Training Conundrum

[DJColdfusion]

Training Conundrum

I train with and coach a pretty solid group of guys that have an EXTREME range in ability and experience. One of my guys is a former Lions Den member and another is a World Class Greco Roman wrestler who just moved back to Utah after training at the US Olympic Training Center for several years not to mention the fact that he’s a two time Pancrase North American Submission Werstling Champion. We have a couple of other purple belts that may or may not show up and then we have a good number of dedicated white belts who are . . . well, they’re white belts.

The conundrum here is that we don’t have enough people to have separate beginner and advanced classes, actually we probably could but scheduling is a BEEOOOTTTCCCHHH, with the disparity in experience levels I find it difficult to teach a class that keeps the advanced students interested without blowing the minds of the beginners.

I had a discussion with Gracie Barra black belt Mario Correa about it and he feels that if you stick to the basics but you teach all of the details then you will satisfy both the beginner and the advanced student.

Anyone out there have a similar experience and how did you approach it, or even how has your coach approached it?

[OSHIEGO]

I would have to agree with the advice given. There are many times where the advanced belts "revisit" a basic technique and find that they may have been overlooking a step in it due to not having had performed the technique in a while. In your situation, this will help the students of all belts by re-enforcing the techniques for the advanced belts and by pairing up the advanced and beginner belts it will give the beginners the advantage of having a partner to drill the technique who will not be stumbling through the technique.

[Shaolin]

I go to a class that has a mix of grades and it tends to start with some basic stuff that we all do to loosen up then the instructor may take the senior grades to one side and go over advanced stuff and then come to the white belts and so us something simpler.

That seems to work well.

When another senior takes the class we may all do the same

[BigBoy]

Hey DJ, where do you train at. I am in SLC and I need a good place to work out.

[DJColdfusion]

I'm with Machado Jiu-Jitsu at the Ultimate Combat Training Center. Our site is at http://www.slcbjj.com We're on the west side

We are actually going to start an advanced/competition class for the Jiu-Jitsu guys which will consist of more sparring than anything else. Strategy discussions, maybe something new on occasion but it will hopefully serve as something for the advanced guys to "bang heads" without having to worry about the newest gym members. The class will be by invitation only and students will become eligible after attending 25 of the regular classes unless they come with some sort of significant background that has prepared them for the participation with the advanced class.

What do you guys think?

[DJColdfusion]

And Mike, I definitely remember those days and they were a big part of the idea behind our new class. I have been trying to get the gym owner to implement some of the things you used to do (like the Muay Thai conditioning class you used to run).

[BigBoy]

I'm with Machado Jiu-Jitsu at the Ultimate Combat Training Center. Our site is at http://www.slcbjj.com

Hey I know UCTC. Is your program replacing the bayless jiu jitsu? Any way, I work nights. Do you have daytime classes. If you do I will come roll with you guys. I have been watching the UCE since I came to salt lake, it would be cool to train at their home gym. But my buddies that train at elite would probably look at me funny.