I urge you to take advantage of the opportunity to attend BJJ seminars that come to your city. The price is a deterrent for some guys. But long after the price is forgotten, you may still have some gems that you learned.
But how can you get the most out of your time there?
I have been to many seminars ranging from knowledgeable guys you have never heard of all the way to legends of jiu-jitsu, and I have a few tips to help you get the most out of the training.
1) Take notes.
Perhaps the biggest difficulty at a seminar is trying to remember all of the material that was presented. Many instructors do not permit video of their seminars so you need a way to take notes.
I used to bring a notebook and pen to seminars and furiously scribble down notes during the seminar, trying to capture the crucial details. Fortunately there are easier ways.
The instructor may not allow you to videotape them, but you can still record yourself performing the move fresh after seeing it. The easiest way is to ask a third student to record you doing the move and offer to share the video with your training partners later.
2) Come prepared with questions.
The majority of seminars that I’ve been to, the instructors had a time where they asked if anyone had any questions on jiu-jitsu.
I continue to be astounded at how seminar attendees seem baffled by the question. They scratch their heads and can’t seem to come up with any question for an open instructor. Really?!?
Think about it ahead of time. Be ready with an intelligent question about your jiu-jitsu game. I like to ask something like “I like to use this submission, do you have any tips or variations for me?” I’ve gotten some real gems this way.
3) Feel the technique.
This is one of my secrets to learning jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu is more of a “feel” the technique than merely watching how the move is performed.
Don’t be shy. Ask instructor to try it on you.
I will bet that you will feel a new detail of where the move is especially tight or where the instructor is focusing their weight.
Feeling the move will add an entirely new and valuable detail to the technique. Try it!
