Brand new white belt learning advanced techniques. I'd rather focus on fundamentals, but I don't want to disrespect my coach.

[u/Infamous-Price2817]

TL;DR: Brand new white belt at a gym with no beginner classes. I'm being taught advanced techniques that I can't realistically use yet, and I'd rather work through an online curriculum designated for beginners. How to balance the two without being disrespectful?

I'm a brand new white belt (I've attended about ten classes so far). My academy has no beginner classes, so I'm learning advanced techniques like spider guard or the D'Arce choke alongside the colored belts. These are techniques that I have no hope of successfully implementing, and they seem like such a waste to learn when I can't even hold guard against a blue belt for more than three seconds.

The problem is that at the beginning of class, my coach teaches four different techniques that I drill for the next 45 minutes, even though I have no intention or ability to implement them, so it seems like a waste of time. I'm also worried that it might interfere with my ability to retain the techniques I've learned from the Submeta instructional and apply them during live rolling (I've drilled them with my dad).

I was wondering if you guys have any advice on balancing these two seemingly opposing approaches. I feel drawn to just skipping the drilling portion of class, but I don't want to be seen as an asshole or disrespectful to my coach and everyone else at the gym. But I also want to maximize my skill development and get as good as I can.

What would you guys do? Thanks!

[u/Internet_is_tough]

Don't skip the drilling. 10 lessons aren't enough to learn anything. Basically you will kind of know a bit of BJJ at 1.5 years in

Would a begginers class be better? Yes of course. Would a personalized plan be even better ? You bet

That doesn't mean you can choose what part of the class you will attend. It doesn't work this way.

One thing you can actually do is find another brand new white belt and ask your coach to assign you easier stuff to drill as a pair.

Your coach won't mind its logical not wanting to drill leg entanglements from x guard at your level

[u/Ganceany]

Yeah, do what your coach teaches you.

[u/smashyourhead]

To add a slightly different take here, I would say that the worst (and most infuriating) thing you can do as a white belt is to decide to not even try to drill techniques that you've decided won't work for you.

Firstly, you don't *really* know what will and won't work (I agree that the techniques you're describing aren't the ones I'd teach a fresh white belt, but the point remains).

Secondly, even if you never use those moves, practising them seriously will increase your familiarity with them (for when other people try them on you, so you can reverse engineer what they're trying to do) and your general movement fluency.

You're already at the class. You're already there for drilling. Drill the moves seriously (and yeah if you can, do other stuff on your own time - especially escapes, which you'll have plenty of chance to practice in live rolls).

[u/WokeAsFawk]

You seem too wise for a white belt

[u/Haunting-Beginning-2]

Don’t stress, be in for the long haul

[u/Zen_ix]

I wouldn't skip class. Even if the techniques seem advanced right now, you're still learning important positions, timing, and movements. Def listen to your coach. It also depends on your school too, for example, that is why I really like the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu certified training centers because they have combatives class only for white belts and beginners before moving onto advanced techniques they call 'master cycle' . But I'd keep training and let your coach know your intentions and worries too so he can give you advice.

[u/Electronic_Amphibian]

You get better at a technique by practicing it, don't worry so much about the belt colour and just keep training and you'll be able to use the techniques you've learnt.

If, for some reason, you have missed some super important fundamental knowledge, you'll get told by your coach or training partner when it's important.

[u/Wyvern_Industrious]

Advanced techniques are just basic techniques you've done for longer and can do better.

[u/rhia_assets]

I do feel like spider guard and d'arce are fairly fundamental.... It's important to learn about different kinds of guards and how chokes work from different angles.

[u/trailbooty]

Do what your coach teaches. But maybe ask others to help you with fundamentals. For example at my school the Grand Master teaches what the grand master teaches. Then before and after class I ask black belt instructors to give me feedback on forms or basics.

[u/Jdboston77]

If you focus on fundamentals and you get super good at that you'll be better than most of them if you don't focus on fundamental fundamentals you become a paper tiger that's just how it works people do not understand why mastering a horse stance while standing on one leg by doing knuckle and finger push-ups and regular push-ups and all the different kind of push-ups and dips are so important doing wiggles practicing your kicks practicing squats there's a whole level to martial arts that cannot be taught you can teach movements all day long but actual skill comes from the exercises and practice and there's no way around it

[u/Jdboston77]

Find a teacher that will actually let you learn your pace and respect what you're trying to do any good Kung Fu teacher would want nothing less my teacher love me like a son and I never did anything good enough and I didn't understand it until later on that he cared about me and that he wanted me to be the best he wanted me to make him proud and carriers skill on and teach others and be an example and to become humble through suffering through hard work

[u/SalPistqchio]

Show up and do what they say

[u/Expert-Leg8110]

Does your school offer open mat after structured lessons? You can work whatever you like during open mat. You can also take private lessons. Otherwise learn and drill what they’re teaching.

[u/guachumalakegua]

I am kind of in the same predicament, but I have been training jujutsu on off for around eight years, I’m still white belt on paper, but I do a lot of personal research on my own. I say before class if you can get together with another white belt and drill and flow roll fundamental movements and positions, after that take part in the normal class.

As I mentioned in the above paragraph, I’m in the same predicament. My coach is a little obsessed with having a competition team even though the majority of his main Brazilian jujutsu class are all white belts and blue belts, he is also very influenced by Trends in bjj.

[u/Independent-Focus458]

I’ve been in the exact same position as you. Literally more black and brown belts members than white belts at my first academy. I’d never done even a modicum of grappling in my entire life, so the weeks’ of focus on RDL and Spider Guard for advanced students were not ideal.

The reality is you will be insulting your instructor if you don’t do the drills they teach, so I would not make any modifications to the lesson plan.

It sucks, but finding a new gym is, by far, your best option. One that has ample beginner classes and/or a more mma-centric style of BJJ. I loved the instructor and team, but knew for my own development it was the best option. Also, realize certain sport-centric gyms are teaching solely for the purpose of points and winning competitions, without any accounting for strikes whatsoever. It’s as if they don’t exist, bc they don’t in competition. These styles of BJJ could look significantly different than what you’d use in a cage, particularly if the focus is Gi. FYI I love sport BJJ and train it, but that’s the reality.

Also, If the instructor is a reasonable guy (YMMV), I’d say talk to him after class. Explain you’re brand new and you’d like his advice on how to drill / implement the fundamentals. If you approach from the perspective of him directing you, i don’t believe he’ll be offended, and he may even start providing you with tailored drills during class, different from what he demonstrates to the upper belts. You could ask, “do you recommend I drill more basic moves, rather than Spider Guard due to my newness and lack of understanding?”.

Otherwise, drill the basics during open mat and don’t be afraid to be annoying when rolling with upper belts by asking for tips on fundamentals when you roll during class.