I'm a white belt, but I prefer rolling with purple belts, because they generally go easy on me while allowing me to learn. Blue belts usually just crush me.
I went from white to blue with only purples and above (small club of 4-5 people). When I moved to another city and a larger club I had no issues hanging with the blues there. I think the benefits of rolling with people who are considerably worse than you are pretty minimal. But you learn so much rolling with high level guys, more than you do when they're just instructing.
Actually I disagree. Rolling with people worse than you helps develop new techniques more quickly. And you avoid getting to tired so you can focus more.
This is totally correct. I trained for 18 months with people that were far better than me. As a result my defence improved. I eventually changed clubs due to relocating and everyone was about even with the odd exception. As a result there (it's now been six months) my attack has improved immensely and my training partners compliment me on my defence (thanks to me previous club).
Great advice. I roll with brown and black belts typically, and hit the nail on the head when you mentioned you tend to get really good at defense but lack as much offense. Just to add to this from what I learned and helped me is- to work in flow rolls with higher belts so you get to tweak techniques and see things you may not have seen when rolling full speed.
The upper belts at my dojo are a pleasure to roll with on any occasion. My Sensei is a legit heavyweight and rolls with finesse and grace. He likes to roll with me as well because I enjoy to flow drill and am not spazzy. Brand new white belts can be a headache to roll with especially if they are rough or spazzy. I prefer solid blue belts and up to roll with frequently. Way less injuries on my end. 😉
Thank you for this video and this tip! Kinda the same happened to me: after 3,5 years of Judo I transferred to the better group - where our competition and elder Judoka are. It was really hard first, our blackbelts had over 10 year training experience, and then there was me (I was 18). This was 1,5 years ago and what I learned really good - to be defensive, it's hard to get me ippon'ed. But then I realized, I can't play only defensive, there is something wrong, so I focused on some nice throws. And now, after a few weeks we got finally some belts in my colour (green, they are just a bit younger but train years longer than me) - and those throws I focused on work 80% + I got some fast reactions from training with blackbelts. I have really to say - you need this balance. I trained over a year with really good ppl, it frustrated me sometimes that I can't do anything, somedays It was also really hard for me to motivate myself for going to training. But now with this new Balance everything is fine. But for sure.. The best thing is, when you can ippon a much better partner and you know he didn't hold back ;) This moments show me I am getting better and better.
My problem in class is gas. After my first roll Im gased out because I tried all my best moves with all my energy in the first roll. Not to win exactly but to practice what I learned versus my opponents resistance. I'm getting better everyday, feel stronger, feel like I have more wind than before but now I realize the challenge Jujitsu is presenting to me. It's going to take at least 2 years to turn my body into the grappler I want to be. There's people at my bjj gym that are incredibly strong for their size. I see how they could be underestimated out on the streets-that would be the last mistake someone could make. I never knew what BJJ does for your body concerning strength and endurance like it does for the higher belts I roll with. It's a different kind of strength like that of a Boa Constrictor. They never quit either. They roll through the entire session not tired at all. Scary! Imagine dealing with that out on the streets?
Very good point.....I'm a white belt but when I roll with a newby I can try more offensive moves.....when I train with a high level blue belt or purple I more defensive....
thanks Coach...I like your videos and the inspiration...I'm hoping for a stripe or two in january...been trying to get better on offense because I have to defend myself so often
this is very revealing to me...I just wrote you a message on another video...my jiu jitsu sucks video...I mentioned my JKD is pretty good but my ground fighting needs a lot of work and I am not winning as much as losing when I roll and its exactly because I am rolling with black belts, brown belts, purple belts, and blue bets...the white belts are at around my same level but to tell you the truth I have spoken with some of them and they mentioned that they have trained years so some of them are not really white belts because their jiu jitsu is good against some of the more advance students in class...I'll look for blue belts and white belts to roll from now on as much as I can...god bless Guru Dan
Stephen if your interested you should totally do more of your self defence /street video I love them :) probably because I'm a new grappler and I really enjoy the basic essential stuff hahaha. But thank you for all your content this is an amazing channel :)
like stephan and other said, sparr with everyone, mostly against "better" higher graded people. sparr with the trainer, with heavy, little, fast, strong people. i´m 170cm and 65 kilo, i sparr with guy that are 2meter and 105 kilo :D its really beneficial! just sparr as much as possible.
