By Erin Herle

[Continued from here.]

Drilling outside of class is like doing your homework. Working on technique, situations, your weaknesses are all important and can be done outside of class. We often don’t allow ourselves to play with weaknesses when training in class and the time allotted for technique is used for a new move, adding to the list of homework assignments to ingrain into your muscle memory.

Now that you have your training partners, the mats to train on and a time to meet up let’s put the timer to use with some lesson plan ideas.

Here are some examples of drills/specific training situations to help you run your class that Gianni Grippo has adjusted through trial and error in his own competition classes at Renzo Gracie Academy NYC:

3-minute rounds of choice drilling

Drilling a guard pass of choice with a partner / Photo by Erin Herle

Every person will pair with someone near their size if possible and drill a move of their choice. SwitchStay with the same move and if you choose to do more rounds with another move, keep them similar. Extend the move into a counter defense move, a submission into another submission and ultimately all bottom game or all top game. It makes it easier to implement and gain many repetitions.

3-minute rounds of chosen drill

Leg drag drills / Photo by Erin Herle

Dictating the move to drill is a great way to have everyone secure a staple move. This could be a very common move, counter, defense, motion, etc. There are guard passes, guard recovery, positional moves and defensive techniques that everyone must know so using this time to implement these required moves into everyone’s game is beneficial for all. Even if they aren’t fancy and are sometimes even boring, making time for them is important.

5-minute situational sparring

Working situational sparring from the back / Photo by Erin Herle

Training in a position and only that position is a good way to understand the mechanics and leverage of a situation. Being in both top and bottom side control allows both defense, maintenance and offense to improve. Start with a position and state exactly how everyone should start. If you are working on back mount should the person have hooks and a seatbelt grip or should it start from turtle and the person on bottom only needs to recover guard? Focus on who needs to do what, the goal, the grips and rules. When the timer starts, shake hands and roll normal speed within the position and rules. Switch between positions with same partners then switch partners for each round.

5-minute rounds of guard defense

Guard defense rounds with adamant passers / Photo by Erin Herle

The person who plays guard must defend their guard while the person on top tries to pass. The focus of this is guard recovery and defense while the person on top can work their guard passing without the threat of sweeps or submissions. Start with open guard so that the guard player must take what the guard passer gives. If the guard is passed, start over.

90-Second Losing Situation

Losing opponent must act quickly / Photo by Erin Herle

Mostly for competition-oriented people, this drill is important for acting quickly yet smart. The person in guard is down on points and must sweep or submit to win the match. With 90 seconds left in a match it can create a type of adrenaline or hastiness that will cause mistakes. With this drill focus on the application of sweeps and submissions and acting quickly when it is most important. The person on top can work the pass like normal but you are forced to play smart and pay attention to your base. If you are winning in a match, you should always keep working instead of stalling but you don’t want to cost yourself the match. Switch partners with this drill.

8-Minute Matches

Live sparring with 8-minute matches / Photo by Erin Herle

Include regular rolling into your routine like you would any other class as it can be the best way to apply anything you’re currently working. Also, more mat time is always a good thing. Try to work on what you have drilled and focus on your weaknesses. Remember, there is no ego in the gym and what happens in training stays in training. Don’t be afraid to work on what you need to work so that you can improve in all areas. If you compete, you’ll be more prepared and have more to work with in your muscle memory. Switch partners and have at least four rounds.

Submission-Only Match with 30-Minute Time Limit

Submission-only matches create submission-oriented people / Photo by Erin Herle

You can save this round for last or have multiple matches in one session. These types of situations, especially when tired after a training session, are great for focusing on finishing an opponent. Focus on gaining dominant positions and attacking. This works the defense and offense. The 30-minute time limit can and will be reached but is a good stopping point should anyone go the length.

Gianni Grippo’s planner with lesson plans and drilling notes.

Remember that these drills are examples. The time limits, the numbers, the details can all be manipulated but are a great jumping off point. A good way to run these classes is to determine a lesson plan before so you can state to everyone involved what the itinerary will be for each class. A planner or designated notebook will be efficient.

And the most important tip for your drilling Jiu-Jitsu classes?

Enjoy yourself!

Drilling is fun! / Photo by Erin Herle

Clean nails and feet, as you can see, are essential in Jiu-Jitsu. Photo: Graciemag.com

*In Jiu-Jitsu, as with any martial art, training generally takes place in an indoor environment, with plenty of physical contact, heat and sweat. Jiu-Jitsu, by and large, is practiced by healthy people. Nevertheless, besides being healthy, practitioners have to be meticulous in tending to their personal hygiene.

First, they need to get a full health assessment by having a good medical check-up, and that includes with a cardiologist, since recent events in soccer and volleyball have shown us even young athletes can have heart problems when performing prolonged exertion. Once you’ve undergone a good medical evaluation, training will be a good deal safer for you and the teacher.

