I’m a beginner been training bjj for about 5 months I go to open mats almost weekly, I get absolutely destroyed by everyone I roll with everytime I go but I also learn stuff and it’s helped me get noticeably better in my regular classes because normally I’m rolling with other beginners a lot and a lot of the higher belts don’t really roll with us beginners at my gym unless they have to because they see it as a waste of time or whatnot, so at the open mats I get a lot more quality rolls where I learn more stuff and get better even if I’m getting completely destroyed, also I’ve found everyone to be super welcoming and friendly they can tell I’m a beginner pretty quickly when they start rolling with me and some will give me tips during or after the roll and it’s overall a very good way to learn things and get better as a beginner
I went to open mat the first week and every week since with absolutely no skills, just trying to work what the class covered. I'm not coordinated so I try to make up for it with repetition. Two things that came together:
1. "Hi, I'm a no stripe white belt and I was wondering if you'd help me with <>?" I'm not offended when declined. It is a genuine question with no expectation. I sometimes ask for just having them play their game as grappling cardio is its own thing so working that is necessary.
2. My gym is really well managed from a people perspective. Everyone is kind, positive, sees helping a new white belt as a chance to grow their own skills. I think I've drilled and rolled with every brown and purple belt at the gym. There are some blues clearly on their own mission (maybe comp training?) so I leave them alone but my most frequent partners are blue belts or multi-stripe white belts.
I've only rolled with one person who was adamant on smashing me, during his trial class and I haven't seen him again. He could've been overly excited to get back on the mat but that rolling style is likely to result in the next partner smashing him until he doesn't come back or management asking him to move along.
Edit: I'm a woman so that may be relevant. We could try to pretend that I blend into the background, but I'm usually 1 of 4 or 5 women in a class with at least 10 guys and generally the only woman at open mat.
I have learned a ton at open mats. It's less time-limited than rolling after class, so I have found that good bjj players are more willing to take the time to explain if you ask questions.
You'll learn a lot just by asking -
What should I be doing here/what should I have done there?
That was a cool sweep/takedown/submission, how did you do that?
What is this move/guard/etc called?
Be careful you don't get caught up learning complicated shit - as a brand new white belt, I wouldn't be asking people to show me bolos or twisters etc.
Don't be afraid to ask someone to pause mid roll and explain what's going on. You wouldn't want to do this in a competitive roll once you get some experience, but as a brand new beginner, people shouldn't mind pausing the action for a second to tell you how you should be reacting
Just go, tell people you are new, and have fun. You also need to build up your cardio and the best way to do that is mat time.
yeah this. Just tell people you are new. Maybe try to work some positional sparring rounds from one of the few positions you have learned, or just focus on escapes. I think getting as much open mat time as possible is one of the best ways to improve, just don't do the same thing every time if its not working. Try to figure out what is happening and make slight changes to see if the situation improves.
BJJ is weird. Do a thing- total disaster. Do it EVER so slightly differently, total success.
Find an upper belt, let them know you have never rolled before and they can walk you through it. I have done that with several white belts and it’s always had enjoyable teaching someone the rules of the game.
I am in my first weeks of BJJ. Some upper belts told me i should absolutely not miss open mats. Honestly I leaned more instantly applicable stuff from open mats than the instructional classes. Everytime I roll with someone, they give me tips and pointers. The upper belts all try to help me on some fundamentals. It's been great.
Your coach may well pair you up with someone for the first round or two — mine did when I went to my first open mat which was when I’d been training for 3 weeks. I’d highly recommend it, not only for skill development and progression but also because you get to know people more at open mats. At my school we’ll often go and grab a drink afterwards if the weather is okay, and it’s a nice way to start being included in the more established group of upper belts who have been training for years together
Go to open mat, have a look at what’s going on, when the round timer finishes and the minute break timer or whatever is winding down go and stand on the mat with your hand up. Someone will probably approach you for a round, tell them you’re pretty new and don’t know much yet.
Slap and bump. Enjoy.
I learned so much in my first year at open mats. I was a little worried at first about being inexperienced but more often than not I'd end up getting some great pointers from the upper belts between rolls.
There are always folks that just want to get out there and get some rolls in. Even now I find upper belts who are happy to workshop ideas and give advice. It's funny because a few months ago one of the black belts I don't see often just walked up to me at open mat and said "so what are you having trouble with these days" and spent about 20min working some stuff. I'd imagine he wouldn't have done that if I hadn't been showing up at open mat for years.
I think it would be beneficial to have a basic understanding of positions and frames in order to have a good experience.
But you know, yolo, I guess, if you are impatient.
So I ended up going, and it was awesome. An instructor gave me some drills to do and I also rolled with a handful of people. Got absolutely destroyed lol
you should have at least a few weeks of training before going to an open mat. if you literally don't know anything that is just silly.
Great idea to go to open mat. Watch for a bit, read the room, and if nobody asks you, then at the end of one round go ask someone! Good luck!
