Third BJJ lesson

The technique you were taught doesn’t sound like it was tailored for beginners so I wouldn’t worry about it, any time you see a technique that’s complicated like that try and match up with someone you know is technical and will be able to communicate the details while drilling it. If all else fails don’t hesitate to ask the instructor, that’s what you pay him for.

On your third lesson you should be nowhere close to submitting anyone, at all. Unless that person is also on their third lesson in which case you shouldn’t be matched up with another newbie.

Ice your pulled muscle as much as possible and don’t stop moving, if you’re not moving around the muscle won’t get the blood it needs to repair.

Keep it up, for your first tournament especially if you’re in the super novice division (under three months or whatever it is) don’t cut weight unless it’s only 1-2 pounds, it will fuck you up.

..So perhaps you should go for sub-70? j/k.

How big are you? How heavy?

because it isn’t going to happen. When you roll with people your own skill or above it is very difficult to get submissions. Learn the basics of controlling and safely positions when on top and when on bottom work on improving and defending positions.

Also on preventing (and when that doesn’t work) escaping submission attempts safely and correctly, don’t just hulk out of them because you can on other white belts.

it sounds like you have the right attitude and focus for BJJ! I love this series and hope you keep enjoying your training.

The most important part of your BJJ game as a beginner is getting amazing at positioning and basing and defense. I’ve probably subbed 4-5 people in my 5 months of training. The catch is that I’ve learned how to escape the worst positions relatively well now, and even in competition I was able to get out of really bad positions and get back on top. Don’t worry about the subs, they will come with superior positioning. Every time I’ve subbed a guy it’s because I ended up in a position by playing defense and forcing mistakes. I’m only just now beginning to make my guard/open guard game more aggressive with submissions and advanced sweeps.

You will get used to rolling with your weight, against people your weight. If you start cutting weight it will drain you, you will roll different because of the differences in your body, and you will be rolling against faster guys (which doesn’t mean you can’t win…it’s just…..different).

Keep up the good work man. The hardest part is getting on the mats. After about a year and a half you’ll be a submission machine; but for now, just go with it and whatever happens, happens.