beat up. Makes the few tough/thick-skulled ones stay and weeds out the weak, but absolutely bad for business and potentially a bad experience to people who are made to give up entirely. (After a year I was the only new white belt left from all the students that started that fall).
But my life was so boring at the time that it felt refreshing to get smashed in training a few times a week. :D Going to class was always a bit scary. But it appealed to me that it was so tough and difficult, and I wanted to suck a little less at it. Thankfully I didn't get badly injured.
Nowadays us instructors try to create a more accessible and friendly vibe (the vibe wasn't bad per se back then either, just more tough and unforgiving towards the beginners), and those who want to spar hard still have plenty of opportunities to do so — with others who are willing.
Even as recently as when I started (almost 10 years ago) I think the attitude was way different from today. It felt like already the introductory course was designed to make new students quit. Really hard bootcamp style fitness program on top of full-on sparring right away. After that, in the regular classes, I remember getting so badly thrashed during every session it took me a year to be able to go to class two days in a row, I was so beat up. Makes the few tough/thick-skulled ones stay and weeds out the weak, but absolutely bad for business and potentially a bad experience to people who are made to give up entirely. (After a year I was the only new white belt left from all the students that started that fall).
But my life was so boring at the time that it felt refreshing to get smashed in training a few times a week. :D Going to class was always a bit scary. But it appealed to me that it was so tough and difficult, and I wanted to suck a little less at it. Thankfully I didn't get badly injured.
Nowadays us instructors try to create a more accessible and friendly vibe (the vibe wasn't bad per se back then either, just more tough and unforgiving towards the beginners), and those who want to spar hard still have plenty of opportunities to do so — with others who are willing.
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
But my life was so boring at the time that it felt refreshing to get smashed in training a few times a week. :D
Ha - yeah, you're a very different person to me, clearly. I am pretty sure I would have quit BJJ after a few lessons if I'd been at a school like that. E.g, if I'd started my training at a Carlson Gracie school, I'd almost certainly be doing something other than BJJ now and my life would have gone down a completely divergent path. ;)
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Ha - yeah, you're a very different person to me, clearly. I am pretty sure I would have quit BJJ after a few lessons if I'd been at a school like that. E.g, if I'd started my training at a Carlson Gracie school, I'd almost certainly be doing something other than BJJ now and my life would have gone down a completely divergent path. ;)
Let me tell you this.
The majoriy of folks who actually stick around at our school (Carlsons), come in as shy, timid geeks. But quickly turn into bonafide nerd assassins who can crush the life of any random tattooed thug.
It's the big mouth 'badasses' who get chopped down and leave in horror.
The nerds win.
The majoriy of folks who actually stick around at our school (Carlsons), come in as shy, timid geeks. But quickly turn into bonafide nerd assassins who can crush the life of any random tattooed thug.
It's the big mouth 'badasses' who get chopped down and leave in horror.
The nerds win.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Let me tell you this. The majoriy of folks who actually stick around at our school (Carlsons), come in as shy, timid geeks. But quickly turn into bonafide nerd assassins who can crush the life of any random tattooed thug. It's the big mouth 'badasses' who get chopped down and leave in horror. The nerds win.
Ha - yeah, the "actually stick around" part is where I'd fail. ;)