As for hygiene, anyone who trains on a regular basis will now and again encounter a training partner whose gi reeks, whose fingernails and feet are filthy, who doesn’t take the trouble to care for their personal hygiene. In some instances, a mat mate is visibly suffering from a cold or is sick. These problems aren’t just unpleasant; they’re a health hazard to everyone else training in the same environment.

If you train on a regular basis you should have at least two gis, since gi fabric is heavy and takes a long time to dry. The stench could come from the gi not having been properly washed, but it could also come from the gi being damp, not having been fully dried. It’s in precisely these moist conditions where fungi and bacteria thrive and multiply.

If you’ve come down with the flu or some virus, keep in mind that by training you might end up spreading the illness to everyone else at the Jiu-Jitsu school, even to those who don’t come in physical contact with you. Disease doesn’t spread only by air, but by cross infection, whereby the virus is communicated directly to a colleague, who then passes it on to a third person with whom he has contact. Often even the teacher isn’t spared. That being the case, infirm athletes shouldn’t take part in collective training. When in doubt, consult a doctor to find out whether it’s all right to train with others.

You need to be conscientious, because it isn’t easy for a teacher to keep tabs on the health and hygiene of all his students. Mat mates can help by giving a “nudge in the right direction” to anyone who repeatedly neglects to take proper care of themselves or uses an unserviceable gi. After all, Jiu-Jitsu is synonymous with health.

*Dr Carlos Augusto de Mattos is the head of the sports traumatology and arthroscopy department at PUC University in Campinas and a member of the Brazilian societies of orthopedics and traumatology.

Jiu-Jitsu is a great thing, but, as with all great things, it needs some advertising to make the general public aware of its greatness. To open a Jiu-Jitsu academy is as tough as any other business and it demands a lot of hard work, especially during the early years. So, since the GMA has hundreds of members with successful academies all over the world, we decided to gather their experiences to help those who want to venture into the business of teaching the gentle art. We listed ten strategies and took our members as examples of how successful they can make your school. You don’t need to adopt them all, and some of them even work fine on their own.

1. OFFER JIU-JITSU DEMONSTRATIONS AT LOCAL SCHOOLS

Many of our GMA members present Jiu-Jitsu to the general public through special presentations in local schools. There is no better place to gather new students than schools teeming with kids with lots of energy to burn. Jiu-Jitsu has the answers for many of the problems kids today face, such as obesity, bullying, self-esteem issues, loneliness, and lack of will power. Make sure to show that to the kids.

2. BE PART OF THE ACTIVITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Every city has its holidays, with fairs, parades and all. Stay connected with your community and make sure that your academy will have its spot at the local fest. A simple table with pamphlets and maybe a small mat for quick demonstrations go a long way in attracting the general public’s attention.

3. PARTNER UP WITH OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES

Jiu-Jitsu is not merely a sport, it is a lifestyle. With that in mind, look in your community for other businesses relating to a healthy way of life, and propose special offers of all kinds. Drawing their customers to your academy should be easier than attracting the general public. Free class offerings and tuition discounts are always a success. Gyms, juice shops, health food restaurants and stores selling sportswear are some of the businesses eligible to partner up with.

4. ATTEND LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMPETITIONS

The World Jiu-Jitsu Championship is loads of fun, but it only happens once a year. On the other hand, local and regional com- petitions multiply by the week, and each one of them is a great opportunity to bring your team together, elevate your students’ moral and advertise the work you’re doing at your school. If you do well, you will draw the attention of potential students. If there are no local or regional tournaments in your area, you can start thinking about organizing one yourself.

5. AFFILIATE YOUR ACADEMY WITH A WORLD-FAMOUS TEAM

The logic behind franchising applies to the Jiu-Jitsu universe, too. The GMA network has schools affiliated with all the great Jiu-Jitsu brands, like Alliance, Gracie Barra, Brasa, Renzo Gracie, Relson Gracie, Rilion Gracie, and Gracie Humaitá. Being part of one of those teams is a significant boost to your academy, as you will have a successful and recognized brand behind you. If you don’t like running solo, the GMA list is the place to go. There you will find the info you need to get in touch with one of the big-name teams.

6. INVITE JIU-JITSU STARS FOR SEMINARS

The time of bitter rivalry between teams is long gone. Nowadays, we all work for the art’s growth and technical development. So there’s nothing wrong with inviting Jiu-Jitsu stars to teach seminars at your academy, even if they’re not from your team. Having big names teaching on your mats is also a great way to attract new customers/students. Advertise the event well and the class will be packed with people.

7. FEAR NOT USING ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS

There is no denying the power of the internet these days. Twitter, Facebook, My Space and other social networks have an immense capacity to spread news and gather people. It is thus unwise to ignore it. Besides having an updated and informative website, set up FB and Twitter accounts and keep them updated with your team activities. Don’t forget YouTube, also a great (and free) way to promote your academy. Post technique videos, your students competing, seminars with big Jiu-Jitsu names, etc.

