Can someone be unteachable?

[Malcontent]

I'm beginning to think I might be.

I've only had about half a dozen classes but I'm really having a tough time with this BJJ malarki.

I'm just not understanding my instructor. Often when I'm on the mat he'll bark instructions at me and I won't know WTF he's talking about!!!

"Move your leg up" he'll say. I won't know which leg he means because I have two.

"Posture, Posture, Posture" he'll say. I'll say "WTF does that mean"?

I don't know if I'm just struggling with the terminology, or if I might just not be made for this stuff.

I have one real ambition regarding BJJ. That is to become a blue belt. It looks a long, long, long, way away right now and I'm starting to fell very frustrated.:mad:

[mathematist]

don't be silly mate. As a school teacher, I can tell you that the only people that are unteachable are those who think they Know it all. The best student is the one that asks questions. Speak to the instructor on the side and ask him to explain smtng u dont get bt dnt all the time as you could be seen as a smart alec! Also don' t 4get the saying "you can judge somebody's intelligence by the Q's they ask"

[Rob T]

Some people basically are unteachable, yeah. It's less an issue of not being able to pick things up and more that they don't take instructors advice on board. Like, you tell them to stop doing the same thing over and over, and they still do, because they roll in club to "win". Like mathematist said, it's the know-it-alls. I find it more of a problem in the kids class but there are plenty of adults like it too.

You don't sound like that though, you just sound new. Whenever something comes up which you don't understand, ask the instructor or a high ranking student. If you don't get help with your questions, find a new club.

Don't worry about feeling lost, there is a hell of a lot to learn in BJJ, you are nowhere near even starting to understand after half a dozen lessons!

[Rob T]

Oh, and don't worry about it... everyone who has trained has been in your position! :)

[thaison]

''there is no such thing as a bad student, only bad teachers''

thats not to say your instructors bad, but not everyone learns or procsss information the same way.

[TheJuice]

IMO if they are capable of tying their shoes theyre able to be taught, its just like others have said though, they have to be open to learning and taking the info on board.

For some it takes far longer than others to pick it up and use that information.

[david5]

people learn in different ways, your instructor needs to find how you learn best. also he needs to pitch his advice at a suitable level

[Soldmysoulforabeer]

Theres so much to learn in BJJ that a couple of classes isnt even enough to have a reasonable understanding of the Martial Arts Style. I've been doing it for several months and felt like i was going nowhere against some of the people i train with untill there was a flurry of newer people to practice against. Some techniques are confussing but as my trainer says "Only differance between you and say Blackbelt is that they put in the Mat time" and "Practice the move untill your sick of it then practice even more". If you cant do a move then practice it constantly. Overall like several people have said before "I've been in that position".

[Malcontent]

OK Cheers guys.

I suppose it's just too soon to be thinking that it's not for me.

I do have some issues with my concentration so I can't lay blame on my instructor. However, although I don't doubt his Ju Jitsu ablility or knowledge, he's fairly new to instructing, so I think I may try a few other schools to compare their approach to beginners like me.

[TRIBULUS]

I think for most people everything is pretty confusing for the first 8 weeks or so, just try not to get injured in that time.

[Kaiser Soze]

Bateman is unteachable, also quite miserable, ignorant, lonely, perverted, untrustworthy and his personal hygiene is appalling!!!!!

Apart from that he is OK!

[The Natural]

''there is no such thing as a bad student, only bad teachers''

thats not to say your instructors bad, but not everyone learns or procsss information the same way.

spoke for the truth..:cool:

I would see it as the instructors fault, not urs. U are a 'newbee' after all..

Have they no beginners class where the basic manuovers and terminology is explained?

[The Mauler]

I remember you were interested in London Fight Factory. Did you manage to try it out?

[Malcontent]

No I never did get up to fight factory, as I live nowhere near it.

I was interested in them because at the time it looked likely that I'd be working in the east london area, but that didn't happen in the end.

I'm fortunate enough to have a number of top notch schools near to me, so I plan on paying a few of them a visit very soon.

[ace962]

Just ask! That would be my oppinion. What you could do is hang back after a lesson and just tell your instructor that your not understaning what he's instructing you. You could ask if he does private lessons? Maybe just do one private lesson and ask him to go through the terminology.

