Newaza with Newbies

[Matthew Jones]

What experiences have people had with first timers on the ground? I'm mostly intrersted in the types of physical and emotional reactions observed. What is it like going to the ground for the first time with people who are experienced in other "standing only" martial arts?

My reaction to my first time on the ground... I freaked. Not in the screaming "get off me, get off me" way, but I found the inablity to breath induced a panic that eventually made me tap out. This only happened a couple times in the very beginning, but it was a very powerful emotion. It very clearly convinced me of my own need to train on the ground. I am wondering if there are similar experiences/stories, or different one too. Thanks!

[Budoka34]

I have seen several people cry after thier first ground training.

I felt uncomfortable but functional during my first session.

[WhiteBeltJones]

I'm a few months into Judo training and I still have to remind myself to take it easy while playing on the ground. Hard to break the desire to just shove free.

[Rasputin]

I was rolling with a guy who swings a hammer for a living. Freakish strength. He ripped a 9" long hole in a totally new dogi of mine. It took a long time before he learned to relax and flow.

[kumite]

I have seen several people cry after thier first ground training.

I felt uncomfortable but functional during my first session.

Most people tend to freak out a little... or a lot. You got to keep telling them, relax, relax, relax. But even with first time sparring on their feet it's the same. "You are not in a real fight. This person is not trying to hurt you. He's your training partner for right now." Stuff like that.

On the crying, I think it's the total feeling of helplessness a lot of people get at first. I've never seen anyone cry after the first time going to the ground, but I've seen it with people sparring standing. After we got them calmed down, it was always frustration mixed with fear that was the reason they gave. That's why I try to keep people from sparring for several months when the first join. It gives them more time to spend on basics, get in better shape, see other people spar and realize we aren't killing each other out there. I just try to make them more comfortable with what they are doing and with the other classmates/teammates. Some of the other instructors have a "sink or swim" mentality and will put them out there after a few weeks.

Billy

[Budoka34]

Only one of these was recent and it was a mature female that, as you said, was not comfortable feeling helpless.

I should add that this was during well controlled partner drills to apply basic karate concepts from the ground.

Many years ago (circa 1989) my first instructor had us go to the ground. We had one student who had been wrestling his entire life. He trounched several of the Black Belts including one gentleman that just broke down after. He had a pretty scary panic attack.

[TonyU]

I always felt comfortable on the ground for some reason, so when I started BJJ I didn't have a problem transitioning form stand up to ground work.
My buddy on the other hand admited to me that he used to panic when started BJJ, but has since overcame it.

[moogong]

My first true experience grappling was with a kodokan judo player. I didn't feel uncomfortable or nervous rather frustrated by my lack of ground knowledge. Really, it just gave me the desire to learn the ground game.

[WhiteBeltJones]

One of the comforts in most martial arts is that when you tap, they'll let go. I've tapped before when I just didn't have the energy to fight anymore and then that was it, they let you up, bow, move on. No heckling, jeering or whatever.

[Bengel]

If you have a class with a good number of people that are new to the ground game, it's wise to do exercises on the ground to get comfortable with ne-waza.

Example: sit on your knees and make your oponent touch the ground with anything else than his legs and feet. The trick is that both are only allowed to use one hand. This will lead to a game where you try to take the opponent's balance rather then a game of shoving and being on top of each other.

[Andrew Green]

there are different ways to help out people that aren't comfortable.

One is start with throws, just static drills, take down, pin, submit.

Add a little resistance or a reversal, let them grow into it.

If it's kids, have them play a game around it. For example start them on their knees and have them fight to remove the others belt... or socks.

You will see at least two types of adverse reactions, one is people that freak out, feel trapped and go into a almost clastrophpbic type of mode. The other see rolling around on the floor as a sexual thing. So women that refuse to do it out of fear of being groped, or seen as unladylike, or men that are homophobic.

Whatever the reason, you got to break them into it gradually and show that the fears are unwarranted.