Why do we start on our knees?

Diligent · 07-18-2006, 04:29 PM

I want to ask my instructor this, but for some reason I feel like asking him this would sound derrogatory, like I'm looking down on the way he runs his class or something ... I don't know.

What really pisses me off is when my partner and I start off on our knees, then right after we slap hands to start out, he frickin' jumps up on his feet and either try's to literally knock me on my back, or he'll actually try to run around me and take my back for a choke. wtf? Is it me or is that cheap? Should I not be annoyed by this or is this common practice among you guys? I'm a two stripe white belt, been doing bjj for like 7 - 8 months, btw. Anyway, the question is: Why do we start on our knees in live rolling??? Is there a specific purpose?

Max Shane · 07-18-2006, 04:33 PM

Although it is better to start standing, you could still learn alot about takedowns from starting on your knees. You probably aren't taking advantage of this time to learn and practice your hand fighting.

pyr0 · 07-18-2006, 04:34 PM

Starting on the knees is for safety. There is a greater chance of getting hurt getting taken down. Also, there is usually not enough room on the mat to takedowns.

I don't like to waste time working for position from the knees. I just pull butterfly guard or let them sidemount me and work from there.

Stoic1 · 07-18-2006, 04:38 PM

Safety.

But guys who jump up to thier feet get the treatment in kind. And my Judo experience always seems to win out. They stop doing it after being dumped a few times.

Greasemonk · 07-18-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyr0

Starting on the knees is for safety. There is a greater chance of getting hurt getting taken down. Also, there is usually not enough room on the mat to takedowns.

I don't like to waste time working for position from the knees. I just pull butterfly guard or let them sidemount me and work from there.

Pretty much what I was gonna say

wildcard_seven · 07-18-2006, 04:38 PM

Start standing with a really good judo guy, preferably while wearing your gi, and you'll have your answer.

Kidding.

I wouldn't do that if I were you. You do it to emphasize the groundwork, as that is that is what jiujitsu is about, and you need lots of time down there to get better at it. If you spend 90% of your time fighting for a takedown, you won't see a lot of progress on your groundgame/jiujitsu.

Yes, that guy is being cheap, and if anybody happens to pop up, be it reflexively or whatever, the standard procedure is to pause, and start back on your knees.

On a sidenote, you SHOULD spend a good amount of time on your takedowns as that is an important part of your overall grappling game. However, you will defeat the purpose of learning jiujitsu, if you spend your class time fighting for takedowns for a long time before you ever hit the ground--UNLESS you have very long classes which provide enough time for both. I recommend either requesting the occasional standing practice, or preferably setting up some outside of class training with a gym mate.

Diligent · 07-18-2006, 04:39 PM

sr. bungle, I really do actually try to utilize the time for hand fighting and I enjoy that. It's nice to have reminder of that though when I am ticked off at the moment, ha.

pyr0, yeah, those make sense. Never thought of safety factor.

colinm · 07-18-2006, 04:42 PM

regarding starting on your knees, rolles gracie jr said something to a whitebelt at the gym along the lines of, "there is no point in wrestling from your knees....someone should just pull guard and get the action started if you're going from there."

strangely, of the two bjj academies i've trained, the first one sparred starting form the feet at least 2-3 times a week and the other did every single day. but i think this is the exception rather than the rule. both guys were judoka before bjj.

Diligent · 07-18-2006, 04:43 PM

Thanks for responses, guys.

Actually, I have another question ... would it be cheap to go for an ankle lock or toehold when someone pulls guard or butterfly guard?

colinm · 07-18-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diligent

Thanks for responses, guys.

Actually, I have another question ... would it be cheap to go for an ankle lock or toehold when someone pulls guard or butterfly guard?

IMO, calling moves "cheap" is silly. sure, you can go for a footlock from the guard, just don't do it so much that you neglect passing the guard. against good guys i feel like sitting back for a leglock in their guard is just giving up top position anyway.