So I'm taking up BJJ

I know what a BJ is but have no cue what BJJ is.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

If you are in the DC area and can make it to Alexandria, check out the Gracie BJJ academy. If you are taking it up as a form of exercise/self defense, you should look at taking Muay Thai. They offer a good mixed program at Gracie so you can take both. Remember, BJJ is purely groundfighting, thats why there is a high drop out rate. Another option in the DC area is to take a look at the Krav Maga programs. They offer it at a location near the Verizon center. Krav is a good all around self defense course.

1) I would take a mixed class. You would learn from good intermediate and advanced students. Sure, you'll get submitted a lot, but you can also get tips from your partner that you would not otherwise (after all, they want a good session too.) Also, more advanced students are less likely to default to overpowering you, and turning the thing into a wrestling contest.

2) You can negotiate. Sometimes, you have to sign a long term contract, but you "suspend" your contract for a limited period for things like injuries, vacations, etc...

Good luck man. Looks like we're starting a trend of lawyers taking up combat sports.

I thought lawyering is a contact sport.

If only it was...that deposition I had the other day would have gone a lot smoother.

Was it like this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIxmrvbMeKc

In my experience, the best thing you can do is pay for private lessons. They'll spend an hour or two coming up with a work out/warm up routine that you can adhere to before training with them.

Your enjoyment/skill level will rise 10x faster than being in the corner of the class 2x a week.

More like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtnRmy0H-U

Regarding the topic at hand, my MT classes mix all levels and I find that to be helpful because I usually get paired up with a more advance student who then kind of helps me out in improving my technique and making sure I'm doing the right thing. I feel that if I were paired with another newb, we both might be sitting there doing the wrong thing.

I think they have those all beginner classes just because some people are uncomfortable getting paired up with more advanced people right from the beginning.

*taps webcam*....hey, I left this thing on. I'll give the standard martial arts school non-answer and say it depends on the school. If you find a place with good, patient intermediate guys, you will learn a lot from them. But my early complaint where I train was that they were just throwing me in at the deep end and rag dolling me around the mat. Since making that complaint my gym addressed it, and interestingly the number of beginners sticking around for more than two classes has gone up considerably. They have just (last week) started a beginners class, but the timing will keep me out of it. Wouldnt mind going, it is supposed to be pretty technique and drill intensive, which I would totally benefit from. You will probably spend a lot of time bridging, shrimping across the matt and doing that breakdancing stylee left hand back, left leg forward, now rotate thing. Sounding cynical, but it is important. BJJ is crazy core intensive, so expect your share of core conditioning too. As for the deep-end method, yup, depends on the place and the guys that are there. Being just 6 or 7 months ahead of you on the BJJ learning curve, I would say you can expect there to always be one or two guys you do not like rolling with cos they like to use you as a pain-dummy. Those guys are called assholes. We have one where I train, and while he is actually a super nice guy, I kind of avoid rolling with him wherever possible, it just hurts more than it needs to. The better guys will trap you, let you feel it, then let you have a bit of a do-over so you learn to not make the same mistake twice, and then they trap you some place else. As a beginner rolling with better guys, tap early. Check ego at door. You are likely to rely on strength a little too much, breathe too heavily, and panic like a cornered dog when you start rolling. It will pass, but I would say do not try to fight too hard as a beginner, when you feel it, tap (oh and remember when your arms are trapped the word for tap is "Tap" not "oh jesus that hurts"), but let them hold on to it a bit so you can kinda look up at where you are trapped, ask them for advice, then resume. Beats the hell out of flailing wildly and hurting yourself....speaking from experience there, a few months back one of the guys I was rolling with got hold of my ankle, I instinctively rolled in exactly the way everyone told me not to roll, and pop....there's your knee Mattie.

1. Beginner classes are a must imo for technique, but they will only be useful for about 5 classes and then you will need to go to intermediate classes and just roll. BJJ is all about technique, so here's how it goes: Learn basic terms and techniques and drills in basic, -> apply them in intermediate classes using brute strength -> hit a wall and realize you need to work on your technique, go back to square 1 -> learn how to relax and use your techniques right and become unstoppable.

2. Contracts are BS imo, if the gym owner categorically disallows you from dropping out under any circumstance, then that's a pretty good reason not to train there. If it's the only thing, then that isn't too bad. At $150 a month though? Shouldn't be a contract.

Here is a reminder: remember not to hit anyone. I went back to a BJJ gym after having dropped it and done MMA at a gym where a lot of the ground training involved a limited amount of striking. So, first time back, we shake hands, get on our knees, and he immediately shoots. I pull guard, push his head down to about my navel, and bam, instinctively goes an elbow, probably harder than limited, to the top of his skull. A cut opens up automatically. Ooops. Many sorries and a couple of days later, we roll again, and he stacks me mercilessly like a deck of cards, over and over again**.

** Because I am really not very good.

ya, one of the guys I train with is a brown belt, which basically makes him the best grappler in the country. Rolling with him two weeks ago, he rose out of my guard, and I swung my legs up to try to go for an armbar (like I have any chance of submitting him, but anyhow, gotta try, right), BANG....my heel right into his eye. Swelled up like crazy, big time black eye that hung around for ages...and every time I see him (including last night actually) I think 'I am totally going to pay for that one day'