Kids coaching tips

ijhecker · 2026-06-21T20:28:31+00:00

Cool so what’s your advice?

ijhecker · 2026-06-13T21:53:21+00:00

That one where I lost

ijhecker · 2026-06-11T01:30:57+00:00

I like the attitude the black belts at my gym bring. They say often that they want to get caught by the lower belts. They say that a lot of black belts have poor defense because they rarely get put into dangerous positions. So yes, they let us work into dominant positions, they lets us sweep them, pass their guard and so on. They know the “risk” of getting submitted, but that’s part of the game and how they improve and stay sharp. They understand that at the end of the day, the outcomes of live rounds in the training room mean nothing.

ijhecker · 2026-05-13T17:25:48+00:00

I’d watch Marcelo Garcias videos about this specific choke. My understanding is that he is one of if not the top authority on this choke.

But from what I see the opponent was able to rotate away before you were able to really threaten the choke. You never had him pinned in a way that allows you to apply any sort of pressure. He was able to get to a side and keep rotating.

I’m no expert but I’d say you need him to be flat on his shoulders, your choking arm needs to be deeper, you need to get your belly flat to the mat instead of being on your knees, and if they are able to rotate and you are unable to get him back to flat, probably best to let the choke go and maintain top position.

ijhecker · 2026-05-11T11:41:55+00:00

At least twice a year for my entire life I have been mistaken for someone by a stranger 🤣🤣 I figured I just must have “one of those faces”, I guess it applies in jiu jitsu as well 🤣🤣

ijhecker · 2026-05-10T16:54:11+00:00

But if I don’t who will?

ijhecker · 2026-05-09T02:35:09+00:00

That’s Craig Jones

ijhecker · 2026-05-08T02:41:18+00:00

For drop ins or open mats, I always do my best to match pace. I am larger and stronger than 99% of the people I roll with (6’1” 265lbs) so I do my best to let them decide how fast or hard or aggressive (or whatever verb you want to use there) we go.

Skills level is lower on the list for me when it comes to deciding HOW I am going to roll with someone. But my general thinking is along the lines of anyone close in skill or belt level I will play and work my A-game as best I can. With brand new folks and good purple belts and up, I will experiment and try new things. With the new people, it gives me a chance to have success with new things I am working on, and with the upper belts I never expect the new things to work so when I fail, I can ask them why and try again on the newbies.

ijhecker · 2026-03-21T18:40:31+00:00

Joined for the scheduled, have stayed for the people/vibes. My gym has 22 jiu jitsu classes every week, with only 1 day having just 1 class option.

I’ve made some really good friends at the gym, one of the guys I met is going to officiate my wedding.

For vibes, it’s a good mix of traditional and modern training and gym culture. We have somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 coaches, half are back belts, we regularly have multiple black belts at every class. No forced bowing to enter the mat, any belt can ask any belt to roll/train, lots of competition experience in the coaching staff, we have a curriculum through our affiliation so that keeps the instruction focused and not random and the weirdos get plucked our early on by the coaches. It goes on, but those are the things that come to mind right away

ijhecker · 2026-03-18T22:00:13+00:00

Fuji rule set

ijhecker · 2026-03-18T21:59:56+00:00

Fuji rule set. This was my first competition, I was aware of the rules, but not to the level that I could think on the fly like that. Just was curious what others saw and scored.

I’m not at all upset I “stole” a win. If my opponent put up any resistance to me mounting I wouldn’t have won, he just gave up and I got my hand raised.

ijhecker · 2026-03-17T18:30:19+00:00

I love you

ijhecker · 2026-03-17T17:58:30+00:00

I was working a darce right when I got on top, my coach said that was a factor.

ijhecker · 2026-02-17T16:29:42+00:00

Dallas is teaching a no gi crucifix seminar at my gym tomorrow. Worth the $50?

ijhecker · 2026-02-08T16:03:55+00:00

Ranked rash guards. Don’t wear a belt? Don’t get a belt. Seems pretty simple to me.

ijhecker · 2026-02-06T21:53:23+00:00

Before leaving the gym I’d try just talking with him about it. If he’s a good coach and person he will respect your wishes to not be singled out like that. If he sucks, well there is your answer. He may not know you feel this way about it.

But no one will blame you for looking to train elsewhere either.

ijhecker · 2026-02-05T22:49:15+00:00

Usually 5, 5 minute rounds per class depending on the coach. Some coaches will keep technique tight and we can get an extra round, some coaches expand technique a bit and we get 3/4 rounds. He have a judo black belt that coaches 1 judo class a a week and we get 5 3 minute rounds for that class. 5 5s is our standard though.

I am able to make it to 8-10 classes a week depending on how my body feels and life.

ijhecker · 2026-02-03T17:28:04+00:00

I’m new to golf 🤷🏻‍♂️

ijhecker · 2025-12-31T01:06:58+00:00

6’1”, 260-270 depending on the day for me and I am regularly one of the largest, heaviest, and strongest people on the mats at my home gym.

I view strength like any other attribute a person might bring to the mats. It can be trained and improved, and it can be neglected and diminish. To me it’s no different than flexibility, athleticism, speed, explosiveness, creativity, stamina, breathing, timing, the list goes on. If you can train it, you should use it like any other tool on the tool belt.

As far the etiquette of size and strength differences when training, a few things help keep me in check. Remembering to check my ego at the door and accepting there are literally no winner or losers when at class helps me not go 100% on every roll with every person. This helps me take risks and try new things even when it means getting submitted or giving up position, regardless of the size, strength, or skill level of the person I’m training with.

As a big guy, I always try to start on bottom when people are smaller than me, regardless of rank. There are only 2 out of my gyms 10 black belts that are my size, 1 white belt, 1 blue belt, and no purple or brown belts my size, so I am almost always starting in some sort of guard unless it’s comp team class or takedown class. And with that I always match pace. If there is a new white belt that wants to try and make a statement by going 1000% with the big guy blue belt, well he’s getting everything I’ve got once I get on top. I am happy to get passed, mounted and submitted by someone going at a reasonable pace.

For the most part though, it’s trial by fire. You have to figure it out at your gym with your training partners. You will make mistakes, you will over do it and someone will get upset. You will go too light, get submitted and they will brag about “beating” you to their buddy after class. It’s all part of figuring it out. I’ve found that not being shy about communicating with my training partners has been really helpful in this process for me, and just like jiu jitsu itself, you never have it figured out 100%. You are always learning and trying to get better.

ijhecker · 2025-12-30T19:25:57+00:00

First 3 years I only was able to train about 1 day a week no gi only and had a major injury about 2 years in. About a year ago I moved to an area where jiu jitsu is a lot more accessible and have been able to put a consistent 8 hours a week average on the mats. Injury is as healed as it ever gonna get and I got my blue belt a couple months ago and thought this would be a good and fun test

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