Jones1874 Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 ^^^ Self explanatory title.. i was recently asked to start BJJ, i may have to switch up some exercises, but i was just wondering if anyone else on the board has a log that i could follow and get some advice from. Thanks in advance. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Sharkey Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 I just started Jits training. Don't think I will be keeping a log though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 Are you going to change your grip routine to suit the BJJ? What exercises are you mainly using now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Sharkey Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 I'm changing everything. Have you been to a class yet? Totally new set of movements. I believe grippers and some thickbar will translate well. As I get more familiar with the physical requirements I will tailor my lifting program to suit my game and for contra-specific work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 No not yet. Probably go The start of next week. I was thinking the same.. Especially the thickbars. Forearm endurance exercises like wrist rollers and high rep plate loaded grippers work great to. They'll help you to hold on for longer. PM when you get the time and let me know what your gonna do. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Sharkey Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Honestly, overall, I would say very little of "strength" training will actually carry over. To some degree, yes, being strong is a potential asset to your game, it will probably help more in the beginning. You are familiar with training and moving your body, that will . Long term keep in mind, you are learning a kung fu whose entirety is about being able to beat a bigger, stronger opponent. The UFC was created by Helio just to prove BJJ was an unstoppable art. It was. Anyway, be prepared for an entirely new way of moving, that's my report so far. Oh and choking people. In 2 weeks time I now know how to choke a man into unconsciousness in like 3 or 4 ways. Good luck. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bencrush Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Alex, give this a read and see if you like it. http://www.usawa.com/ring-and-pinky-thick-bar-deadlift-farmers-drag/ I wrote it 3.5 years ago for the USAWA site. Since it appeared on the USAWA blog, there hasn't been one single week that I haven't received at least one question/comment/or thanks for writing it. It's very simple. And doesn't require much equipment to train. I never trained it myself. But it is still in use by a few coworkers and at least a dozen correction officers that I have corresponded with about it. It works and your grappling partners will eventually not volunteer to be your grappling partner if you train it hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bencrush Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 Mike, I commented on the IronMind forum about this topic and said that getting stronger on the grippers (especially no set) had a great carryover to my ability to hold onto clothing. The "closed" position of a gripper close is just perfect for gi grappling or law enforcement offices/correction officers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 Any strength isn't a weakness, but I agree with what your saying if you mean technique >strength. Cheers for that Ben. I have seen that article, but it was quite awhile back when I was looking for something grip related. I was only thinking yesterday how weak my ring and pinky fingers are on my right hand. I find it holds me back to a certain degree on all my grip exercises, so thanks for posting it. I've just bought a TTK aswell so I might add in a few pinches for the last two digits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspberry Ape Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I tend to advise people that strength as an attribute in BJJ will hinder you more in the beginning of your training than it will later on. You will use strength to compensate for technical shortcomings. Do not confused your ability to submit people with your ability to do BJJ, this is vitally important to understand as you begin your journey. As for grip training for BJJ ive found the most effective to be grippers, especially the fully closed position, farmers walks and thick bar work if you're training nogi as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acorn Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Ben, that Farmer drag exercise is brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jörg Keilbach Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Yes briliant idea!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bencrush Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Ben, that Farmer drag exercise is brilliant!Thanks a lot, Aaron!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 Bumping thread to share some thoughts and for a bit of feedback. ive been doing BJJ for about 4 weeks now, at first i didnt do any extra grip work because my hands were getting pretty sore from grabbing onto the gi. After about two weeks ive started doing a little circuit which looks like this: - Plate curls - High rep bodyweight rows using a 1.5" piece of manilla rope - High rep bodyweight rows using my gi. - TTK - Hand extensors (twice a week). - Captains of Crush (once every 10 days) - made good progress, i can now get left-10reps, right, 5-6reps. by the end of that short circuit, my hands feel pretty done in. Time i finish the rows, my fingers feel like cables and my forearms pump up pretty well to. its still very early days yet, but i think if i keep this up i will see some good steady gains. thinking of adding in some thickbar, but i would have thought using a thick rope can do the same thing?? as always, feedback is very welcome. *Lastly, Mike, how does your grip routine look now days to compliment your ground game. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Sharkey Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Bumping thread to share some thoughts and for a bit of feedback. ive been doing BJJ for about 4 weeks now, at first i didnt do any extra grip work because my hands were getting pretty sore from grabbing onto the gi. After about two weeks ive started doing a little circuit which looks like this: - Plate curls - High rep bodyweight rows using a 1.5" piece of manilla rope - High rep bodyweight rows using my gi. - TTK - Hand extensors (twice a week). - Captains of Crush (once every 10 days) - made good progress, i can now get left-10reps, right, 5-6reps. by the end of that short circuit, my hands feel pretty done in. Time i finish the rows, my fingers feel like cables and my forearms pump up pretty well to. its still very early days yet, but i think if i keep this up i will see some good steady gains. thinking of adding in some thickbar, but i would have thought using a thick rope can do the same thing?? as always, feedback is very welcome. *Lastly, Mike, how does your grip routine look now days to compliment your ground game. Thanks in advance. Well I'll just share a few experiences I've had. My first big revelation was to stop trying to use my strength. It got me absolutely nowhere. While I would maybe be able to advance an inch, the amount of strength it took left me panting, and my partner was only another 2 seconds away from gaining complete control over my body. Overall, I've come to regard much traditional gym work as useful mainly as contraspecific for the positions one finds himself in training. The guard is a bit of a hunched position, so things that make me stand up straight or look up are excellent, because they're simply not something you do as a martial artist. Overhead work, or anything with hands away from the body are also movements not commonly done. I have abandoned all strength goals for the most part as I am more interested in the quality, fluidity and speed of movements then their inherent power. I will say the years of GS, having a kettlebell slam into me hundreds of times does seem to have conditioned my body from a certain level of abuse. As far as grip, it seems the same things are useful that I originally believed. Good gripper strength (and endurance) and a bit of open hand strength for Kimura and nogi (which I have not really started to train much). I think towel work is probably good too. My professor is only 150# and we have two of the top ranked brown belts in the world, one of whom is 135# soaking wet and carrying a puppy. They are only 3 seconds from owning total control over you. This has really shifted my thinking. Now I am looking for things that will protect and strengthen joints, not make me "stronger". Good luck with your training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the speedy reply Mike. Appreciate it. ive learnt that brute strength isnt really the way to go either, like you said, you put in all that effort to shift someone and their literally 2 seconds away from getting complete control. i think having a strong back will help with things like posturing up, and for chokes when your pulling your opponent towards you. Bridging will help with locking out on armbars, and i think squatting and using the leg machines for adduction / abduction will help aswell. but like you said, the scrawniest of the lot can get hold of you by using speed and having good technique. i would have to say that having a good grip does wonders for your ground game though. im not sure whether or not to add in some thickbar, or if ive got that covered by using a thick rope? my short 'but sweet' little grip routine seems to be pretty good though. lower arm strength and endurance is picking up and its only been two weeks. if i keep this up whats it going to be like it two years? consistency is key. EDIT: and i think if you done any of these: Wrist roller, orbigrip, high rep plate loaded gripper. it would help build up some good endurance aswell. Edited November 2, 2014 by alexjones234 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 Hey Mike, just come in to say that another useful exercise to work up to, is doing rows (bodyweight, DB, BB) with spider grip. its so tough on the finger tips that youll need to work up to it. but i think it will help a great amount as your game progresses. food for thought.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Sharkey Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Honestly I don't think I'm really ever going to find I'm not strong enough. It's smarter I need to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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