In Tokyo they have something called the "newaza kenkyukai" which literally means ground fighting study group. I spent three hours ever saturday getting absolutely demolished by everyone there. But after two months, eight lessons, I started beating people in my club who were much higher level. So in my experience it's great to have a day once a week where you get crushed to bits, helps your ego and groundgame.
Honest talk, in my club there's no one who can beat me, only my black belt coach. I'm white belt but I beat all the blue belts and even the 1 purple belt. They make excuses and say I'm just strong and have better cardio, but how is that true when I can make kneebars and triangles? Its not good, because I always get a shock in competitions, because I'm not used to adverisity :/
+Saeed Elaidi That's complete bullshit... How can you as a white belt be better than a purple belt without previous training? Either they aren't legit purple belts or you have previous training.
I had six months of wrestling and then I had lifted a bit of weights before hitting my first BJJ class, that was all I did. I was 16 when I started and the other guys are 28-40
nice advices as alway :-) I would like to ask you..what if as here in baghdad we have only two clubs of jujitsu(Gracie barra) run by the same coach who is purple belt he is great man and a fighter person ..the no of trainers is very limited and about the same level ..how could we raise our level ?
as a white belt, i think it sucks rolling with other white belts but its paramount to developing your game. You will only truly know where you're at by rolling with your peers. there has been times where i was rolling with more higher belts and got a false sense of confidence but then was shortly crushed thereafter rolling with fellow white belts who are throwing everything in their arsenal to beat me.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't spar with everyone. Of course you should (and I say as much in the second half of the video). However I'm saying that it's most beneficial to you if the majority of your sparring time is against people roughly your own level.
This is helpful advice. I tend to gravitate to heavier, higher belts for the sake of getting better at defence and escapes, so this video gives me an excuse to roll with other low-level white belts, too, so that my offense can have a chance to get off the ground.
defcon If I were training for a competition then I would be sticking to sparing with people within my own weight class. Everyday training though is different.
Daniel Bray Tae Kwon Do? Keep training Judo Kodokan, Ne Waza & Combative Judo... TKD is trash... May as well sign up for ballet... Useless for self defense.
You obviously have either never fought a Tae Kwon Do practitioner, or only fought bad ones. Tae Kwon Do works very well for self-defense. Side-kick, Back-kick, Roundhouse kick, etc.. Why don't you shut up and try it before you say it's useless?
Pure WTF-style Tae Kwon Do is good. Not great. You can be easily overwhelmed by people who punch heavily. THAT'S WHY I BOX. Did you just see Tae Kwon Do and decide to try bad-mouth it? I can guarantee you, I have better kicks than you because of my five years of Tae Kwon Do.
I get so sick and tired of dumb arse people saying that a style does not work. It matters who your instructor is. Does he teach practical moves with that style. All the styles work. some better than others. Like if you go to Tae Kwon do class they teach boxing like strikes. throws and take down moves. So i don't know why people think that they only kick. Even with BJJ they teach the sport version and the self defense version.
Great advice there Stephan, but I'm a white belt, technically a bit better then some white belts, but I'm also the lightest, so I always get a bit pissed off when I get tapped by a not technically as good but about 7-10 kgs heavier person, who do I train with then?
There's nothing wrong with rolling with them, work on your defence. Maintain frames, don't rush or give up bad positions. I'd rather be better technically than be 10kg heavier
Life Calisthenics I trained with a beast recently who military rolled me into a pretzel. I couldn't pull off an Armbar was being passed at will and tapped often. I kept returning for more and eventually made an impressive back take and deep Armbar. But if I had of made excuses or taken breaks because he was too much I would've never found my opening. Never stop moving, shrimping, framing or retaining guard. If you are smaller you will be smashed at some point (for me it's frequently. Have answers for their pressure. Osss!
All the classes I can make are the people much better than me 2-4 belts ahead. I rarely ever get to roll with someone my skill level, so rare. It's really stupid, I keep going back because I want to get good. I can't even remember the last time I trained offense other than drilling. Of course the higher belts will let me get some moves sometimes but for the most part it's me trying to pass guard for 5min and can't do it. Than I'm trying to practice defense but can't do shit to people belts and belts ahead of me. It really makes me wanna quit. I'm trying not too but at the same time It's not fun just getting killed and toyed with every time I train. When I do train with someone around my skill, it's the most fun ever. I savor the moments because I know it will be forever till it happens again haha the back and forth feeling, getting into good positions losing them being in bad spots but have a fighting chance to get out. And than going up against someone a bit worse and being able to tap him out or get the better of him is the best feeling in the world. For example last class had 3 black belts, 3 brown belts, and 1 3-4 stripe purple. I'm a white belt. That's the normal lay out for a class. Maybe a blue will show up. I wish there was a way I can find more white belts in my area who want to roll.
