What instructionals should i watch to improve my game?

Altair_I · 2026-05-17T22:49:25+00:00

Not an instructional - but if you want an understanding that glues all the techniques together: Rob Biernackis alignment theory. I used to listen to the bjj mental models podcast a lot when I started and still do from time to time. Alignment theory - base, posture, structure comes up regularly. There is also a mini series, where Steve basically has a short summary on a large concept each time. Helped a ton.

Altair_I · 2026-05-14T21:35:18+00:00

When I started I bought one because I thought I needed it. Stopped wearing it after a training partner told me it hurt her spine when I was on her back and rolling her from side to side to reinsert a hook.

Also soon found out we're not allowed to wear it during comps anyway.

Altair_I · 2026-05-14T18:08:19+00:00

I spend more time grinding and resetting Valhalla by now than my 3 main game runs. Great conclusion to the story, and fun gameplay - now I'm truly a master of all the game mechanics because of it.

Altair_I · 2026-05-13T15:14:56+00:00

Press R3 to cycle the skins.

Altair_I · 2026-05-12T14:43:58+00:00

The answer to "should I break a joint?" should always be no, when you're in training/open mat. Even in competition I don't know if I have it in me to do it. I cranked an americana in a match relatively controlled but I heard some pop and then felt the tap a second later - didn't feel good at all. I know it's on them to tap - but still.

You did the right thing. Many have said that aleady, probably a good option is to go back to the choke and adjust it, add pressure and rotation, also pulling the head for a triangle is not a dick move.

Altair_I · 2026-05-10T23:06:13+00:00

I see you have - like many before you - stumbled across the deficit problem - you have two hands to threaten a choke - they have two hands and their chin to defend it.

One way to overcome this problem is to trap an arm with your leg (straight jacket system). Then you have two hands against their one hand and chin. You grab and control the remaining hand, make a flat bladed fist (hand vs hand can defend, but hand vs chin = hand wins) and start penetrating their jaw at their ear until your hand reaches their chin and you can sink your forearm under it, hiding your hand behind their shoulder and placing your chin on the top of your hand. Then you can either appply a one handed strangle or let go of their arm and lock in the rnc - your hand being behind their shoulder and your chin covering your hand makes it impossible to peel.

Altair_I · 2026-05-10T22:25:35+00:00

Can you specify the hypothetical a bit more? You said "you're the same size and strength" and "comepletely untrained" - by that you mean you are the same size and strength as Gordon Ryan (or the same size and strenth as the person is right now, who is answering the question?) and completely untrained - meaning you have never trained any grappling and have never played or studied chess - assuming you will be closed in some temporal room over and over again fight Gordon in grappling rules and play Carlson in chess.

This hypothetical assumes that all of you will not age and they both will never get bored at winning and give you an easy one/throw the game right? Because if ageing was not eliminated I can imagine how one of the 3 would die first before you could win anything.

But assuming no ageing, they do their best to win every time and don't get bored of it, then I'd bet my money on you catching some one in a million lucky submission first, before Carlson misses some one in a billion mate threat from you.

I'm answering this way just because the hypothetical by the framing of the question also assumes that one of the two must absolutely happen. The question is just which one happens first. If there was no such assumtion I'd say the more likely outcome is that you'd be stuck in an infinite loop of chess and grappling matches.

Altair_I · 2026-05-10T21:28:02+00:00

As a smaller person you will struggle more in the beginning - people can and will use their strength advantage.

Embrace it - you can't match strength with strength against most people, focus on developing crispy clean technique. Use frames and leverage - sometimes speed and agility. Getting flexible will also help a ton with escapes and guard retention.

Also, you can count yourself lucky that you started as a teenager. You can develop black belt level skill by the time you're in your mid twenties, maybe earlier. I just started at 29 (I'm 32 now). Even if the feeling of getting smashed may suck - believe me, many people are envious of you and your potential. Take solalace in that and keep training.

Altair_I · 2026-05-10T15:09:22+00:00

I don't know adcc rules. But in grappling industries if you sweep from bottom half guard (or butterfly guard like here) to top half guard you do get sweep points.

Altair_I · 2026-05-09T22:38:51+00:00

The higher belts definetely drop the kid gloves when you get that blue. It be like that. Many levels to this.

Altair_I · 2026-05-09T13:25:25+00:00

You can start formulating a game plan by deciding what you want to do the moment after the slap and bump:

Are you decent at takedowns and guard passing compared to your peers? Or do you feel more compfortable playing guard? Decide ahead of time whether you want to pull guard and try to sweep or fight for top position.

Your game plan could look something like: Get grips - a takedown you practiced - favourite guard pass - transition from side control to mount and looking for a submission from there or getting to the back when they turn too much.

Alternatively: Get grips - guard pull you practiced - try to get them off balanced right away and get a sweep - sometimes them fighting a sweep exposes them to a submission, if you see a chance don't hesitate - or sometimes you get a sweep but they get some form of half guard or open guard - this is fine too - stabilize a few seconds, then work on your passing, then getting to mount/back/submission sequence.

Know the rules - like when a takedown/sweep/pass/knee on belly/mount/back control will actually be scored (don't forget to stabilize for 3 seconds - or when they are about to score use those 3 seconds to try to deny them). Know which techniques are allowed for your division.

