Which would be the better way to spend £129?

[Leiurus]

£129 and it will last. I think its worth it. I have been thinking about getting one myself, or making one and this seems a desent one at the price. Lets say i get to 5 classes a week and can co-ordinate an hours drilling with a sparring partner. I still think that this is not enough drilling. I might learn three new techniques and 3 variations of each during that week and if i dont drill them enough they wont stick and next week my sensei will be on to something new.

I have only been training for 4 months but i am pretty sure i have already forgotten as much as i have remembered and equally sure that every technique i do rememeber can be improved in terms of detail and the speed with which i can move to and through it.

Another thread discussed the importance of drilling and as far as i can tell a training dummy would be an option in the absence of a training partner who can commit to drilling practice at the same times. Just my opinion but then i am also resolved to getting a private lesson every month, so i dont really think its a comparison of one or the other for me. They are different things and I intend to have both unless anyone advises me that the training dummy is counter productive in some way.

[BruceLeeMMAfighting.net]

lol don't feel insulted.

I just have a bit of an issue with remembering stuff. I was thinking that to have something like this at home so I can just practice basic technique could be useful.

Whenever I go to buy anything nowadays I always ask myself whether or not the money would be better spent on BJJ privates. I've never had one before but I'd really like to do some as I have so many questions.

I know the answer to the question is to opt for privates, but the only thing that's really stopping me from doing them at the moment is time. I just don't have any right now.

Make your own. They are inexpensive to make.

How to make a grappling dummy:
http://thelivingexample.com/eljefe.html

[faithsdaddy]

Grappling dummies are rubbish. You won't learn the feel of the technique, because it is VERY different from performing it with a live opponent. (I have tried a few). Also, you'll only be able to perform a few techniques on it, such as armbar from mount. Everything else just won't transfer to a person.

So....it just won't help. BTW, if you train at Carlson's, check out the BJJ Private Classes side bar. Your £129 would buy you two privates, plus a month of training (over 20 hours per month),- and give you some change. If I had the dosh, it's where I'd spend it.

Happy rolling

[Mike Bishop]

There's a hell of a lot more you can do with a grappling dummy than just arm bars from mount. There's a youtube clip of a very well known BB using a dummy that I'll look for now

[Leiurus]

You won't learn the feel of the technique, because it is VERY different from performing it with a live opponent. (I have tried a few).

That its different from a live opponent is really a mute point. But "won't learn the feel of the technique" ... i dont see why drilling with a dummy wont help me remember the movements.

Also, you'll only be able to perform a few techniques on it, such as armbar from mount. Everything else just won't transfer to a person.

So....it just won't help.

I would be surprised if this were true, though i dont have experience of one, i would expect it to be of some help. How much though, i dont know.