I don't know what you're talking about! Underneath that jacket I was wearing my rash guard, and I was walking around in the snow wearing board shorts and wrestling shoes...
I never roll with same guys from session before.. Usually i prefer 2,3 guys that are little better than me so i do defensive and offensive stuff. I dont like when we are to even and do nothing in 5 mins but waiting for mistakes. Young pumped up wrestlers, athletes from other sports that come as newbies are the worst for me. I am older guy not in shape so dealing with them can be bit hard on me body. 150% psycho guys that come to the gym to proof them selfs who knows what are also fun but i am a good guy so they learn some basic things from me.. When it comes to stand up some guys can be very painful with heavy punches and kicks, even in light sparing and i try to avoid them. Rest is welcome..
i know it's an universal truth that sparring is irreplaceable but can someone at least give me some false hope (we only get to spar once in a week ).what can i do pls?my coach is a bit mean i can't straight tell him to get us to spar more .or wait ,maybe i can pick up some fights with random people on the street xD
I'm a white belt, but I prefer rolling with purple belts, because they generally go easy on me while allowing me to learn. Blue belts usually just crush me.
I am a blue belt, can confirm
I went from white to blue with only purples and above (small club of 4-5 people). When I moved to another city and a larger club I had no issues hanging with the blues there. I think the benefits of rolling with people who are considerably worse than you are pretty minimal. But you learn so much rolling with high level guys, more than you do when they're just instructing.
Actually I disagree. Rolling with people worse than you helps develop new techniques more quickly. And you avoid getting to tired so you can focus more.
This is totally correct. I trained for 18 months with people that were far better than me. As a result my defence improved. I eventually changed clubs due to relocating and everyone was about even with the odd exception. As a result there (it's now been six months) my attack has improved immensely and my training partners compliment me on my defence (thanks to me previous club).
Great advice. I roll with brown and black belts typically, and hit the nail on the head when you mentioned you tend to get really good at defense but lack as much offense. Just to add to this from what I learned and helped me is- to work in flow rolls with higher belts so you get to tweak techniques and see things you may not have seen when rolling full speed.
great video....always appreciate the wisdom you share. oss
The upper belts at my dojo are a pleasure to roll with on any occasion. My Sensei is a legit heavyweight and rolls with finesse and grace. He likes to roll with me as well because I enjoy to flow drill and am not spazzy. Brand new white belts can be a headache to roll with especially if they are rough or spazzy. I prefer solid blue belts and up to roll with frequently. Way less injuries on my end. 😉
Thank you for this video and this tip! Kinda the same happened to me: after 3,5 years of Judo I transferred to the better group - where our competition and elder Judoka are. It was really hard first, our blackbelts had over 10 year training experience, and then there was me (I was 18). This was 1,5 years ago and what I learned really good - to be defensive, it's hard to get me ippon'ed. But then I realized, I can't play only defensive, there is something wrong, so I focused on some nice throws. And now, after a few weeks we got finally some belts in my colour (green, they are just a bit younger but train years longer than me) - and those throws I focused on work 80% + I got some fast reactions from training with blackbelts. I have really to say - you need this balance. I trained over a year with really good ppl, it frustrated me sometimes that I can't do anything, somedays It was also really hard for me to motivate myself for going to training. But now with this new Balance everything is fine. But for sure.. The best thing is, when you can ippon a much better partner and you know he didn't hold back ;) This moments show me I am getting better and better.
My problem in class is gas. After my first roll Im gased out because I tried all my best moves with all my energy in the first roll. Not to win exactly but to practice what I learned versus my opponents resistance. I'm getting better everyday, feel stronger, feel like I have more wind than before but now I realize the challenge Jujitsu is presenting to me. It's going to take at least 2 years to turn my body into the grappler I want to be. There's people at my bjj gym that are incredibly strong for their size. I see how they could be underestimated out on the streets-that would be the last mistake someone could make. I never knew what BJJ does for your body concerning strength and endurance like it does for the higher belts I roll with. It's a different kind of strength like that of a Boa Constrictor. They never quit either. They roll through the entire session not tired at all. Scary! Imagine dealing with that out on the streets?