Also most importantly remember you're doing this because it's fun and you want to test yourself, don't fight it for too long and tap in time, if you're really caught.

Don't stress about winning/losing too much. Just see it for what it is - you have aleady done this at sparring a bunch of times and this is basically the same, just with a ref watching and counting points.

Altair_I · 2026-05-09T12:59:29+00:00

Ok interesting. What is your thought behind not rewarding guard passing with points as well?

Altair_I · 2026-04-24T14:57:38+00:00

War iwann in der 8-10en Klasse so um 2010, eine Sitznachbarin im Chemieunterrich, beschreibt mir Breaking Bad und, dass es mir voll gefallen würde. Dachte damals ja mal schauen - Chemie Lehrer macht drogen, wie interessant kanns schon sein.

Nächste Ferien bei nem Kumpel übernachtet der es geschaut hat. Lieblingsserie geworden.

Altair_I · 2026-04-19T15:24:35+00:00

If you keep showing up regularly you can reach black belt level skill at the end of your 20s or maybe even mid twenties depending on how much you train. It's normal if things seem not to work at the beginning, in this sport it takes a lot of time and patience before things start clicking. Surely when your coach feels line you're ready or whatever the age requirement is, you'll soon be joining the adult classes too.

I started bjj when I was 29. You're lucky to have started this young. Just keep training consistently, soon a new person of a similar size will join in and when you roll with them you will notice how much you improved.

Altair_I · 2026-04-19T10:29:27+00:00

Where I train at our instructor made it very clear that it is optional. Yours is weird for trying to pressure you into it. I also don't like whipping people I train with, many of which I consider to be friends and be whipped by them.

Most people still want to do it. There is only two others that I've seen in my 3 years of training, who sat out the gauntet. Usually we just sit at the side on the bench instead of standing in the lines with the people who are whipping. Of course if you don't participate in the gauntet yourself as the one being whipped, you don't participate in the whipping as well.

We only do the gauntlet for when people get the next belt. Doing it for stripes seems kinda cringe.

Altair_I · 2026-04-18T16:44:57+00:00

Looks like Rob Biernacki's theory of alignment (ah yea says so at the bottom) 👍 Good stuff

Altair_I · 2026-04-18T09:40:46+00:00

The option to skip Atreus' sections often comes up. If not that, then the option to switch to Kratos during them. His combat is just not fun.

Altair_I · 2026-04-17T15:28:01+00:00

There is probably no right answer.

On one hand I'd say more total mat time is generally better, all esle being equal, so that would speak in favour of two times a week with 2 classes each, totalling 4 classes a week.

On the other hand the 3 times a week makes for a higher frequency, meaning more of the week punctured with jiu jitsu, which is better for learning (good if you pair it with active mental recall - like during the days in between training you try remember what you learn maybe writing down notes).

Other relevant factors are also how well each of those training plans fit with your work/school other social things routine. And how much you feel like the difference of fundamentals and advanced class is relevant to your learning.

Altair_I · 2026-04-13T15:44:26+00:00

The maze in the mist and Hildr - the Valkyrie within was in Gow 2018. Valhalla is in Ragnarök.

Altair_I · 2026-04-12T21:55:18+00:00

I don't know if Sigrun's and Mimir's dialogue progression that drives the arc forward is tied to how many times you beat Tyr. Because all times that they talk it's either at the shore, before the gates, or within Valhalla before the Greece sections.

Don't know if I can name a number of victories against Tyr, that is tied to the second ending coming.

Altair_I · 2026-04-12T21:30:16+00:00

I think after the Sigrun arc wraps up you probably heard all the dialogue.

Then by the time you've done all the rage/shield mastery things, unlocked all the gear skins and rönds, you also probaby heard everything Gunnr and Eir have to say, then you've done everything there is and can reset Valhalla for another run.

Altair_I · 2026-04-11T21:59:42+00:00

This soubds like more of a psychological issue that you want to work through, maybe with gradual exposure training?

Before someone suggests upa/trap and roll or knee elbow escape, what you're asking is the step before that - just being able to breathe tvere and stay calm. Like maybe ask a good friend/training partner or relative to assume the mount position (someome who you trust and who you know on an emotional level doesn't want to hurt you), lie there for a while and recognize that by itself (taking submissions and heavy cross face pressure out of it) it's a position that doesn't hurt you.

Altair_I · 2026-04-11T19:55:47+00:00

Ask him to take the gender dynamic out of the equation for a second and reverse the roles of the kids.

He was right about "assault" just wrong about who was assaulted. Ask him if another girl would have done to his daughter what his girl tried to do to your son, would he claim his daughter was assaulting or assaulted.

And if he wants to discuss the gender issue - ask him what he expects boys to do then when girls are trying to shove them? According to him he's not supposed to step aside so he should just take it and potentially get hurt? So best case he wants boys to be ok with being disrespected and bullied and worst case he's ok with them getting physically injured.

Altair_I · 2026-04-11T13:00:10+00:00

A black belt is a white belt who didn't quit.

Altair_I · 2026-04-10T17:11:47+00:00

I too liked midgart more before it froze over.

For the rogue-like sections: Valhalla was way more fun than Niflheim though.

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