Planning to teach submission grappling

[daringdex]

Hi guys... I wanted to teach submission grappling here in our country (philippines) but I never had any competition or MMA fights...I have trained in BJJ,JJJ,Judo and Hybrid Yaw-Yan(mixture of kickboxing and BJJ/Sambo Moves) I see my self as a teacher than a fighter.. I am not saying that I am a good one but accoding to my students(2 students)(Underground group) they like the way I teach because I explain each and every technique clearly.. I am planning to teach in one of the gym near my house but they might expect more from me like trophies from Past competition which I dont have... Please advice me on what to do....

I have a group but it is an underground one as of now... I am Planning to go public but needs advise from you guys... Thanks in advance

[sapatiero]

Man, that's a tricky one. Its easy to teach traditional arts without tournament experience but BJJ and grappling are more about leading by example. Have you coached any of your students to a win? That would give you credibility.

The main thing is that you have something to offer your students, but if they start beating you during sparring then you may have a problem. One of the reasons I moved from a traditional art to bjj was because the instructor spars with his students and proves his teaching works.

[daringdex]

That is a nice point sap... Well I am confident that I will be able to prove my techniques not unless a seasoned veteran grappler comes by and beat the hell out of me... I always tell my students that I am not an excellent grappler and they can also make me tap out but I can teach them what they need to learn about submission grappling..

There is this champion kickboxer that I will train in grappling.. He owns a gym and he wanted me to start a grappling school there. I might use that as a stepping stone..

But have you tried teaching sap?

[JkD187]

That is a nice point sap... Well I am confident that I will be able to prove my techniques not unless a seasoned veteran grappler comes by and beat the hell out of me... I always tell my students that I am not an excellent grappler and they can also make me tap out but I can teach them what they need to learn about submission grappling..

There is this champion kickboxer that I will train in grappling.. He owns a gym and he wanted me to start a grappling school there. I might use that as a stepping stone..

But have you tried teaching sap?

Being a teacher in BJJ also means that you are a fighter and can prove it.....you cant say "Wow that guy has great armbar techniques...yet when he spars he gets his ass kicked" or "Wow his drills look cool but he couldn't pull it off sparring to save his life" If you are planning to teach BJJ you beter have tons of experience in actuall competition and have at least a Purple belt.In BJJ if you are a competitor then you can make a great coach because you've been there before and know what its like to execute the techniques in real time and under pressure....you CAN"T and i repeat CAN'Thave it the other way around....otherwise you wouldn't be much of a teacher then....However give it a try and see whats up if worse comes to worse he wouln't hire you.I have alot of EXP teaching BJJ Boxing Muay Thai Sub Wrestling and MMA out of my friends basement.Believe it or not i taught them well enough that when they went to BJJ or MMA gyms to train they owned most of the guys there and have probably trained half as less then them.I have about 6 student's that have done really well for themselves and i gave them a good head's up before they went to go and train with someone more qualified then myself.Ive Grappled at the Naga Worlds and won the 180lb Intermediate Championship at blue belt level and then the next year placed 2nd in the same tourney.Im currently a Blue Belt in BJJ under Rodrigo Gracie and have a Blue Belt Equivilant in Muay thai as well as about 5 years of Boxing and Wrestling.

[SweepEm]

Many people think that in order to be a GREAT instructor/coach, you had to have been there and done that.
It's a popular misconception that if you're great at something, you can teach others to be great too. In every sport-football, baseball, boxing, there are guys who have played the game and or competed that are successful.
And there are many guys who've never played, never competed, yet they are great at teaching/coaching.

I've been to many Jiu Jitsu seminars given by world champion black belts. Some were great, others were very disappointing.
Why disappointing?
Because these guys were great at what they did and not so great at explaining or teaching. They could not relate since they were at a higher level, trying to explain a move to someone who was not at the same level. For the most part, these guys are gifted athletes.
Sometimes, it's hard to teach someone who's average in athleticism to below average. Some guys just don't have the patience to teach to someone who doesn't have the mental or physical skills. It's about being able to explain something to someone whom you can relate to.
I've taught class many times and let me tell you, the hardest class I've ever taught was a kids class. You'll have their attention for 5-10 minutes and then they will get bored. I truly admire people that can teach kids.

If you're teaching sport or self defense, it's going to be different than having a school for guys who want to be pro fighters, a very high level of competition. If you've got guys who want to be pro fighters and you've never competed, that is a much more challenging situaton than guys just wanting to learn a martial art, get in shape, competing in local tournaments...etc.

Since you have a group of students who enjoy learning and training with you, you're on the right road to where you want to be. I"m sure you've gotten to the point where you're at because of word of mouth. Just keep doing what you've done, try to network with other people who have schools to learn from them.

There will always be guys looking for teachers with the big tall trophies but that's about egos. Unfortunately, in martial artis, a lot of people are ego driven.

[daringdex]

Great advice dude.. thank you very much... as of now I just want a group that I want to teach that will be enjoying what i teach them... My primary goal for now is to make them better and let them compete and who knows it might pay off... the group is more of self-defense group..

congratulations in placing 1st and 2nd place in the NAGA competition.. at least you are proven competition wise.. I really admire Rodrigo Gracie and I also like his pose whenever I watch him on Pride..hehe..

Well egos will be there no matter what.. here in the Philippines there 3 BJJ groups but all of them dont like each other.. One group shot the leader of one group and there was a rumor that this leader was involved in striking another BJJ instructor with a knife because he doesnt like the atitude of this instructor... Politics here within groups are also present and I hate that..

well I hope to hear again from you... And I also hope you get your black belt too from Rodrigo...

thanks for the advise and you take care...