Very good point.....I'm a white belt but when I roll with a newby I can try more offensive moves.....when I train with a high level blue belt or purple I more defensive....
thanks Coach...I like your videos and the inspiration...I'm hoping for a stripe or two in january...been trying to get better on offense because I have to defend myself so often
this is very revealing to me...I just wrote you a message on another video...my jiu jitsu sucks video...I mentioned my JKD is pretty good but my ground fighting needs a lot of work and I am not winning as much as losing when I roll and its exactly because I am rolling with black belts, brown belts, purple belts, and blue bets...the white belts are at around my same level but to tell you the truth I have spoken with some of them and they mentioned that they have trained years so some of them are not really white belts because their jiu jitsu is good against some of the more advance students in class...I'll look for blue belts and white belts to roll from now on as much as I can...god bless Guru Dan
great video
word's of wisdom and technique wise.
Stephen if your interested you should totally do more of your self defence /street video I love them :) probably because I'm a new grappler and I really enjoy the basic essential stuff hahaha. But thank you for all your content this is an amazing channel :)
like stephan and other said, sparr with everyone, mostly against "better" higher graded people.
sparr with the trainer, with heavy, little, fast, strong people. i´m 170cm and 65 kilo, i sparr with guy that are 2meter and 105 kilo :D
its really beneficial! just sparr as much as possible.
Fantastic video to watch while doing BJJ drills
good advice
Love your videos! They have helped me so much in training. Keep up the great work!
Dan the man! The icon! The legend ! Your so lucky !😀 that place looks very serene 🙂
Thanks man. I had lost my phone and was trying to remember the game I had on that phone.
The game was Dan the man
Excellent advice
MANNN that is great advice! Maybe I should adopt that strategy lol
In Tokyo they have something called the "newaza kenkyukai" which literally means ground fighting study group. I spent three hours ever saturday getting absolutely demolished by everyone there. But after two months, eight lessons, I started beating people in my club who were much higher level.
So in my experience it's great to have a day once a week where you get crushed to bits, helps your ego and groundgame.
Great advice!
what if noone in the world is worse than me?
ask Royce Gracie, he's pretty decent
Honest talk, in my club there's no one who can beat me, only my black belt coach. I'm white belt but I beat all the blue belts and even the 1 purple belt. They make excuses and say I'm just strong and have better cardio, but how is that true when I can make kneebars and triangles? Its not good, because I always get a shock in competitions, because I'm not used to adverisity :/
+Saeed Elaidi That's complete bullshit... How can you as a white belt be better than a purple belt without previous training? Either they aren't legit purple belts or you have previous training.
I had six months of wrestling and then I had lifted a bit of weights before hitting my first BJJ class, that was all I did. I was 16 when I started and the other guys are 28-40
it's good to be humble but I don't believe there's no-one worse than you!
True story
outstanding
nice advices as alway :-) I would like to ask you..what if as here in baghdad we have only two clubs of jujitsu(Gracie barra) run by the same coach who is purple belt he is great man and a fighter person ..the no of trainers is very limited and about the same level ..how could we raise our level ?
as a white belt, i think it sucks rolling with other white belts but its paramount to developing your game. You will only truly know where you're at by rolling with your peers. there has been times where i was rolling with more higher belts and got a false sense of confidence but then was shortly crushed thereafter rolling with fellow white belts who are throwing everything in their arsenal to beat me.
Great vid!
the right answer is: with everyone. either your defense and guard gets better or your offens and passes. train with everyone
So should I stop dumbing down my game for the blue and purple belts?
Spar with everyone, that way everyone can get better together.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't spar with everyone. Of course you should (and I say as much in the second half of the video). However I'm saying that it's most beneficial to you if the majority of your sparring time is against people roughly your own level.
How about size? Just weight (no pun intended) their size adv/dadv relative to their skill compared to your own level?
This is helpful advice. I tend to gravitate to heavier, higher belts for the sake of getting better at defence and escapes, so this video gives me an excuse to roll with other low-level white belts, too, so that my offense can have a chance to get off the ground.
defcon If I were training for a competition then I would be sticking to sparing with people within my own weight class. Everyday training though is different.
I don't train BJJ (I train Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Silat, and a bit of Judo), but your tips are useful nonetheless.