[Allan Shrek]

It's hard for instructors as well though especially in mixed ability classes and especially for ones who are new to teaching or haven't done any coaching or teaching certificates. I've had the honour of taking the odd class when better people have been unavailable and it's much harder to teach complete beginners than it is people with 6 months under their belt.

"Nah man you need to escape your hips more"
"Why?"
"Otherwise your too underneath him and it wont work, you don't have the right leverage, you get it?"
"Yeah"
....
"No escape your hips, shrimp"

[Malcontent]

"Nah man you need to escape your hips more"
"Why?"
"Otherwise your too underneath him and it wont work, you don't have the right leverage, you get it?"
"Yeah"
....
"No escape your hips, shrimp"

LOL Welcome to my world!:D

[IceKid]

be a striker that knows enough grappling 2 survive on the ground, instead of a grappler that has enough stand up skill to survive on the feet if you get me lol

[DoubleJab]

Don't worry, keep training, watch instructionals, thing'll get clearer in time.

[Mike Bishop]

If your only goal is to get a blue belt, have you thought about attending a Royce Gracie Seminar ?

More seriously. It takes everyone time and I've really enjoyed watching a friend of mine who started 12 months ago suddenly start to get it after going through a painful beginner period. He made himself stick with it and is now getting the rewards - and I tell you he was absolutely shithouse when he started

[Malcontent]

Is there something specific about Royce Gracie seminars that I shouls know about?

Your friend sounds interesting. He stuck with it and so shall I, although I really think I need to find somewhere else to train.

[staffie]

Some people are unteachable.
One little guy came to our club and had quite a few lessons. Every class he would turn up in jeans and t-shirt. No kit. I'd ask him if he owned a pair of shorts or trackies and he would say "aye" and look at me as if I just asked to pump his mum and turn away. I showed positions and when he started to drill he just looked blankly at his partner. I would take him to the side, show him repeatedly and ask him if he got it. Same reply "aye" and the same look. I'd them try to drill it with him and he'd just look blank so I'd explain it to him and he'd say "I know." I thought he had a problem with me so I asked our BB Marcos and he said "yeah he's a nightmare, does the same in privates".
You can't teach dudes like that. :confused:

[Rob T]

Is there something specific about Royce Gracie seminars that I shouls know about?

If you've been training over 12 months you get a blue belt.

[The Natural]

Some people are unteachable.
One little guy came to our club and had quite a few lessons. Every class he would turn up in jeans and t-shirt. No kit. I'd ask him if he owned a pair of shorts or trackies and he would say "aye" and look at me as if I just asked to pump his mum and turn away. I showed positions and when he started to drill he just looked blankly at his partner. I would take him to the side, show him repeatedly and ask him if he got it. Same reply "aye" and the same look. I'd them try to drill it with him and he'd just look blank so I'd explain it to him and he'd say "I know." I thought he had a problem with me so I asked our BB Marcos and he said "yeah he's a nightmare, does the same in privates".
You can't teach dudes like that. :confused:

Maybe he's ''special needs''?!?:D

[The Natural]

If you've been training over 12 months you get a blue belt.

i've heard differantly dude..

this aint to be disrespectful to anyone on here who is affliated with Royce (but no oubt omeone will take exception) but ive heard of situations where he handed out blue belts very easily..

[Rob T]

i've heard differantly dude..

this aint to be disrespectful to anyone on here who is affliated with Royce (but no oubt omeone will take exception) but ive heard of situations where he handed out blue belts very easily..

Even just giving them out for 12 months or more is handing them out pretty easily imo.

From what I've seen, a lot of Brazilian coaches, especially on the Gracie JJ side, are much quicker to hand out blue belts. It seems bad because a blue is still a pretty big thing in the UK. To them it just seems to mean you know the basics.

[Malcontent]

Then it wouldn't be for me I don't think.

If I'd recieved a blue belt within 12 months of starting, the only way I'd accept that I'd really earned it would be if I trained hard at least five times a week (Which I could manage). Or if I was a hugely gifted prodigy (that might be a problem). :D

To me a blue belt should signify a real improved level of competence rather than having got the hang of the basics.

To be honest, I'm not all that hung up on belts. There are certain moves, and certain ways of moving whilst fighting that I wish to excell at is all.

I'd just see a blue belt as a pat on the back for the hard work.