[WuChi]

Thats it with martial arts nowadays, you must define what one is. I believe a martial artist is a warior who can effectivly use his skills to survive the most emotional suttuations. He needs to be a master of his skills. In ancient times, when at war, people who couldnot fight died, and the ones who killed have to live and deal with the emotional implications of what they have done. It is these hardships combined with their state of "knowing" and fighting skill that makes them good candiate. You can teach if you are to the correct grade, but that doesnt mean you can fight. And if peolple want to learn how to fight, then they will need a fighter to help them. I teach, but would never had done so before I have fought under MMa rules in the cage, to see what works. I work with 5-6 students who fight MMa, I could have trained the average joe when I was 16, lol take it easy

[daringdex]

hi Wushi... Thanks for the advise.... wel you are correct.. Im planning to fight but I need to straighten out the my schedule.. I have a friend that organizes a small MMA league and I'm planning to fight there maybe next year after my wife gives birth.

by the way I will be also studying Muay Thai and in return I will teach that guy grappling.. He also would like me to fight In an MT tournament once i get in shape again...I'm really excited too because I also convinced my wife that I would like to fight.. (Before she doesnt want ot me to fight she doesnt want me to get hurt)(call me sissy but i rather lose my skills rather than losing my wife.. heheheh)

I currently teach two guys for now and they like the way I teach... for now their my mainstays and I see them improving because whenever we spar they make me work hard which is a sign of improving..

Maybe I'll stick to a small group then let them join competitions and hopefully they win so it will add to my credentials.

thanks Wuchi...

[WuChi]

Great advice dude.. thank you very much... as of now I just want a group that I want to teach that will be enjoying what i teach them... My primary goal for now is to make them better and let them compete and who knows it might pay off... the group is more of self-defense group..

congratulations in placing 1st and 2nd place in the NAGA competition.. at least you are proven competition wise.. I really admire Rodrigo Gracie and I also like his pose whenever I watch him on Pride..hehe..

Well egos will be there no matter what.. here in the Philippines there 3 BJJ groups but all of them dont like each other.. One group shot the leader of one group and there was a rumor that this leader was involved in striking another BJJ instructor with a knife because he doesnt like the atitude of this instructor... Politics here within groups are also present and I hate that..

well I hope to hear again from you... And I also hope you get your black belt too from Rodrigo...

thanks for the advise and you take care...

You talk as if you have nothing else to learn, try to concentrate on yourself, to become better. I am a competing fighter who studied Wingchun and valetudo. I could have taught wingchun when I was 16 man, but why would I. I dont want to train a couple of normal partimers. I have had 7 years from that point where I have excelled imensly, studying thai box and pankration, and at this point realise that the only thing you can be sure about is your own personal level. Self-defence doesnt realy exist, just being a warrior. I have 1 out of my 5 guys who is part time, he has good boxing skills and has good power and timing, but lack emotional control. He gets into a fight and it gets the better of him, you can not teach someone this mearly guid them. In order to survive you need to be a wrior, that is all.A pointer of the way, from a man on the way. Bruce lee said it a long time ago

[daringdex]

You talk as if you have nothing else to learn, try to concentrate on yourself, to become better.

I still train with my superior.. I still strive to become better.. I's just that when I started teaching my own small group I saw that they understood clearly what I taught them and I also see them improve...

I teach them what my superior is teaching me...

[daringdex]

I strive to become better and I also plan of enrolling in a judo/jujitsu school near me... I dont see myself as a fulfilled person because I am still learning new techniques nearly everyday... If given the chance I will enroll in a Machado school here in the Philippines...

I want to learn and at the same time I would like to teach...

[blitz]

Do you mind telling us how long you have been training and what belt you have?

[OmaPlata]

I still train with my superior.. I still strive to become better.. I's just that when I started teaching my own small group I saw that they understood clearly what I taught them and I also see them improve...

I teach them what my superior is teaching me...

what is your belt in BJJ?? You really shouldnt teach if your not at least a purple, and even then that should be under the guidance of a black belt. You might get someone seriously injured or killed with misinformation about a technique

[repete]

Good points.

Some of the best baseball managers and NBA coaches were among the worst as players.

Many people think that in order to be a GREAT instructor/coach, you had to have been there and done that.
It's a popular misconception that if you're great at something, you can teach others to be great too. In every sport-football, baseball, boxing, there are guys who have played the game and or competed that are successful.
And there are many guys who've never played, never competed, yet they are great at teaching/coaching.

I've been to many Jiu Jitsu seminars given by world champion black belts. Some were great, others were very disappointing.
Why disappointing?
Because these guys were great at what they did and not so great at explaining or teaching. They could not relate since they were at a higher level, trying to explain a move to someone who was not at the same level. For the most part, these guys are gifted athletes.
Sometimes, it's hard to teach someone who's average in athleticism to below average. Some guys just don't have the patience to teach to someone who doesn't have the mental or physical skills. It's about being able to explain something to someone whom you can relate to.
I've taught class many times and let me tell you, the hardest class I've ever taught was a kids class. You'll have their attention for 5-10 minutes and then they will get bored. I truly admire people that can teach kids.

If you're teaching sport or self defense, it's going to be different than having a school for guys who want to be pro fighters, a very high level of competition. If you've got guys who want to be pro fighters and you've never competed, that is a much more challenging situaton than guys just wanting to learn a martial art, get in shape, competing in local tournaments...etc.

Since you have a group of students who enjoy learning and training with you, you're on the right road to where you want to be. I"m sure you've gotten to the point where you're at because of word of mouth. Just keep doing what you've done, try to network with other people who have schools to learn from them.

There will always be guys looking for teachers with the big tall trophies but that's about egos. Unfortunately, in martial artis, a lot of people are ego driven.

[aseepish]

Good points.

Some of the best baseball managers and NBA coaches were among the worst as players.

The same can be said of some of the best boxing coaches too.