What should I wear?
Shorts and a t shirt will do just fine. As you get more into the arts we recommend you get the recommended training gear.
Do I have to be in shape to participate?
As with any exercise program, you should consult with a physician before beginning.
If you told me “I want to get in shape so I can ride a bike,” I’d tell you “You ride a bike to get in shape!” The same is true for BJJ. Doing an activity is the best way to get in shape for it.
“Getting in shape first” is a very common excuse for not starting BJJ sooner, and it is usually hiding the real fear: being afraid of embarrassing yourself and looking foolish in front of others. This fear is common, as is its sibling: wanting to be good without ever doing something before.
I’ll ruin the suspense right now and let you know that even people who are in shape have trouble starting BJJ. You also won’t be good at BJJ without ever doing it, no matter how many UFC Fight Nights you’ve watched.
BJJ is an activity unlike anything a person normally does. Even if you could run marathons and climb mountains, BJJ will challenge you in different ways. (It works both ways too–being good at BJJ doesn’t make you good at marathons or mountain climbing).
People who say they want to get in shape before starting BJJ rarely take steps to do it. If they weren’t motivated enough to start BJJ, it’s unlikely they will start working out or going to a fitness gym either.
Learning BJJ techniques and sparring against people is a very fun, interesting and exciting way to get in shape. It beats running on a treadmill while listening to your Pandora playlist, or being that creepy guy who lift weights in his garage with the door rolled up.
Am i too old to train?
We have students of all ages, each with different goals in mind. Whether you are 5 or 65, our classes and programs are designed to provide results at any age and are enjoyed by both younger and older students. We do recommend that you consult a physician prior to beginning and consider private classes as an introduction to our group classes if you have no prior experience with BJJ.
Can women train? Although historically, BJJ has been a male dominated discipline it is growing in popularity with women due to the fact that it is the most effective method of self-defense that a woman could have. In most scenarios in which a women may have to defend herself, punching or kicking would not be the most effective method because a male counterpart could do much more damage with their punch or kick. Having the knowledge to use leverage and technique against a stronger opponent and losing the fear of contact as you train with male teammates in a safe environment in the most beneficial knowledge a women could have. We believe that women can benefit greatly from knowing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and allow them to be confident as individuals and in their ability to defend themselves. Not mentioning that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an amazing work out that will get you in shape!
What is the Gi?
A Gi (sometimes referred to as Kimono) is the uniform that is typically worn when training Jiu-Jitsu. It consists of 3 pieces: a jacket (or top), pants, and a belt. The material in which the three pieces are made is specially reinforced to withstand the rigors of daily practice. Many Jiu-Jitsu players regard their Gi in the same way a knight would their armor. Most practitioners of Jiu-Jitsu who advocate the usage of the Gi cite the more technical aspect of grappling with a Gi.
Why Train with the Gi?
The gi game obviously has a lot more to it. Everything that can be done without the gi can be done with it, making it a more complex game. Additionally, taking away the gi allows physical attributes such as size, strength and slipperiness to come into play with greater effect due to the lack of levers and friction. Working with the gi is generally considered more of a “thinking man’s” game. Not that no-gi isn’t, it’s just that the gi removes many physical advantages and adds more techniques. For now, you should view your kimono as a set of training wheels. As you develop a higher level of proficiency, you will learn to perform Jiu-jitsu techniques both with and without a kimono. For now, the kimono will add a level of sophistication to your game that will result in you as a student becoming a more advanced and technical fighter.
Will I be expected to Compete?
We do have a competition team due to the belief that competing allows you to test your skills in a competition environment. We believe that experiencing jiu-jitsu in the competitive environment will also provide insight on how to apply the techniques learned in a real-life self-defense scenario because in competitions you do not know your opponent or their strengths. That being said, the Silva Team encourages everyone to compete but it is NOT a requirement. While there are many positive reasons for competing in tournaments, you will never be forced. However, over the years we have noticed that students who compete make huge improvements in their BJJ and self-confidence.
