Best RMAX products to supplement BJJ

[Andrew]

I know obviously, Arthrokinetics, Grapplers ToolBox and IOUF, however i only have the first grapplers toolbox video, do not have sufficient funds to buy all of these sets and this summer will be training alone. I really want to accelerate my grappling skills, so that when i start seriously taking bjj in the fall i will be well prepared. Also i find that Grapplers toolbox solo drills extremely difficult. I have no idea where to start i can't even get into that squat position. I think im gonna start doing that 4 corners leg drill everyday for balance training which is an essential part of grappling. Any other suggestions are welcome.

[Lee]

Hello,

This is a great question, and I have often thought about how cool it would have been to have been training with GTB before I started BJJ. You will be very well prepared if you put some effort in now. I have been training in BJJ for a year now and I started Body-Flow at about the same time. My progress in BJJ has been VERY fast, and I owe a lot of it to CST methodology.

First off, it won't cost you a lot of money, but I can recommend 2 more resources that I suggest you purchase to help guide you. The Body Flow book will put the exercises in GTB into context and get you in the right frame of mind for exploring them. Also, I can't recommend the Warrior Wellness course enough for Joint Mobility and strength. You may not even be familiar with the concept of joint mobility, but I can speak to the positive effects it has on me. IMO, in a sport where joint attacks are the norm, it is a requirement to spend time conditioning your joints. I think these two resources are great starters, plus this forum and all of Coach Sonnon's musings. Just take our time with it and let it sink in. Everything might not make sense the first time you hear it.

Yes, the low squat can be very difficult to get into at first, but this position is VERY important in grappling. Do you know that in many parts of the world people can "hang out" in that position? In the west, thanks to years of comfy chairs and couches, most people have lost this ability. You will have to slowly work into that position before you can get into a lot of the "good" stuff in GTB. Just take you time with it, and try to relax, it will come. Your body is actually designed to do that.

A HUGE part of BJJ that isn't taught very well in most schools is the transitions, or "the moves between the moves". Also, what isn't taught is how to use your whole body to make the moves work. Granted, the good BJJers all do this, but it usually takes novices a while to catch on. GTB and WW will give you a huge headstart to getting this right. Also, once you figure out the proper breathing while moving protocol from BF, your endurance on the mat will SKYROCKET.

Here's my recommendation for you: Do Warrior Wellness every day. Do 30 min of GTB/BF stuff everyday, working on different types of moves each day(ie squats, rolls, rockbacks) until you figure out how to do kinetic chains. Look at the workouts as fun, you should get a kick out of doing the moves. If you don't enjoy rolling around on the floor, you may not like BJJ anyway.

Ask any other questions you may have, and let us know how it goes...

[bob_stra]

Also i find that Grapplers Toolbox™ solo drills extremely difficult. I have no idea where to start i can't even get into that squat position.

The other will no doubt be on board to offer up all sorts of advice, but here's on thing you might like to try....

Try doing the GTB stuff in a swimming pool. Seriously.

Go down to the shallow end, so that the water is no higher up then your chest level. Then try the Cossack squats etc.

They extra buoyancy of the water will negate most of the "ouch" factor. Pay attention to how / where you can make the move easier. For example, using a semi circular movement of your hips + a body wave to lower the inside of your knee into a Cossack squat vs slamming your knee straight down.

It's not exactly the same as performing it on dry land, but the trade off is worth it.

[Randell Waddell]

Great ideas that our people have also used, Bob.

You may also like to use an elastic product hanging from the Roof that helps to support some of the mass of one's body.

The elastic bands we have found most useful are round, about 4mm (1/6 inch), and availible from the hardware store - they are not really strong so we use about 6 loops to help the support.

The support adjusted allows one to drop down into whatever configuration is desired without setting up any fear reactivity, bracing etc.

If one compared this with the water buoyancy effect highlighted by Bob, the bouyancy support has proved most useful to our people.

Cheers
Randell

:D

[creatureOFnight]

What is helping me with the movement patterns on grapplers toolbox is after you watch it a few times go back and make notes about each movement. Use your own key words that help you understand breaking down the movement or use Coach Sonnons. I have also broke the tape down into sections like Coach does on the video. So i might work the first 3 sections of movenments in the AM. Then work the last 3 sections before or after grappling class at night.

hope that helps a little



corey