BJJ Rolling Guide for Beginners

[TyroneSlothrop]

i think you might mean "crossfacing for no reason but to hurt the other person"... now that's bullshit.


but if someones got double underhooks and you carefully slide your arm across their neck/face to break their grip, there is absolutely no grounds for complaints.


also, regarding opening guard with elbow, just because some consider something an "irritating beginner move" doesn't make it illegal.

[jackandcoke]

crossfacing should be legal.. i fucking new wrestler guys they love to neck crank.

[KneeOnSkull]

we just kinda went over some "rules for rolling" at my gym and i'd like to add 2 that came up that i didnt read on your list:


RESPECT THE ROLL this means not stopping from "exhaustion" or "being tired." If you have to stop from being tired and just cant take it any more......tap out....you lost.

Also.......play to your ability and roll honestly.....but if your skill level is much greater then your partner it will probably be a great time to work your weak positions or subs you might not go for usually....instead of showboating or just completely killing and demoralizing your partner....which you both wouldn't get anything out of.

[brianX]

Yes, a nice doc to have beginners read. A few comments: I'm with you on crossfaces, not on elbow in the thigh. I think that's a perfectly legit way to break closed guard, although you're correct in noting that not everyone feels that way.

Where I would really differ is on the 50-75% thing. As a corrective to spazzing, I can see where this might be useful, but I don't think it's accurate. I doubt, for example, that any sub can be finished with 50-75% effort: if I'm going 2/3 speed, using 2/3 strength on an armbar, you're going to get out of it.

I remember the first time I "rolled light" and was somewhat surprised to find that my opponent wasn't letting go of that RNC: he was cranking it. I assumed that rolling light meant practicing moves and positions--that is, not going for actual submissions.

So I guess I'd go for something more along these lines:

Although there will be times (in scrambles, in moments of transition between positions, in submission attempts and defenses against them) when you go "full speed," the normal pace of BJJ sparring is less than 100%. By relaxing and applying technique properly, you will be able to build a repertoire of skills and mastery of positions that is impossible if you go all-out, all the time. As a general rule, follow the pace set by more experienced grapplers: if you're working noticeably harder than they are, tone it back a notch.

[Balto]

I edited the guide to reflect the fact that these rules apply to gi BJJ. Obviously heel hooks and neck cranks are allowed in no gi at some levels.

I'd like to wait for a few more people to weigh in on the crossfacing issue before I make a change. Here is my argument in favor of keeping it where it is:

This guide is explicitly for beginners. Anyone who has done BJJ for a while already knows everything in it.

I agree that crossfacing is a legitimate move when done in a certain way. However, when done as a grinding crossface in other ways, it can be seen as a dick move. The distinction between an acceptable crossface and an unacceptable one is tough for most beginners to grasp.

Almost everything in the sometimes allowed section is okay to use in rolling if you know what is expected and how to control yourself. However, it is for exactly that reason that these techniques are what I see beginners most confused about. They wonder why they get yelled at for cranking on someone's foot when they see other people do a controlled version of the same foot lock all the time with no problem.

The issue is that most beginners fail to understand what is actually meant by control. If they really knew what control in the context BJJ was, they probably wouldn't need to read this guide in the first place.

So I would just say consider the audience when you are reading this guide. If you have been training BJJ for more than a few months, this guide is not meant for you.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by KneeOnSkull

we just kinda went over some "rules for rolling" at my gym and i'd like to add 2 that came up that i didnt read on your list:


RESPECT THE ROLL this means not stopping from "exhaustion" or "being tired." If you have to stop from being tired and just cant take it any more......tap out....you lost.

You didn't lose. WTF Rolling isn't about winning or losing. Even if you tap out, you didn't lose. You just roll again or take a break. Stopping from being tired is the same as a verbal tap, so what's the problem. Do you really NEED your partner tapping your body with his hand?

[Balto]

I removed the part about digging elbows into the thigh and replaced it with a better pressure point example.

I like the respect the roll part. I will try to add something to that effect.

I'm not sure I understand the part about not being able to finish subs with 50-75% effort. To be honest, I finish subs that way against newer guys more than 20 times per week.

[Balto]

Originally Posted by KneeOnSkull

RESPECT THE ROLL this means not stopping from "exhaustion" or "being tired." If you have to stop from being tired and just cant take it any more......tap out....you lost.

I added the following:


Respect the fact that you will make mistakes and have to fight out of bad positions sometimes. Do not stop rolling just because your partner is getting the better of you.


In simple terms, don't be the guy who goes 100% at the start of each roll and then suddenly gets "tired" once you put him in a bad spot.

[MIGUELOCO]

This is good, someone should sticky this.

After crossfacing is moved to always legal of course

[I Am Korean]

Grabbing and twisting the foot does not always=heelhook...