FOUNDATION BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU CLASS
The Foundation Class covers the basic objectives from the major positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Each position is covered over the course of a week, alternating between the objectives of the two players involved in the specified situation. The class warm up consists of drills to improve the athlete’s physical competency in a way directly relevant to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as well as providing a basic understanding of the movements necessary for the lesson that day. After technical instruction, students are paired up to begin isolated positional sparring; this type of live sparring allows for beginners to directly practice the techniques they learned that day by starting from the exact position taught in class. After this, there are a few rounds of free sparring. This ensures that techniques are introduced in a systematic manner that allows for a progressively deeper understanding of the objectives and movements associated with each position. In addition, students are taught principals that make the process of learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu more efficient and they receive regular individual critique to improve their performance.
ADVANCED BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU CLASS
Advanced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes are taught using the gi and are usually a follow up to the techniques learned in the Foundation Class that focus more nuanced details of such techniques and more advanced varitations of such techniques. The drills in this class will be more physically taxing than those in the Foundation Class. The goal with advanced drills is to continue to commit movements to muscle memory and help accustom the student to using propert technique despite physical fatigue. The Advanced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class emphasizes sparring and provides students with many rounds of sparring, starting both standing and from the knees.
MIXED TRAINING BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU CLASS
Mixed Training is a combination of beginner and advanced gi and no-gi techniques. Many of the throwing and other takedown techniques students learn will be in these classes. Another benefit of these classes is that they offer a regularly scheduled opportunity to deviate from the curriculum and focus on specific problems students are having. Using this method, students can still expect to learn in an efficient and systematic manner but also have the opportunity to learn more advanced or specialized material. In addition, the conditioning and drilling in this class will draw from a wider spectrum of movements. Such drilling focuses increases fitness while developing muscle memory through repeated movement during a timed interval.
NO-GI BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU CLASS
No-Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, also known as “Submission Wrestling,” applies all the same techniques and principals used in regular Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Although small variations are often necessary to transition between Gi and No-Gi, it is important to train Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, even if you want to compete entirely at No-Gi. Nearly all of the ADCC Champions (the largest No-Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament) train predominately Gi. Even Marcelo Garcia, believed to be one of the best current No-Gi competitors in the world, trains Gi five days a week and No-Gi once a week. At Robot, we have one day dedicated to No-Gi instruction and invite all our students to train Gi and No-Gi during open mat times. We compete at Gi competitions and No-Gi competitions.
OPEN MAT BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU
Open Mat is the most relaxed style of training. Students warm up as they feel is necessary, drill if they wish and spar with whomever they please. Some students use this time to practice for competition, but it is not necessary. The intensity of these sessions is up to the individual participant. In addition, students find this time useful because they can ask more advanced students for solutions to specific problems and the group will often use this time to discuss general issues with certain positions and brainstorm new techniques.
BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU COMPETITION TEAM
Students interested in competing are required to regularly attend the Competition Team class. During this time, sparring is more rigorous than in the usual class setting. Points, advantages and time are introduced in a realistic setting in order to mimic the atmosphere and realities of competition. It is in this class that students adjust to the “competition game” by learning to listen to their coach, dealing with time and nerves. Just as students learn the value of repetition in other classes, the Competition Team class will instill the same lesson regarding competition: repetition and familiarity is the key for competency in the tournament setting.
METHOD FITNESS (currently taught as part of the BJJ curriculum on Tuesday and Thursday nights during Adv. BJJ Class)
Method Fitness is an exercise regime that combines elements of Cross-Fit, yoga and calisthenics to provide a full-body aerobic and anaerobic work out. The programs are designed to improve flexibility, strength, explosiveness, balance and cardiovascular fitness. Unlike a traditional weight-lifting program, Method Fitness is perfect for individuals that are in shape and for those that are not. For example, those that work in offices will often develop lower back problems. Although this can be attributed to insufficient lower back support or poor posture, often it is lack of flexibility in the hamstrings that forces individuals to increase the work load exerted on their lower back muscles. By emphasizing flexibility and body weight exercises, individuals will be able to eliminate the muscle imbalances they have accrued from the repetitive, day-to-day activities of their work life. For more seasoned athletes only slight modifications to the duration and intensity of these workouts is needed to push these athletes to new heights of strength and conditioning.