I really think that this advice applies to all combat sport. Maybe to all sport and competition too - what do the basketball and chess players think?
Daniel Bray
Tae Kwon Do? Keep training Judo Kodokan, Ne Waza & Combative Judo... TKD is trash... May as well sign up for ballet... Useless for self defense.
You obviously have either never fought a Tae Kwon Do practitioner, or only fought bad ones. Tae Kwon Do works very well for self-defense. Side-kick, Back-kick, Roundhouse kick, etc.. Why don't you shut up and try it before you say it's useless?
Pure WTF-style Tae Kwon Do is good. Not great. You can be easily overwhelmed by people who punch heavily. THAT'S WHY I BOX. Did you just see Tae Kwon Do and decide to try bad-mouth it? I can guarantee you, I have better kicks than you because of my five years of Tae Kwon Do.
I get so sick and tired of dumb arse people saying that a style does not work. It matters who your instructor is. Does he teach practical moves with that style. All the styles work. some better than others. Like if you go to Tae Kwon do class they teach boxing like strikes. throws and take down moves. So i don't know why people think that they only kick. Even with BJJ they teach the sport version and the self defense version.
Great advice there Stephan, but I'm a white belt, technically a bit better then some white belts, but I'm also the lightest, so I always get a bit pissed off when I get tapped by a not technically as good but about 7-10 kgs heavier person, who do I train with then?
There's nothing wrong with rolling with them, work on your defence. Maintain frames, don't rush or give up bad positions. I'd rather be better technically than be 10kg heavier
Life Calisthenics I trained with a beast recently who military rolled me into a pretzel. I couldn't pull off an Armbar was being passed at will and tapped often. I kept returning for more and eventually made an impressive back take and deep Armbar. But if I had of made excuses or taken breaks because he was too much I would've never found my opening. Never stop moving, shrimping, framing or retaining guard. If you are smaller you will be smashed at some point (for me it's frequently. Have answers for their pressure. Osss!
All the classes I can make are the people much better than me 2-4 belts ahead. I rarely ever get to roll with someone my skill level, so rare. It's really stupid, I keep going back because I want to get good. I can't even remember the last time I trained offense other than drilling. Of course the higher belts will let me get some moves sometimes but for the most part it's me trying to pass guard for 5min and can't do it. Than I'm trying to practice defense but can't do shit to people belts and belts ahead of me. It really makes me wanna quit. I'm trying not too but at the same time It's not fun just getting killed and toyed with every time I train. When I do train with someone around my skill, it's the most fun ever. I savor the moments because I know it will be forever till it happens again haha the back and forth feeling, getting into good positions losing them being in bad spots but have a fighting chance to get out. And than going up against someone a bit worse and being able to tap him out or get the better of him is the best feeling in the world.
For example last class had 3 black belts, 3 brown belts, and 1 3-4 stripe purple. I'm a white belt. That's the normal lay out for a class. Maybe a blue will show up. I wish there was a way I can find more white belts in my area who want to roll.
How do you know who is "better" than you?
I think everyone is better than me when I am tired..
You've got a non-martial arts life? *faints due to shock*
I don't know what you're talking about! Underneath that jacket I was wearing my rash guard, and I was walking around in the snow wearing board shorts and wrestling shoes...
hahahaha :)
Danaher made the comment that you should do 80% of your training with people you can beat 3/4 of the time.
Cheers
I never roll with same guys from session before.. Usually i prefer 2,3 guys that are little better than me so i do defensive and offensive stuff. I dont like when we are to even and do nothing in 5 mins but waiting for mistakes. Young pumped up wrestlers, athletes from other sports that come as newbies are the worst for me. I am older guy not in shape so dealing with them can be bit hard on me body. 150% psycho guys that come to the gym to proof them selfs who knows what are also fun but i am a good guy so they learn some basic things from me.. When it comes to stand up some guys can be very painful with heavy punches and kicks, even in light sparing and i try to avoid them. Rest is welcome..
i know it's an universal truth that sparring is irreplaceable but can someone at least give me some false hope (we only get to spar once in a week ).what can i do pls?my coach is a bit mean i can't straight tell him to get us to spar more .or wait ,maybe i can pick up some fights with random people on the street xD
That's a shitty situation. Sparring only once a week? C'mon...
oss
Best thank you!
five stars 😊
You look better on without a mustache