If you were teaching a BJJ class....

[Ryan]

what do you think should be the best (in order) list of things to be taught? For instance, do you teach first from guard or top? In mount or in guard? Joints or chokes? How to fall right or BJJ conditioning? Offense or defense?

Lets say.... safety comes first. Then what?

[Tom Gavrilos]

Having taught and been tought by some great teachers I will share my personal methods in general:

First I have found that everyone is different and will teach in their own styles and tweek things as they change or they see fit.
For example Im HELL BENT on learning and showing Rubber Guard now as I wasn't before.

STRETCH OF COURSE

1. Basic positions. No submissions just fundamentals. Explaining several basic BJJ position and why they are advantageous or detrimental etc..
This isn't Sambo so it is position B4 Submission.

2. Escapes Escapes Escapes. This includes Sweeps. I dont care if you know all the submissions by heart if you dont know how to get into a position to use them it is useless.
I start with Mount Escape (I have a particular one I like) and O move on to Side Control both traditional and scarf hold.

3. Submissions. I know its what people want to learn first but I wont teach it until they know 1 & 2.

4. Repetition Repetition Repetition! of 2 & 3 after I feel 1 is understood.
This is a brief explanation but I feel it gives you at least my basic mindset.

5. Free Roll. No matter what level the person is at. If they are very new or its not sinking in at all I will roll with them myself to assure there are no injuries, I can go over things in more detail etc...

AS FOR GI IM NOT THE RIGHT GUY TO ASK

Im not spell checking this sorry :D

[Eric?!]

Yeah... If a person can't and/or doesn't learn 1 and 2 from Tom's list. The rest will not fall into place... BTW nice list Tom?!

[GrCh35]

1- Quick warm up
2- Stretch
3- Sweep & pass the guard
4- Lesson
5- Practice lesson
6- Open roll
7- Stretch
8- Finish class by showing respect with bow to Helio Gracie pic which all Bjj schools that I've been too have, then instructor, then go around & shake hands.

[Ryan]

Very cool about the showing respect to Helio Gracie. The man is forever going to be known and loved. I wanted to know as I think it is important when finding a school. Not only for me if one opens in my area but for those wishing to get into this art.

The YMCA that I went to showed how to hit the mat properly first. Everything we learned though was Gi BJJ.

[GrCh35]

Very cool about the showing respect to Helio Gracie. The man is forever going to be known and loved. I wanted to know as I think it is important when finding a school. Not only for me if one opens in my area but for those wishing to get into this art.

The YMCA that I went to showed how to hit the mat properly first. Everything we learned though was Gi BJJ.

The school I go to is Megaton's BJJ Academy & that's what they do at the end. I think it's way cool to show that respect.

[Tom Gavrilos]

The school I go to is Megaton's BJJ Academy & that's what they do at the end. I think it's way cool to show that respect.

Megaton is the Real Deal. The only Gi Work I ever did was under Arizona Combat Sports Gustavo Dantas. Both are BJJ Black belts Megaton is a little bit of a smaller guy. I myself don't prefer the Gi but respect it.

Your not too far from the Lab its worth stopping in....you will find
A 6'8 or so BJJ Black Belt named Kendall Goo. Royce himself Belted Kendall as they trained together for 15 years.
Royce in the interview last Thurs said it was the best gym he has ever built PERIOD to date.
I was VERY shocked to hear that!
I live in Tempe but if I was out there I would be at the Lab.

Dondo from Dondo's Blog has trained at both these places so he is a good guy to ask.

Thanks for joining the Forum Bro!!

[GrCh35]

Megaton is the Real Deal. The only Gi Work I ever did was under Arizona Combat Sports Gustavo Dantas. Both are BJJ Black belts Megaton is a little bit of a smaller guy. I myself don't prefer the Gi but respect it.

Your not too far from the Lab its worth stopping in....you will find
A 6'8 or so BJJ Black Belt named Kendall Goo. Royce himself Belted Kendall as they trained together for 15 years.
Royce in the interview last Thurs said it was the best gym he has ever built PERIOD to date.
I was VERY shocked to hear that!
I live in Tempe but if I was out there I would be at the Lab.

