A Glimpse Into My BJJ Progression So Far

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🏆 December 2021: My second first try

A few years before 21, I tried training BJJ at a local school. The teacher, very capable, focused on the gracie style and well known within the Netherlands and outside. However, the school did not match my preferences I noticed after 1-2 months of training. The guys were very competitive in sparring and quite some did not care you just started out. I got brutally choked without much restrain regarding the fact I had no clue what was going on. I must admit, I was competitive myself and coming from long time of boxing, kickboxing and other martial arts, I assumed I had some sort of control. I wasn't completely blank - as in: I understand breath control, keeping it easy in the mind, but the ground fighting and the movement were completely strange to me.

So, starting 2021 at another club - I joined due to the trainers story. He sounded like a very genuine and easy going guy which he indeed is. I really appreciate my trainer - as pro, but maybe even more as human being. the way he handles students, arguments, his school and more, I can adore!

Well now enough jabba jabba:

At the school there is a fundamental course of 10 weeks consisting of 2 lessons per week. All lessons should be completed to receive the first stripe at the first honors training (takes place every 6 months). The fundamentals consist of the basic positions, submissions, transitions and basic principles of BJJ. During this time I met a lot of guys with whom I still train. Not much to tell you here than just soaking in the information and feeling helpless at sparring..

🏆 September 2023: A Strong Start

In September, I trained intensely—sometimes 4 times a week, even twice a day. The effort paid off with two earned stripes and a 5th place finish at the NL Open in Nijmegen. Despite my enthusiasm, physical strain and mental fatigue began to creep in. My knees started acting up, and I felt burned out, yet the passion kept me returning to the mats. <br>

🤝 Memorable Training Moments

• 13-09-23: After months away, my first training back went well, with successful submissions and great energy from the team.
• 21-09-23: Intense sparring, although caution was needed during rolls with a female partner.
• 23-09-23: Open mat session where I felt my knee strain but still managed productive rounds.
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📈 October-December 2023: Growth and Setbacks

Consistency returned in the final months of the year: - 16-10-23: Valuable training with Joost and Jelle, focusing on sweeps and armbars.
- 20-10-23: Competition training was fast-paced but insightful.
- November/December: Despite fewer written reflections, training was regular and productive, with improvements in triangles, transitions, and sweeps.
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💡 Key Takeaways:

• Improved positional awareness.
• Better transitions from half-guard to submissions.
• Increased confidence in sparring against stronger opponents.
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🥋 January 2024: A Fresh Start

• 04-01-24: Intense 1.5-hour competition training, drilling sweeps, triangles, and armbars.
• 06-01-24: Technical insights from Joost on mount escapes and guard transitions.
• 21-01-24: Graduation training led to earning another stripe on my belt—a milestone worth celebrating.
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This blog will continue to document my progression, from small technical improvements to larger achievements. Whether you're here for BJJ insights, training tips, or simply following along with my personal journey, I hope you find value in these posts.

If you find the idea of following my half-diary, half-progress tracker engaging, feel free to leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts!