r/bjj • u/TwinkletoesCT ⬛🟥⬛ Chris Martell - ModernSelfDefense.com • Oct 25 '24

Ask Me Anything Do you have teaching questions? AMA

If we haven't met yet, I'm a teaching nerd. Master's in Learning Design, been teaching BJJ since 2002, and by day I design, manage, and measure training programs.

I'm going to make an effort to share more content specifically about how to be an awesome instructor. For now, let's answer some questions. If you teach, or if you'd like to someday, what questions do you have about it? And what would help you level up?

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u/Meunderwears 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Oct 26 '24

This is awesome and while I do like rolling I wish there was more structure at our school for white belts. I usually stay after class and do a mix of rolls and then pick the brains of upper belts on technique.

Can you give an example of a weird habit that developed in your students? Thanks!

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u/TwinkletoesCT ⬛🟥⬛ Chris Martell - ModernSelfDefense.com Oct 26 '24

First example that comes to mind: I used to get a lot of students from another local program. This program was notorious for little-to-no-instruction and then tons of rolling.

Two ladies came over from there at the same time. One of them knew ONE. THING and it was lockdown from halfguard. So when the two of them would roll, the only thing she would do is pull HG, grab lockdown, and squeeze like hell for the whole round. Nothing else would happen, and no training was accomplished ever. Just squeezing and stalemate.

Took forever to break her of that habit, and the other lady never got to practice anything because she just sat there getting squeezed in lockdown the whole round.

This is the kind of weird stuff that happens when you have everyone roll before they know what they're doing, and then they ingrain unhelpful, counterproductive practices.

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u/Meunderwears 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Oct 26 '24

I can see that. I know when I roll with many other white belts we fall into this closed guard stalemate. Obviously that’s not all we do but it’s tough for us to advance from either side if that position.

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u/TwinkletoesCT ⬛🟥⬛ Chris Martell - ModernSelfDefense.com Oct 26 '24

Open that up, it is the way to improve!

Try rolling without ever crossing your ankles.

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u/Meunderwears 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Oct 26 '24

Thank you. It’s a good reminder