What's your BJJ goal?

[JaredExtreme]

I've been doing BJJ for a little over a year now and have reached a plateau. I know I have improved greatly in my ground game, but I'm at the point where I know the basics of BJJ and I can tap out all my friends who are aren't grapplers (and they're usually bigger than me.) But when it comes to regular rolling with people at my skill level I usually get beaten.

I imagine many of the the forum members have been at this point before and I'm curious to hear your imput. When you were at this stage, what was your goal? To get a blue/black belt? To win tourneys? To tap guys 40 lbs heavier?

What kept you motivated?

[SweepEm]

My goal this year was to compete in at least a tournament but with my knee injury, it may have to wait until next year.......

How do I keep motivated?
Well, I have been doing BJJ for a long time,
10 years.

there were more than a few times that I was discouraged and almost quit. But I guess I am a creature of habit and made BJJ a habit that was tough to quit. Well I am very happy now that I stuck with it. I have finally seen the light, where so many of the moves that I've drilled have come to a point where I can use them instead of forgetting all of them.

I have health problems and that keeps me motivated to keep the weight off and to keep in shape and have tone.

So many of my friends that think that GOLF is great exercise.

We all hit plateaus and level off a bit, that is what the human body does to correct itself and then if you keep it up, you start to ascend again. Just keep going and you will eventually get to the learning curve again and progress.

Keep challenging yourself:

If you are comfortable with your guard, try to be in someone's guard or from side mount, or a place you may not be as good...

[Shrimp]

At one yr into it I was having terrible trouble with BIG guys: 240 - 300 lbs.

I sat down and analyzed the matches in which they had dominated me, and I realized it all came down to guard passing. They were passing my guard too easily, and once they passed and put there wight on me, the game was pretty much over.

So I used every spare moment to work my guard. Eventually they weren't passing any more, and the tables were turned.

[MrPoopy]

I have problems with guys heavier than me, and I'm a pretty heavy guy. There's one guy in my class that's a lot heavier than me and I've never tapped him. But the other night I came pretty close. I slipped an armbar on him that I didn't see coming and neither did he. But at the last second he pulled his arm out.

I've also been doing BJJ for a little over a year. When I was around 6 months into it, I started getting depressed about it and wanted to quit. I actually did try to quit, but my instructor wouldn't stop calling me. I tried not answering the phone, but he would leave messages. I would turn the answering machine off, but he would email me. There was no way I was going to stop getting on the computer and stop checking my email. He had already decided I wasn't going to quit.

As far as using the guard on really big guys, my instructor suggests that you avoid the guard at all costs when going against a bigger person. It's way to easy for them to sink past your guard. It's a lot easier to beat a bigger person (or any person) from a superior position. The guard has many possibilities for submission but there's also the possibility of getting your ass beat.

[Ice Phoenix]

One VERY good position to take when you're grappling a bigger opponent I've found is his back! Many people tend to forget about this highly advantageous position and just lie there trying to wrestle the guys arm to their chest!

Like Duh, how Obvious!

Try training specifically at methods of scooting out to take the back from Guard and Half-Guard, as it is generally MUCH easier than playing tug-of-war with his arm all day long when he is stronger than you!

Also, if you're allowed to use them at your Dojo, Leglocks RULE!

I've found Leglocks such as the Rolling Legbar from Hooks-In Guard often surprise the opponent and work especially well if you fake another type of submission or sweep before resorting to them!

And don't forget, there is heaps of ways to prevent someone from passing your Guard, even if they are strong!

Ever heard of Crossover, Crossover Sweep, Pendulum, Heavylegs, etc?

[Fighter]

One must go over platueas. "use no ways as way, us limitations an no limitations" -- Bruce Lee--.

Kepp at it as other said and you will start to improve again. And remember you learn more from a loss than you do a win, if you allow your self.......

C ya