8. OFFER SPECIAL CLASSES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Rape-safe, bully-proof, law enforcement, self-defense, and crisis management courses are some of the special activities you can offer the general public using only what Jiu-Jitsu has taught you. These classes are a great way to use the gentle art as a day-to-day problems solver. Advertise them well and you’ll get a great response from the public. On the sports side of things, don’t forget about MMA and Jiu-Jitsu technique classes for wrestling, a good idea in the USA especially.

9. ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENTS TO COMPETE AT THE BIGGER EVENTS

You can only gain from having your students compete at Jiu-Jitsu’s big events, like the Pan, European Open, Asian Open, Worlds, etc. That is the proving ground, and the only way to know the quality of their learning and your teaching is to put their skills to the test. If they do well, it’s great advertising back home. If they don’t, it’s time to rethink your strategy and strengthen your team.

10. OFFER GRACIEMAG AS AN ASSET TO YOUR PRESENT AND FUTURE STUDENTS

The process of learning Jiu-Jitsu doesn’t need to be put on hold when your student leaves the academy. GRACIEMAG is the best way for your pupils to continue to be involved in the gentle art when they are off the mats. Become a part of the GMA and offer the magazine to your students and advertise it to potential new customers.

GMA member Walter Cascão, leader of Cascão BJJ, in Las Vegas, NV, will be in Redmond this Saturday, July 23. Cascão, one of the most accomplished competitors in the master division, will be teaching a seminar at DynaCore Fitness academy. Before the seminar, the GMA member teaches two arm attacks from half guard.

The black belts Samir Chantre and Osvaldo Queixinho will give a seminar in Dallas, Texas, at 21 July. The seminar took place at Soul Fighters DFW (1607 W. Mockingbird Lane) and starts at 6:30 PM and go until 8:30 PM. The partners will show a many great techniques for improve your Jiu-Jitsu.

Before the seminar, Chantre and Queixinho shows a little private class for the Graciemag.com readers. They teaches an amazing armbar using the lapel. Check it out the video and, if you are in Dallas, don’t miss the seminar.

World and Pan-american champion, black belt Walter Cascão will be in Troy, Michigan, this Saturday, April 9.

You can join the class and learn from one of the best in the business.

The class will be held at Victorious MMA and Fitness.

Call (248) 688-9552 for more info.

Samir Chantre.

GMA members Samir Chantre and Osvaldo Queixinho are inviting you for a BJJ vacation camp.

The event goes down on February 3-5, in Murrieta, GA, just before the IBJJF Atlanta Open, on Feb. 6.

You can register to take part in a sigle day of training or sign up for the whole three-day camp and pay less.

For more info, go to bjjvacationcamp.com.

Bruno Mendes in Israel.

Bruno Mendes, leader of Soul Fighters Texas, travelled to Israel recently.

He taught three seminars in the country and opened two new schools under the team banner.

He also promoted his first Israeli black belt, in Amir Boaron.

The seminars were crowded. “The students showed a very high level!” said Tank.

For more info, go to soulfightersdfw.com.

Reginaldo and Daniel

GMA member and leader of GB Cool Springs, in Tennessee, Reginaldo Almeida has a very special accomplishment to celebrate in 2015.

He recently graduated his fit black belt student to complete the entire belt ranking under his instruction.

Daniel Mehrkar started training with Almeida as a white belt and is now a certified Gracie Barra black belt.

The graduation ceremony took place this December, in Tennessee.

Click here to know more about GB Cool Springs.

Nick and Jared. Photo: Personal Archives

GMA member and leader of BJJ United Jared Weiner couldn’t be happier with how things turned out at the recent 2015 New York BJJ Pro.

Weiner and his brown belt student Nick Calvanese dominated their respective divisions.

Nick won the adult medium-heavy and the open class division submitting all of his opponents in the absolute.

Weiner also did great at the master 2 black belt middleweight division, securing the gold medal.

Know more about BJJ United at bjjunited.com

Not a GMA member. Click here to join!

Peak BJJ black belts

The leader of Peak Performance BJJ, Paul Halme had very special reasons to celebrate the promotion ceremony held at the end of November at his school in Keller, TX.

Among many well deserved stripes and new belts awarded to several of his students, Halme had the pleasure to promote two of his pupils to the black belt ranking.

Kristine Felts and Matthew Waltmon deserved the honor.

Kristine’s achievement was extra special, as she became the school’s first ever female black belt.

Halme wrote about the achievement: ” Our most notable belt promotions goes to our newest black belts, Kristine Felts and Matthew Waltmon! They have put in a lot of time, sweat, and hard training into the mats over the past decade, and we are so proud to have them join the ranks of black belt! This was a history making event for Peak as well, as Kristine is the first female black belt to be promoted at Peak! Huge congrats to the both of you!”

Know more about Peak BJJ at peakbjj.com.