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How Do I Get Started?
Simply come to the club during a Gi training session (please see the schedule) and bring a pair of shorts and a T-shirt with you (or a Kimono/Gi if you have one). You can watch, or you can participate in a training session. Most if not all of our students are in tremendous physical condition and we would not expect you to step in and start training at their level during your first class. Our Senior students will help you out so that you can learn some BJJ techniques and not get hurt in the process. Don’t worry about being in good enough shape to try it, because if you keep training, you will definitely get in great shape.
Do I Need to Be Physically Big and Strong to Compete?
BJJ is unique in that it is very physically and intellectually demanding, with a variety of strategies and moves that I have heard many training partners liken BJJ to human chess. The only way to really get good is to learn and train and of course entering tournaments really helps a lot.
Technique and conditioning generally provide a greater degree of success than brute strength as some strategies involve tiring out your opponent and then using that against them, while other strategies utilize the weight and size of a larger opponent against them (smaller grapplers generally are able to move faster than big ones).
Here is a couple of quotes from showdown.ca
- “Big or small, BJJ is the one of the world’s few sports where size does not matter.” “
- “Whether big or small, its teachings can be adapted to anyone’s physical size and weight. I have rolled with some of Canada’s premiere grapplers and the lessons I have learned from each are invaluable. In my early days with Rob ‘Spider’ Dicenzo, I could never figure out how a guy half my weight could spank me so bad. Then came Richard Nancoo. Half my size, half my weight, yet had the incredible janitorial skills to mop the mats with me. It was humbling to say the least.”
What About Age?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is great for all ages, young and old and a great sport to get into great physical condition. We have some students who are in their 40’s and 50’s who are in peak physical condition (due to training) and you can usually find them giving most any of the younger students a run for their money.
Do I Have to Compete in Tournaments?
NO. Tournaments are a fun way to test and improve your skills, however, they are not for everyone. If you train at Munduruca’s, you can make the choice if you want to compete or simply enjoy training at the club and being a spectator at tournaments. We have a vast array of athletes ranging from casual competitors to all MMA practitioners. They choose the level they desire to compete at, with no pressure from anyone else to do so.
We endeavor to train and prepare them the best, regardless of which level they wish to train and/or compete at.
Can Absolute Beginners Compete in Tournaments?
Yes. All levels of skill can compete from the absolute novice to the most seasoned Black Belt. Beginners will be put in a competitive category, by experience and weight and it’s unlikely that they’ll win many fights, but they’ll likely have a lot fun. That said, the thrill of competing and testing your skill on other competitors plus the experience you get is priceless. It’s a lot of fun and usually leads to making new friends and trying to improve your grappling skills and submission.
Can a Beginner Get Hurt?
We cannot guarantee that you will not sustain an injury as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (“BJJ”) is contact sport. That being said, BJJ is called the “gentle art” because you can cause your opponent to submit, generally without injuring them. In fact, Jean Jaques Machado, advises that BJJ is not hard on the body and a practitioner can have 150 fights in a year and not sustain a single injury, unlike Boxing and/or MMA which may require weeks of recovery after a fight.
So to recap, yes you could get hurt, but it’s not likely as the officials are also watching to ensure the competitors do not get injured.
What About Females?
More women are taking up BJJ, however there is still a severe shortage for tournaments and we would love to see more Females competing as the sport is growing rapidly.
What About Children Competing?
Children can have a great time if there are others in their division. As well, the referees will intervene when they observe a properly applied submission to end the match before any competitors get injured. Kids generally have a great time at these tournaments due to the large amount of activity.
Is BJJ a Good Spectator Sport?
It can be great sport to watch if you know what you watching for. The Super Fights will be feature some exceptionally skilled fighters who will no doubt entertain the crowd. Also, there are some really great competitors at the lower belt levels as well and you’ll see many different fighting styles.
If your not sure, I have no doubt that there will be many people who can assist you with the areas of BJJ to watch for.
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