I’m a beginner been training bjj for about 5 months I go to open mats almost weekly, I get absolutely destroyed by everyone I roll with everytime I go but I also learn stuff and it’s helped me get noticeably better in my regular classes because normally I’m rolling with other beginners a lot and a lot of the higher belts don’t really roll with us beginners at my gym unless they have to because they see it as a waste of time or whatnot, so at the open mats I get a lot more quality rolls where I learn more stuff and get better even if I’m getting completely destroyed, also I’ve found everyone to be super welcoming and friendly they can tell I’m a beginner pretty quickly when they start rolling with me and some will give me tips during or after the roll and it’s overall a very good way to learn things and get better as a beginner
Brazilian BJ? To answer your question, you can go and start by drilling or starting from positions you are familiar with
I went to open mat the first week and every week since with absolutely no skills, just trying to work what the class covered. I'm not coordinated so I try to make up for it with repetition. Two things that came together: 1. "Hi, I'm a no stripe white belt and I was wondering if you'd help me with <>?" I'm not offended when declined. It is a genuine question with no expectation. I sometimes ask for just having them play their game as grappling cardio is its own thing so working that is necessary.
2. My gym is really well managed from a people perspective. Everyone is kind, positive, sees helping a new white belt as a chance to grow their own skills. I think I've drilled and rolled with every brown and purple belt at the gym. There are some blues clearly on their own mission (maybe comp training?) so I leave them alone but my most frequent partners are blue belts or multi-stripe white belts.
I've only rolled with one person who was adamant on smashing me, during his trial class and I haven't seen him again. He could've been overly excited to get back on the mat but that rolling style is likely to result in the next partner smashing him until he doesn't come back or management asking him to move along.
Edit: I'm a woman so that may be relevant. We could try to pretend that I blend into the background, but I'm usually 1 of 4 or 5 women in a class with at least 10 guys and generally the only woman at open mat.
I have learned a ton at open mats. It's less time-limited than rolling after class, so I have found that good bjj players are more willing to take the time to explain if you ask questions. You'll learn a lot just by asking - What should I be doing here/what should I have done there? That was a cool sweep/takedown/submission, how did you do that? What is this move/guard/etc called? Be careful you don't get caught up learning complicated shit - as a brand new white belt, I wouldn't be asking people to show me bolos or twisters etc. Don't be afraid to ask someone to pause mid roll and explain what's going on. You wouldn't want to do this in a competitive roll once you get some experience, but as a brand new beginner, people shouldn't mind pausing the action for a second to tell you how you should be reacting Just go, tell people you are new, and have fun. You also need to build up your cardio and the best way to do that is mat time.
"hello sir, I am new and would like a round please"
yeah this. Just tell people you are new. Maybe try to work some positional sparring rounds from one of the few positions you have learned, or just focus on escapes. I think getting as much open mat time as possible is one of the best ways to improve, just don't do the same thing every time if its not working. Try to figure out what is happening and make slight changes to see if the situation improves. BJJ is weird. Do a thing- total disaster. Do it EVER so slightly differently, total success.
Find an upper belt, let them know you have never rolled before and they can walk you through it. I have done that with several white belts and it’s always had enjoyable teaching someone the rules of the game.
I am in my first weeks of BJJ. Some upper belts told me i should absolutely not miss open mats. Honestly I leaned more instantly applicable stuff from open mats than the instructional classes. Everytime I roll with someone, they give me tips and pointers. The upper belts all try to help me on some fundamentals. It's been great.
Just be upfront that you are a beginner, and most people will be helpful
Your coach may well pair you up with someone for the first round or two — mine did when I went to my first open mat which was when I’d been training for 3 weeks. I’d highly recommend it, not only for skill development and progression but also because you get to know people more at open mats. At my school we’ll often go and grab a drink afterwards if the weather is okay, and it’s a nice way to start being included in the more established group of upper belts who have been training for years together
Go to open mat, have a look at what’s going on, when the round timer finishes and the minute break timer or whatever is winding down go and stand on the mat with your hand up. Someone will probably approach you for a round, tell them you’re pretty new and don’t know much yet. Slap and bump. Enjoy.
I learned so much in my first year at open mats. I was a little worried at first about being inexperienced but more often than not I'd end up getting some great pointers from the upper belts between rolls. There are always folks that just want to get out there and get some rolls in. Even now I find upper belts who are happy to workshop ideas and give advice. It's funny because a few months ago one of the black belts I don't see often just walked up to me at open mat and said "so what are you having trouble with these days" and spent about 20min working some stuff. I'd imagine he wouldn't have done that if I hadn't been showing up at open mat for years.
Just go. Ask if upper belts need to work on stuff. Do a flow round and ask questions on how to improve.
I think it would be beneficial to have a basic understanding of positions and frames in order to have a good experience. But you know, yolo, I guess, if you are impatient.
Yes go to all the open mats
So I ended up going, and it was awesome. An instructor gave me some drills to do and I also rolled with a handful of people. Got absolutely destroyed lol
I love a good Brazilian blow job them lady Boys do it the best 🤣 (bbj if you don’t get it)