Dondo from Dondo's Blog has trained at both these places so he is a good guy to ask.

Thanks for joining the Forum Bro!!

I went & checked it out. The place is nice, no doubt. But a bit to pricey for me especially knowning that Royce is only going to be there a limited amount of time a year. I've heard good things about Gustavo. He actually reffed my son's match when he competed. I later heard through a mutual friend that he was very impressed with my son's ability. Megaton rules. I would pay whatever he asked. He's worth every penny.

[Tom Gavrilos]

Yeah you can't do wrong with Gustavo or Megaton!

Here is a HL of Gustavo Dantas. It includes his MMA fights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZzt8EXCvQ

[GrCh35]

Yeah you can't do wrong with Gustavo or Megaton!

Here is a HL of Gustavo Dantas. It includes his MMA fights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZzt8EXCvQ

Nice, thanks. I've never seen Gustavo in action.

[Tom Gavrilos]

He has rediculous sweeps in that HL!
Yeah Gustavo is ano joke Legit BJJ Black belt. Got it from Andre Pederneiras along with BJ Penn etc...

His Stats:

Gustavo Dantas
Nova Uniao
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
5'11"
155 lbs
> Physical Education Degree
> Certified Fitness Trainer by ISSA and APEX



> 2002 World Championships (3rd place)
> 98 & 99 international championships (1st place)
> 98 Rio de Janeiro State champion
> 97 & 98 world champion
> 97 National champion
> 96 world championships (3rd place)

> 99 Nevada State Champion
> 95 & 97 Rio de Janeiro State champion
IV Copa Condor – 1st place

IV Copa Condor – 2nd place (open class)

II Campeonato Teresepolitano – 1st place

Torneio de Abertura da FJERJ 98 – 1st place

Campeonato Estadual por Equipes 98(Judo) – 3rd place

Campeonato Estadual por Equipes 97 (Judo) – 3rd place

I Copa Rusty – 2nd place

II Copa Cia Bit – 1st place

Copa 70 anos Mestre Geny Rebello – 1st place

II Copa Pitbull – 2nd place

Copa Esporte e Acao – 3rd place

Festival Olimpico de verao da Barra – 2nd place

Seletiva do Campeonato mundial 96 – 1st place

Campeonato Carioca de Judo 96 – 2nd place

Festival de Judo Clube Naval – 1st place

Festival de Judo AABB-Tijuca – 1st place

Desafio States Championship – 1st place

Campeonato Estadual 95 – 3rd place

III Copa Gavazza – 2nd place

II Copa AKXE – 2nd place

Copa AABB-Tijuca – 1st place

> 2001, 2003 Abu Dhabi Combat Championships veteran. Went up against Eddie Bravo before the famous Royler Gracie Match.
> 2-0




Instructors who have influenced Gustavo's success:

> Andre Pederneiras & Fernando Cruz

> Leonardo Lara & Carlos Lapa
> Jed Jobe & Toni De Souza
> Todd & Trevor Lally

[MULTIPHASIC]

I usually start with sectoring height and distance in takedown to manipulate the control system (guard), however if on guards, i begin with sprawl,full guards and sides guards. I used to show the rubber guard and double bagger right away but i found that most actual bjj students werent flexible enough to transition through it, and didn't have the specific conditioning on the muscles needed to really lock them in.

[Matt]

Holy necrophelia batman

[Tallsilkyslim]

The upa. It's the most important thing to know in all of BJJ. That, and shrimping.

[Matt]

Most people teach it wrong though..

[younwha]

There are 1,000 wrongs, and just as many rights. Your wrong could be my right.

[richRIbjj]

The first thing I learned was the hip bump sweep from the open gaurd.

[Matt]

There are 1,000 wrongs, and just as many rights. Your wrong could be my right.

Biomechanically.. its wrong lol..