Mat enforcers in BJJ

One of the dumbest things about bjj is the idea of having a mat enforcer. For anyone who isn’t aware this is a designated tough guy in the gym who enforces the gym rules on the mats by roughing up newbies in sparring if they go too hard or break any of the gym rules.

To me needing to have a student to do this just indicates a poor gym culture. If you need a senior to beat up other students then something has gone wrong.

Building the correct team culture is in my opinion the most important job for a coach. This means explaining exactly what to do and not to do in training and sparring. It means that you need to monitor what is actually happening and making sure students are actually following those agreed upon rules. It also means that if someone is repeatedly not following the rules to tell to find somewhere else to train where they will be a better fit.

The lazy approach of not explaining the rules and behavioural expectations of training at the gym and instead leaving it to the mat enforcers to sort out is what always leads to the development of a terrible mat culture and the inevitable decline of a club.

If you’re a BJJ coach it’s your coach to explain and enforce exactly what the students should and shouldn’t be doing when they’re in the gym. 
 Mat enforcers in BJJ

BJJ Grading FAQs

What time does it start

Grading Starts on Saturday at 11am and will finish at 12.30

What do I need to wear?

Wear a white gi and make sure your belt has the correct number of stripes.

How do I know if I’m eligible for grading?

Everyone is welcome to attend and take part in the grading. There are no entry requirements. I would advise all current BJJ students to attend and take part so you get an idea of what’s involved in our gradings and also to help support your team mates.

I haven’t been training enough in BJJ / I haven’t been training in the Gi?

Come along and take part anyway so you can help support your team. You would want them to be there to support you.

What techniques do I need to know?

Grades are awarded based on knowledge of BJJ as well as performance on the mat. There are no specific techniques you need to know for each grade.

Will it be too hard for me?

No. If you have been training regularly in our normal BJJ classes you won’t find the grading day any more difficult than a normal class. Obviously for students going for higher grades the grading is tougher due to more rounds of sparring however you by the time you are ready to grade to a higher belt you will be more than ready for these challenges due to your consistent training.

How much are the grading fees and where can I pay ?

We don’t charge for gradings. You earn your belt by training consistently for years and years and being a good training partner. At the higher belts you may need to pay a registration fee to the Ibjjf to have your belt officially recognised and certified.

Is it possible to be ungraded ?

Yes. This Saturday we will officially be introducing ‘ungrading’. This is a special ceremony for students who have been promoted to a particular belt but have slacked off significantly or avoided training with tougher sparring partners. We will also be removing stripes from students who’ve been training for an extended period of time but still cannot escape from Mount.

DKMMA

www.dkmma.com.au