Your Jiu-Jitsu Training Road Map at Kishketon Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Your KJJA Training Road Map
Because we are a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Certified Training CenterĀ®, our training road map is different than 99% of bjj gyms out there today, since we teach self-defense first and the sportive aspect of jiu-jitsu second. In order to understand your jiu-jitsu training road map better, please consider the following.
MOST BJJ GYMS
1) Typically only teach techniques geared toward winning points and tournaments where there are time limits, weight categories, referees, and rules. This is the sportive aspect of jiu-jitsu.
2) Self-defense strategies which address real-world assault and street-fight scenarios are largely non-existent in their curriculum although there exists the assumption that training for tournaments equates to "self-defense."
In these gyms, you're live sparring/rolling on day one and getting an incredible workout! The potential downside is that students tend to feel like punching bags constantly getting tapped out, constantly feel demoralized, and sometimes get injured by over-zealous sparring partners. Most who start jiu-jitsu eventually quit in this environment. Only about 15% thrive in this environment. An even smaller percent ever make it to black belt!
Of course, if this is the type of training that is desired, students should train at these types of gym! We encourage it! Students should train at gyms where they will get the kind of jiu-jitsu they desire in order to meet their end goal for training in the first place.
For most bjj gyms, typically only sportive jiu-jitsu is learned with little or no consideration for real street fights or real-life assault scenarios.
GRACIE JIU-JITSU CERTIFIED TRAINING CENTERSĀ®
1) Street readiness is prioritized over tournament victory;
2) Safety is prioritized over ego;
3) Developing a solid jiu-jitsu foundation before venturing into live sparring (hereafter "rolling") is prioritized over learning by fire.
Once street readiness is achieved (demonstrated by passing the Gracie Combatives test), students then immediately graduate into the Master Cycle (the advanced program) and start rolling. Therefore, students only start rolling when they have a solid jiu-jitsu foundation, since by this time, students are ready for it.
So, make no mistake, we roll, too, in the Master Cycle! You'll just have to wait 8-12 months while you develop your street defenses first, and learn the jiu-jitsu language! The Master cycle is where we will learn the rest of the 600+techniques in the art and so you'll be glad to have developed a foundation first!! You'll get an incredible workout also!
In our program, you'll develop a self-defense/sport switch.
Gracie Combatives = your street switch
Master Cycle = your sport switch
TRAINING TIMELINE & WORKOUT INTENSITY
Gracie Combatives
low-mid workout intensity
Reflex Development
mid- to high intensity workout
Master Cycle
technique class: mid- to high intensity
sparring class: high intensity, forget about it!
Keep in mind that as your technique improves, so will your energy conservation. In other words, the better you get, the less energy you will require to execute your techniques against all sparring partners of all sizes and strength.
Gracie Combatives takes about 8-12 months to complete depending on how often you train. One time per week will likely take a year or a year and a half to complete. Three times per week (or more) will allow you to complete the program in little as 8 months! How much one trains is entirely up to the student. The workout is not too intense (depending on your cardiovascular fitness), since we are just working on individual techniques in a cooperative fashion.
In Reflex Development classes (students must take all Gracie Combatives classes at least twice to qualify), students practice all GC techniques in all possible combinations in cooperative reflex development drills and freestyle fight simulation drills. Though these are cooperative in nature, the workout is more intense because you'll be chaining all the techniques together with some increased resistance by your partner. So, the workout can be quite intense depending on the drill.
The Master Cycle is our advanced program and students will learn the rest of the 600+ techniques in the art. Master Cycle classes (1-hour) are technique classes with some Rapid Mastery Drills mixed in. The Rapid Mastery Drills (drills that allow students to sharpen their swords) will definitely give you a workout!
Once the 1-hr technique class is completed, there is a 30-minute sparring class immediately after (this portion is optional for all MC students). This is where students get to roll sportively and try to tap each other out. These are friendly chess matches among family & friends! If you decide to roll in the sparring class, you will get the workout of your life! Believe me, you'll leave it on the mat!
The Master Cycle is where you'll earn advanced rank - blue belt, purple belt, and black belt. Advanced rank (belts and stripes) takes years, not months to earn. Therefore, the Master Cycle should be considered a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency is key to progressing in the Master cycle.
If you attend once per week, it will take quite a long time to get through the ranks and learn the rest of the system. If you come three times per week (or more), you'll progress quite fast. How often one trains, however, is completely up to the student. There is no right or wrong. It depends on your personal goals for jiu-jitsu.
What is great about jiu-jitsu is that the learning NEVER stops nor does it ever get boring! There is always something new to learn, it's great workout, and jiu-jitsu is something that can be practiced into your old age!
CONCLUSION
Learn your street reflexes now (Gracie Combatives) and then get ready to rock 'n roll (have fun while getting crazy awesome workout) in the Master Cycle!