Jiu Jistu Basics

Some things to remember when you are rst starting: -It is going to be hard. Really hard. -You are confused? That is ok. There are many pieces to jiu jitsu and it will take time for them to all come together. -TAP. Both respect it and use it. When someone taps, immediately let go. When you feel you are in a bad position, or even if you have a tiny bit of doubt, just tap and start again. -You’re probably going to get someone’s hair and/or sweat in your mouth.

General Rules: -No grabbing, bending, attacking individual ngers. Just don’t. -No striking, punching or kicking. -No eye gouging or shhooks. -No picking people up and slamming them to the ground. -You can’t grab the inside of the sleeve or pant cu. You can grab inside the top of the pants though. Weird huh?

You are going to need:

-A gi. You can get a jiu jitsu gi online or at Dojo Out tters here in Portland. You will need a jiu jitsu gi, not a karate gi. They’re thicker and can withstand all the gripping and pulling.

-A white belt. This signi es your rank and keeps your top closed.

-A water bottle. You’re going to get tired and thirsty during practice. We have a water cooler behind the front door where you came in.

-A mouth guard. This is optional, but it will be helpful. Though there is no striking in jiu jitsu, it is a combat sport. Wearing a mouth guard is a good idea.

-An open mind. Jiu jitsu is weird and complex, it will be very confusing at rst. Keep coming to practice regularly with an open mind and it will all start coming together.

-A notebook to take notes in. You won’t be able to take notes during class probably, but you can and should take notes of what you learned directly after. This will help solidify the techniques that were shown in class.

-A friend. It is always more fun to learn something new with a friend. Find someone to come to class with you and now instead of going to the bar all the time, you guys can do jiu jitsu. Basic Positions

In jiu jitsu you are either the “top player” or you are the bottom “guard player.”

The Guard: there are many guards, but basically this means that you are on the bottom and using your legs to attack and keep your opponent away. Your goal is to keep the Top Player from getting around your legs and from getting on top of you. You will want to look to “sweep” or knock down your opponent so that you can then be on top.

Top Player: this means you are the person on top. You can be standing or on your knees, or somewhere in-between. Your goal is to get around the guard player’s legs and get on top of them. This is called “passing the guard.”

Closed Guard: Open Guard: The guard player is on their The guard player’s ankles are back with their feet wrapped no longer crossed. around the top player. Their ankles are crossed. The guard player uses their legs to keep distance. They The guard player will look to are looking to create tension attack or sweep. with grips to sweep the top player. The top player needs to get out of the closed guard to The top player needs to get start to pass. past the legs and pass guard.

Side Control: Mount: The top player has gotten around the legs A typical transition the top player and has passed the guard into side control. makes from side control. A very bad position for the bottom The bottom player no longer has a guard. player. They need to defend, move and get their legs back in-between themselves and the The bottom player needs to top player, or they need to reverse the top defend, escape or reverse. player and get on top themselves. The top player can hold position The top player looks to stay on top and can and can begin to attack with begin to attack with submissions. submissions. They may also transition back to side control.

Quarters/Turtle: Back Take: The bottom player is balled If your back gets taken you up and on their knees. While will need to defend your this may seem like a safe neck and arms. Keep moving place to rest the bottom and work to either get out of player is vulnerable to the legs, or turn 180 degrees attacks. You need to keep and get into your opponent’s moving and get back to your closed guard. guard if you nd yourself in this position.

Half Guard: Combat Base: The guard player has one of The top player here is in the top player’s legs trapped. combat base. This is a They can be on their side or kneeling position that is on their back. in-between standing and on the knees. Many top players Guard player can look to will go here after they have reverse, submit or get back escaped their opponent’s to closed guard. closed guard. It is one of the positions that may be used Top player needs to free their by the top player to begin to leg and pass. pass the guard. Basic Objectives for beginners

Get on top and stay on top. Defend and survive. Have a guard that’s hard to pass.

If you are the top player: you must pass the guard and get on top and stay on top.

If you are the bottom player: you must stop the top player from passing your guard. Try to sweep or reverse the top player and get on top yourself.

If you are on side control or mount bottom: you must escape. Get out and get your guard back. Or reverse your opponent and get on top.

In tournament jiu jitsu you can win by submission i.e. “tapping out” you opponent. You can also win by points. i.e. you get 4 points for getting into top mount, and you get 2 points for passing the guard.

What does this mean?

This has 2 meanings. First, you will want to have a good position before working for the submission. Meaning if you’re in mount bottom, that’s a position bad position, you should be looking to escape rather than trying to choke or submit from there.

Second, having a good position and holding it can be just as valuable as getting a submission. In a tournament you’ll get points for good positions, but having a dominant position during the majority of a round in practice can also be considered a win. Holding a good submission position can be just as punishing and sometimes worse than any sub.

When you nd yourself in closed guard (you are the top player):

get out get past their legs get on top stay on top of their legs “pass the guard” side control/mount and attack

When you nd someone in your closed guard (you are the bottom or guard player):

hold them/ they open your legs don’t let them walk they pass your guard get your guard back or break their posture/ around your legs / look reverse. Find a way to look to bump them over to sweep them get back on top.

When you nd yourself in side control or mount (you are the top player):

hold and control your once you secure the position start looking for attacks opponent and apply or continue to hold or top pressure move to mount

When you nd yourself in side control or mount (you are the bottom player):

get the fuck out in one movement bridge with your hips and shrimp/hip out repeat as many time as in guard again try to get on top arms in-between you push with your forearms try necessary to get your sweep, reverse, and your opponent to turn into your opponent guard back or just stand up Basic Goals and Things to Remember

-Don’t reach with your arms. Be a T-Rex. Keep your elbows in. This makes your arms stronger and also less vulnerable to attacks.

-Keep your posture. Don’t bend over at the waist like an old person. This will make it easy to break you down and attack you.

-Remember to defend. Protect your neck at all times.

-Stay calm and try not to muscle or spaz out. While bench pressing that guy o of you and ailing your limbs wildly might seem eective, it is not eective as an escape or as a way to learn.

-Don’t worry about doing something wrong or about looking silly. You will do it wrong, you don’t know anything yet. And plus, we all look really silly. If you’re in a new scenario and you don’t know what to do, its ok. Just try to nd a solution that might work. It probably won’t, but that’s part of learning. Just remember the rule above; it’s ok to do things wrong or try something that you don’t even know is a move or not, just don’t spaz out and wildly hit your partner in the face. If you don’t know what to do, trying to choke your partner with all of your strength while kicking your legs from a weird position is usually not the answer.

-Tap out. Even if you’re not sure what is happening is actually a submission. No one will judge you or think you are weak. Tapping out means you get an opportunity to try again.

-HAVE FUN! We are adults, and most of us even have jobs. This is a hobby and a way to learn something new and get into shape. The path of jiu jitsu is long; it’s a marathon not a sprint. Take your time, learn as much as you can, don’t get hurt, and most of all have fun.

-Take notes. This will help you remember what you have learned.

-Come to class. The best way to get better at jiu jitsu is to do jiu jitsu. Regular attendance, especially when you are rst starting is imperative. The more you come the better you will get, the more things will make sense and the more fun it will become.

-And seriously. Bring a friend. We are small and would like it if you told as many people as you know about how great we are and how much fun jiu jitsu is.