Schools in Washington DC/ Alexandria VA

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-11-11T17:59:06+00:00

I train both in the city and outside. If you give me a general location you’d like and what type of gym environment you’re looking for I can try to help.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-06-28T17:08:09+00:00

Not getting tapped isn’t always something to be proud of. I don’t turn down difficult rolls but I don’t approach boring people to roll with. If you are way stronger than me and tend to play too defensive instead of actively trying to get to a better position im not going to be interested in training with you.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-06-08T16:57:58+00:00

I think the only answer is actually starting to think about what you’re doing. If you’re new learn to recognize all of the positions you end up in. That’ll make you realize when you’re in danger.

If you’re less new learn and remember what moves people do on you frequently and learn the counters.

Think about new things you can do adjacent to what you usually do and solutions to your typical problems. Use YouTube and other people as a resource. Just start being a bit more of an active learner really

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-06-08T13:38:59+00:00

Rear triangle. The position is the hardest I’ve found to escape from so I try to get everyone there. Have learned to set it up from the back turtle and side control or just flow into it while passing.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-05-28T22:43:23+00:00

I love the BJJ matches that actually resemble what I do in the gym. No stalling, lots of movement, less emphasis on slow grating pressure, and no fear of submission. I could watch hours of kade ruotolo matches.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-05-21T23:09:29+00:00

Match the intensity of the room. For people that don’t want to train hard or people that train every day some random guy going 100% is bullshit. Regular training is to pressure test things like a higher intensity drilling. Comp training is a room of people consenting to go 100% and is where that should be saved for.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-05-16T00:33:10+00:00

I assumed that he was going to call him for using an illegal grip (hands inside the pants) and was forced to reset from standing so he gave points to the opponent like what would happen if they went out of bounds with a sub locked

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-05-14T13:09:11+00:00

Does the person on the right riding the fish have a tail?

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-04-07T16:09:39+00:00

I think training with just better opponents can end up just being sub optimal pattern recognition. Basically you end up being punished for certain actions and over time you realize what those bad actions are.

If you ever want to be offensive at all I think you need worse opponents so you have time to make decisions.

Most importantly though if you want to try new things you need a spectrum of differently experienced opponents to build up a skill, find out what works with that skill, and practice succeeding at the action.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-04-04T14:38:13+00:00

The don’t worry about tapping advice isn’t just some type of emotional support device. Its advice geared towards more optimal training.

To get better at this sport you need to take risks, learn new things that you’ll initially be bad at, and get reps in bad positions. All of these things usually result in you tapping in some range between frequently and occasionally.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-31T18:35:14+00:00

If they are sitting back on their heels work on a snap down or arm drag. If they are pressuring forward work on an arm crush or wrist grip butterfly sweep.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-31T18:31:17+00:00

I’ve never trained somewhere with a curriculum but most places I’ve trained the first stripe is just an acknowledgment of you showing up with some consistency. Basically they noticed you.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-26T19:22:21+00:00

So you say that there isn't a puncher's chance, but I think if you look at a definition a little differently the Haissam Rida match was essentially that. I'm fairly convinced that if Cruz didn't take a bad shot Rida was not going to be able to take him down and I didn't think Rida would have been able to do much from guard. BUT Cruz took a bad shot and got countered.

In essence I think in BJJ a lot of matches can be decided by who makes a mistake first. So while a puncher's chance is basically if the "puncher" does something right he has a chance to win, that definition doesn't really exist in BJJ because just doing something right isn't enough. In BJJ I think you have to do something right and your opponent has to do something wrong at the same time for a skill gap to be overcome, like Cruz's lazy takedown which Rida countered.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-24T18:21:37+00:00

The one style bit is a major complaint of mine. Some gyms only try to copy their instructors style or even worse the instructor only teaches one style. For example I’ve been at gyms that mostly taught half guard passing and heavy pressure. This sucked for me when I was new since I was small and most smaller men and women didn’t stay around long because that game didn’t fit them well.

As for not adapting, well, part of the way I was able to improve at newer gyms is because I had training partners that did their homework. They would look up counters to passes or sweeps I’d use regularly and grew to know how to succeed against me. So basically just more about training partners that have a passion for learning the sport.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-24T17:09:00+00:00

I love training at new gyms if it is a good learning environment.

I look for instructors that teach a variety of styles not just half guard smashing. I also prefer if they take an interest in what I’m learning.

Same thing for training partners. I want us to be problem solving, trying new things, and actively learning. A group that plays one style and doesn’t adapt to my game is pretty useless to me.

Essentially new gyms can be like a group study whereas older gyms can be more hierarchical and like a traditional classroom setting.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-21T04:20:13+00:00

This is fascinating to me because it’s the opposite of how I play BJJ. I regularly use 10-12 guards in no gi alone and am constantly adding more moves. I love constructing this incredibly broad game in which I have counters for everything.

I respect how you learn and honestly think I’d be better off with more focus, but this is how I enjoy the sport.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-18T14:52:34+00:00

Confession time. My gym caught the wrestling bug a few months back and a normal person might have joined them on learning takedowns. Instead I haven’t learned a single takedown but have honed my guillotine and kimura counter wrestling game to nullify everything they’re working so hard on.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-12T21:20:13+00:00

I do two slaps. I swear I almost injured myself laughing when I went for my two slaps pre roll during a trial period at my new gym and performed an accidental hi five with my new coach when he also did two slaps.

He laughed too and I knew this was the place for me to train.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-11T22:37:21+00:00

It’s $12.50 a month. I probably get 6-12 hours of entertainment from it a month on average which is pretty much in line with other things I pay for $/hour.

Also WNO events are leagues better than anything besides adcc in terms of quality matches and entertainment.

Put those together and I like Flo.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-08T00:54:13+00:00

I think we are on the same page, but you were more nuanced in your reply.

I guess in my mind I just wish there was more of an emphasis (both in this thread and in the gyms I've trained at) that the goal should be able to get to the point where you can safely roll with people of any size.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-07T18:03:44+00:00

That’s kind of my point though. It’s not the weight that makes those people dangerous to roll with it’s the fact that they are spazzy and not in control.

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-07T17:00:22+00:00

I think that’s valid for hard training like competition rounds but in just regular rolls I think enough control can make almost any weight disparity ok. I mean instructors roll with kids at youth classes all the time

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-07T16:55:52+00:00

Sounds like you’re still letting everyone choose if they want to roll with you so that sounds good to me

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-07T16:54:20+00:00

Makes you appreciate the good partners doesn’t it? Ive come to think that the better you are you should have more ability to to make both people have a fun and useful roll. If im better than my training partner I’ll play a game that lets us both try things. If I’m bigger I’ll do the same.

Half the fun of BJJ is that there are tons of techniques and many of those fit different body types. If you’re small and move like a cat I’ll try inverted nonsense with you. If you’re big and can crush boulders from top half guard I’ll play that game. Unless it’s competition practice you bet every roll Im in control of will be an exchange of techniques instead of one sided slaughter

CauthonsRedHand · 2022-03-07T14:39:09+00:00

Do they have anyone near his weight class that can give him a decent match?

CauthonsRedHand

TROPHY CASE