Does BJJ start with the..

[jules]

kneeling position? Instead of standing like judo?

[Great Sage]

jules,

I don't understand this? Aren't you in BJJ? Isn't that why you answered my post concerning BJJ?

In practice, BJJ guys will start from the kneeling position... In competition, you're standing.

[jules]

I do BJJ but it's just that i am taking an "unofficail" class. My coach is not a black belt and we are about just "getting together and sharing ideas/learning" rather than a "BJJ academy". That's why i compared it with judo. Since i have never seen a "real" BJJ class i didn't have anything to compare it with. And if you are asking why i am going to this "get together" rather than a real gym. Well there are no BJJ gym's in south korea. So it's this or nothing. Besides my coach and my fellow gymates are cool as shit.

[IPON]

Hey Jules - your coach may be qualified in an art(s). But to be honest anyone can pick up a book, in reality you are not studying BJJ just some techniquies (but I would say this reagrding any art in the same circumstance). An instructor has to be at least a purple belt in order to teach. Nothing can replace in person training with a qualified instructor and the fact that there are subtle items in training that you may miss and could get you hurt if you don't kow how to appropriately apply techniques. I have learned MT and FMA techniques and trained a little but I do not consider myself a practicioner a studen of these arts. you may want to purchase videos and buy books on BJJ for your education, don't rely on somonelse's info if they are not formally trained. Just another perspective. Good luck with your training.

[Mr. Heel Hook]

You don't have to be a black belt, brown belt, or even a purple belt to teach class. A blue belt is allowed to go out and start it's own satelite school.

So don't worry to much about belt color and just keep doing what you are doing. Sharing ideas and rolling are the basic idea of getting better in Jiu Jitsu.

[IPON]

Heel Hook - my point was, (and jules correct me) it doesn't seem that his coach has any training. It is more that just an exchange of ideas if the coach techniques that are not correct, the fact that he is asking the question supports that. From other posts you know I do not studyGJJ (yet), so I thought it was purple (I may be thinking Machado) my mistake.

My point is that there are alot of fakes teaching and while it seems that Jules coach is being honest about what he knows I am just saying he should research by video and book to understand BJJ in case his coach is not teaching correctly. It was just a word of caution.

[Mr. Heel Hook]

And my point is you can learn something from a six month white belt nevermind a blue belt with a few years on him. That's all. If he dosn't have any training, and is just teaching from a book than that could be a problem.

[Mr. Heel Hook]

Originally posted by IPON
so I thought it was purple (I may be thinking Machado) my mistake.

BTW, I am unsure what you mean here, amigo.

[IPON]

HH- I had it stuck in my head for som reason that for BJJ instructors started at purple...I think that I questioned Marcos Santos about how a purple belt can open a school and I think he said it was becuase it takes 7+ years for a Black Belt in MBJJ. Anyway, I agree if the coach studied with an instructor (even as a white belt) then yeah cool as long as its in context, I am just leary of people who would "teach" techniques and are not qualified.

[Mr. Heel Hook]

Hmmm, basically how it works in the Gracie Camp is a blue belt can open an association on it's own if he chooses to. Of course, if you are in an area that has a purple belt in it, most people are going to go to the higher belted person.

The place I train at is a blue belt. Granted, he is the highest blue belt amongst us (he has 4 stripes) but still is a blue belt like a few of us. If you are a blue belt, and have a few stripes, you are a powerful martial artist in the community. Perhaps not to a true MMA fighter, but to your average-Joe MA guy you are a force to be reckon with.

It is commonly said that (in the GJJ community at least) if you fight a blue belt with a few stripes on his belt, you better known ground fighting and be good at it to win the fight.