Rolling - A Jiu Jitsu Sparring Class

Jiu Jitsu sparring classes consist of back to back rounds of sparring, widely known as "rolling", with fresh opponents every round. In my experience rounds are normally 5 or 7 minutes long though I assume this varies from gym to gym. In these classes you will quickly understand the effectiveness of Jiu Jitsu and how little you know about submission grappling.

Tap Out

If you expect to improve at Jiu Jitsu you must be prepared to be submitted over and over again. You should treat each of these submissions as a study of how the submission is applied and try to learn how to better defend next time. The good thing about Jiu Jitsu is that you are able to roll at 100% effort with little chance of injury thus mimicking a "real life" combat situation every time you practice. You may experience discomfort if someone applies a submission to you and if you have to give up you must "tap out". It is important to tap out if you are experiencing pain as you risk being choked unconscious or facing serious injury. This being said you should always allow your partner's hold to be applied before tapping out when training as this will ensure your partner is using the correct technique. Ensure that you "tap" on your opponent's body and not the mat as they may not be aware that you are submitting and continue to apply the hold. As a Jiu Jitsu beginner it is a good idea to roll with white belts because blue belts will have a wealth of experience over you and you will find it hard to implement any techniques. Perhaps rolling with a blue belt could be beneficial in developing your ability to escape positions but you will have a far more enjoyable time rolling with people on your level.

Stay Calm

Rolling can be a very tiring practice especially as a Jiu Jitsu Beginner because with less knowledge you are more likely to waste energy trying to do things with the wrong technique (you should focus on staying calm and thinking about technique when rolling). If you feel too tired you can have a break round but your instructor is likely to encourage you to roll as many rounds as you can.

Don't Quit!

Rolling classes are a great environment for trying out techniques you have learned and understanding what it feels like to grapple in a realistic situation. Rolling classes can be tough for a Jiu Jitsu beginner but if you stay positive and focus on practicing the techniques you know you can only improve.

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