Is it normal?

[Spider Web]

Is it normal in the beginning of BJJ training when your rolling with someone and you actually end up (suprisingly) with side control, the mount, whatever...you just find yourself in a controlling position but yet you do not have a clue of what to do next? I might add it is very frustrating.

Also, do any of you out there ever rush to your notebook after class to write down what you learned and not remember all the detail's. It's frustrating and our class is set up where you can not just stop and take notes during class and by the time it's over (class) your like what the heck did we just do? Anyone out there have any suggestion's that helped them other than just simple repitition?

Thank's for all replie's.

[EmptyneSs]

if u find yourself in a controlling position and dont know what to do next, thats ok. for now, just work on keeping that dominant position as long as u can, making your opponent work to get out of it. eventually u will learn what to do next, so dont worry. also u shouldnt need to run off to go write stuff down in your notebook. u need to just keep practicing and learning until those techniques are so imprinted in your mind they become instincts. just keep training and learning.

[Penance]

I'm also a newbie, and unless we're both weirdos, then yes, it's completely normal to gain position and then say "what now?" At first I was frustrated, but then from reading Roy Harris' site I learned that it's what I'm supposed to be doing:
1) Position escapes
2) Position domination

Work on those until they're second nature.

What I've been doing is I'll try and "learn" (yeah right) *one* new move myself online, then try it out once or twice during class slowly just to see if I can do it (like a Kimura, but usually another way to get out of a position).

But before that, I work my basic escapes. I tell all my partners that I'd rather start from their guard or being mounted. Then I just practice that over and over. (My knees hate me right now)

I'm lucky because I have a very good memory, so I can go home later and just write down every little step I remember being told for a particular move. Sometimes I don't do it all at once or even in any kind of order. If I remember something, I pop open notepad and add it in or draw a little sketch if I'm at work. You might want to try that...just keep adding details to each move as you remember them or when you go over them again in class.

Repitition is always the best way, probably. Ask your partner if you forgot a step or if they recognized a mistake. That way maybe it'll stick out more in your mind if it's in the context of a conversation.

One final thing I do is I practice the movements and go over them in my mind while I get a drink between sparring rounds. I also make up mnemonics for moves I have a hard time remembering. Like the basic gi chokes, I use the mnemonics "Same - Sunder" and "Opposite - Overdrive"

Sounds stupid but it works and is very easy:
If I'm controlling with my right hand and they come to my right I think "SAME! To sUNDER my opponent, I hook UNDER their chin with my right arm and grab UNDER with my left hand."
If they go to my left I think "OPPOSITE! I grab OVER with my left hand and DRIVE my left forearm into the jawline."

[cakegirl]

It all sounds very, very normal!

[wardancer]

Is it normal in the beginning of BJJ training when your rolling with someone and you actually end up (suprisingly) with side control, the mount, whatever...you just find yourself in a controlling position but yet you do not have a clue of what to do next? I might add it is very frustrating.

Also, do any of you out there ever rush to your notebook after class to write down what you learned and not remember all the detail's. It's frustrating and our class is set up where you can not just stop and take notes during class and by the time it's over (class) your like what the heck did we just do? Anyone out there have any suggestion's that helped them other than just simple repitition?

Thank's for all replie's.

Totally normal,
I specialise into one position and one sub at a time/rolling.
I start rolling with the tactic to get such position and 'sink' such sub, the rest is irrelevant. If it means i have to tap because I focus on such strategy, so be it.
Sometimes, I even only work on only one stype of sweep not even positions and subs, just to get that particular sweep is my goal/priceless!