Why dont BJJ Black Belts do Warm Ups?
- BJJ Report | Matthew Tropp
- Jan 20, 2024
- 2 min read
Why don’t black belts do warmups with the rest of the class?
Do you ever ask yourself, "Why is it every single class I attend, the professor never warms up"? Should he be leading by example or is it better served that he or she is guiding our warm ups?
Let’s keep in mind a few things. Our professors are able to chain tap us into oblivion at will. The fact they do not warm up or even spar doesn’t mean they didn't earn their rank as our professor. They did in fact earn their rank.
Also keep in mind you pay good money to warm up and learn BJJ. After all it is a martial art as well as exercise regimen. Plus they have to conduct a class of people who are at different levels, probably train for competition when they can make the time and have a variety of responsibilities. Maybe guiding warm ups are a better use of attention. Some people need attention and refinement. Not everybody hip escapes correctly believe it or not. In fact I hear its uncommon to learn the true value of shrimping until your a blue or purple belt.
Keep in mind I am in southern California. Its super warm and maybe muscles are better adapted to exercise here. I am not sure about other states but ask yourself “does my professor need to warm up”?
I am not sure I have ever seen any of my professor's do a front roll (except where I currently train)…EVER! In fact, I very much respect each of my previous professors however I think this raises an interesting point, and honestly don't we work a bit harder when we are lead by our professor? I know I do.
Should warming up for BJJ be BJJ? Could this be why purple belts are always late?
Let’s look at another issue. First, is it really unfair that we are running in circles, doing hip escapes, penetration drills, army crawls and leg drags for 15 minutes?
What (beside shrimp’s "aka" hip escapes) do these things do to help us in BJJ?
What about front and back rolls? Are we going to use these on the street as we are thrown by an expert student of Steven Segal? Probably not.
Can’t we all just shrimp, do leg drags and get to learning BJJ? I am not complaining or attacking the structure of how a class is run. I really want to better understand how each warm up helps my game or technique.
Maybe I should just ask and stop writing these whining articles...
Train Safe & Train Often
Matthew Tropp | BJJ Report
I warmed up with my class, although at one point I was teaching a 2nd later class I didnt warm up with them.
The article is not totally accurate. Our couch does the whole warm ups with us. He does it to a point that you wish he wouldnt. UfC roseamead CA.
He then roll with us until we are exhausted. Plus showing us all kind of drills.
This is a good article with a very valid point. However, I propose that maybe the better question is are you attending an academy where they put a greater emphasis on performing endless ”warm-up” routines rather than reserving that time for detailed instruction on technique? For example, when I was a blue belt I had to move due to job requirements and therefore, I had to find a new BJJ/MMA academy. The school I began to attend seemed extremely promising. There were several professional fighters, the best equipment (full cage, boxing ring, etc), and an experienced black belt at this location. I trained twice a day on Mondays and Saturdays, and once a day on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Fr…
If you can spar with a 250 lb spazzy white belt for 6 min without breaking a sweat you can skip warm ups and just warm up while sparing. Ask yourself are you a warmup roll for your professor?
Warming up (and stretching) are routines found in any sport. It’s particularly important to warm up and stretch when practicing martial arts. I’m in my 40’s and I’ve practiced several martial arts since my early 20’s. Trust me, your body will thank you for taking care of it following years of hard juijitsu practice. Also, my young grasshopper, there’s nothing unfair or fair about what others do or don’t do on the mats. You just started a journey of intense learning, not only of the art, but also of yourself. Focus on what you gain today so you may pass it on to others tomorrow. If you practice with purpose, you’ll discover great pleasure in earning each stripe along the…