Should I tap?
Yes. Jiu-Jitsu is an art that is based on leverage, not power. That being said, a smaller person can submit a bigger opponent. It is not a cowardly move to tap, but rather a humble move to acknowledge that you have lost and that you are ready to learn. Tapping is what avoids injuries and not being hurt is what allows you to continue training and eventually know all of the submissions and escapes.
What is the belt and promotion process?
Belts go as follows: White, Blue, Purple, Brown, and Black. One of the main differences between BJJ and other martial arts is that it is hard to get promoted. At a blue belt level, you can almost be considered a lethal force. It will take commitment because we are committed to producing students with real ability. We do have a curriculum we go by to help you and once you exhibit competency in the techniques acquired you may qualify for a promotion.
What is the typical duration between belt ranks?
Belt Rank & Promotions depend on commitment, athleticism and character of the student and progress as follows:
a. White to Blue: 1-2 years
b. Blue to Purple: 1-3 years
c. Purple to Brown: 1-3 years
d. Brown to Black: 1-4 years
Time is not the only criteria or the primary criteria for belt promotion. A student must also improve in the following areas for belt promotion:
a. Technical Ability: Measure of how well a technique is performed.
b. Sparring Ability: Measure of how well techniques are performed during sparring.
c. Sportsmanship: Measure of how well carry yourself with your partners, instructor and community. Characteristics that we look at are identified in the Principles
What if I have already trained at a BJJ school?
We always welcome practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or any other martial art. We maintain a high standard of our students in self-defense and sport jiu-jitsu. Any ranking you have earned we hope the same standard was set for you. You therefore can of course wear your belt. We will roll with you and know where you’re at rather quickly and vice versa.
If you have experience feel free to look at our curriculum to see any new material and what you will learn.
What kind of competitions can I participate in?
Sport Jiu-Jitsu (Gi and No-Gi), MMA, Submission Wrestling, and Judo, pankration, and kickboxing.
How often do I have to train?
The more you train the better you get. Train as often as you like but most people don't see any real results unless they train two or more times in a week. As you get higher up in rank you will often find training four days a week benefits your growth tremendously but can be hard on your body and therefore the proper recovery is needed.
How do I get started ?
We invite you to take a free class. To set up your free lesson please contact us at eauclairejiujitsu@gmail.com or call 715-226-1189
How do i actually defeat a larger stronger opponent?
Here are some ways of looking at this:
If you train in any art and practice until you are proficient, you can apply your knowledge, you use your superior technique rather than brute strength to finish a less experienced fighter. In combat you can anticipate and strategize, but there is always a level of unpredictability. The answer to solving this problem is time and experience. Over time and through experience, you will train the circuits in your brain to fire reactions quicker and you will learn the deep complexities of the art. Eventually the deepest complexities will make the simplest sense. This is called mastery. A master should be able to defeat or avoid most adversaries.
A larger person will have reach, strength, and possibly speed. This puts you at risk of being knocked out. Therefore, it is smarter to get closer to them. If you are shorter, you will have a lower center of gravity. You can get into trapping range, using what is known as the centerline principle to guard your core, you simultaneously use bursting techniques such as the Never-Ending Punches to overwhelm the opponent and crush them in a fury of blows. The contrast, grappling, would have a different route. You can close the distance and enter a take down or get into a clinch and work into a take down. If you are able to achieve top position, you can use your own weight, center of gravity, and fists to reach compliance. Or you can exhaust them while simultaneously saving your own energy, and then, they are at your mercy. The goal in grappling is to manipulate a joint, ligament, other extremity, or get a blood choke. The latter provides a much less violent and therefore more humane way of handling this situation.
You can also manage the distance with intercepting kicks and strikes to keep them away and force them to abandon their aggressive approach. Which will open up your advance or opportunity to leave the situation.