Give What You Get

14th October 2023, White Belt Diaries VII

At this point I’ve been doing jiu jitsu for sixth months or so. I still take my licks from the higher belts, but I feel a degree of competence and understanding in the sport. It becomes clear to me that one of the largest learning curves you have is from nothing to a few months. Everyone seems to plateau a little at that point, or at least the improvements seem much more incremental. 

As a result, when I periodically attend the beginner classes again, it’s almost unfair competing with those who have just started. Much like I was at that stage, they are clueless about fundamental concepts. With just sixth months more of knowledge, you can punish the beginners. It’s such a common occurrence, the punishment trial class attendees receive is a meme in jiu jitsu circles.  

I instinctively take it easy on people just starting. I spot the trial class borrowed Gi, look up at the clueless expression, ask “first time?”, and immediately shift my mindset. I think it’s the teacher in me – I don’t want to discourage someone learning something new, and know how damaging an early bad experience can be to learning something new. Once confirmed, I typically offer little to no resistance to newbies, allow them to practise the technique we’ve learnt, and let them learn and enjoy the sport like the higher grades did with me when I started. 

Most of the time, that is. Periodically, you’ll get someone unable to check their ego, someone deluded or carrying completely wrong expectations about what the class is about and they will want to turn training into a fight.  

I’m of fairly average build. That said, I have been disciplined with strength and conditioning training over the last few years, so have developed more strength and cardio than people might expect when looking at my unremarkable frame. People seem to underestimate the average build and try to get one over on you. The stripes on your belt become a target on your back.

Again, this is why they don’t let newbies into the advanced classes. Let the newbies go crazy, let them indulge their egos, injure one another, blow a gasket each class, and if they stick around long enough, if they’re humble enough, we’ll let them come and roll with the senior ranks. In the meantime, figure it out amongst yourselves. 

Once you sense someone trying to out-strength you, trying to get one over on you, you quickly show them the merit of the pecking order – you demonstrate that those stripes mean something. Best case scenario – egos are checked, decorum reset, order reestablishes itself. Worst case, some leaves with a sore arm.

‘Give what you get’ is a mantra in jiu jitsu when sparring. You mirror the energy of your sparring partner, particularly if they are a lower rank. If they’re being respectful and practising the moves with a degree of control, you reflect that energy, allow them to get things off on you – on the understanding that is what you are, in fact, doing.

But if your partner pushes the pace, intensity, or starts trying to take your head off, that is mirrored that back too. It was done to me when I started rolling more regularly with senior belts and you learn the decorum pretty quickly.

Being choked multiple times and having Gi burns across your face will do that.