Okay so here’s the deal. I really wanted to try BJJ, right? But between the crazy schedule and just… life stuff, getting to a proper gym felt impossible. Plus, all this talk about online learning got me curious. Could I actually learn even the basics from my tiny apartment? Time to find out.
Starting Out: The Great Internet Dig
First things first – I needed stuff to watch. No idea where to even begin. I grabbed my laptop and just started typing variations of “learn bjj online” into the search bar. Man, so. many. options. Felt overwhelming immediately.
Here’s the rough path I took:
- Grappling with Free Content: Found a few channels with shorter clips. Watched some super basic stuff – how to tie the belt (took me three tries later!), what a guard even is, super simple escapes. Good intro, felt free was okay for dipping my toes.
- The Subscription Rabbit Hole: Kept seeing ads and mentions for bigger platforms. You know the ones – monthly fee, promises of complete systems. Signed up for a free trial on one. Wow, just… tons of videos. Drills, techniques for different belts, theory stuff. Way more structured. Clicked around like a kid in a candy store.
- Hunting for Beginner Focus: Realized quickly I needed stuff labeled “Fundamentals” or “Day 1”. Found one channel specifically doing “BJJ at Home Drills”. Perfect! Straightforward, no partner needed things like shrimping (which is way harder than it looks!), hip escapes, basic movements.
Actually Trying Stuff: My Living Room Became a Dojo (Sort Of)
Alright, research phase over. Time to move. Cleared some space. Threw down an old yoga mat and some towels – classy home gym setup achieved. Figured I’d start simple.
Chose a fundamental escape drill from one platform. Hit play on my phone, propped it up. “Okay,” I thought, “looks straightforward.” Mimicked the instructor on the screen. Tried the movement… and immediately felt like a beached whale. Rolling over my shoulder? Way. more awkward than they made it look. My hips felt glued to the floor. This sucked. Did it again. And again. Slowly, very slowly, it felt less like I was having a seizure on the carpet. Minor win!
Feeling slightly confident (mistake!), I moved to another free video showing a basic mount escape. Got down on all fours, tried to remember the steps. Bridge, trap the arm, shrimp out… my brain short-circuited. Bridged too hard and nearly kicked my coffee table across the room. Tried linking the movements together. Felt like I was trying to pat my head and rub my stomach simultaneously. Total spaghetti limbs. Laughed at myself hard. Progress? Maybe not smooth, but effort was there.
The Realities of Solo “Rolling”
After a few sessions, some truths emerged:
- Mat Burn is REAL (even on carpet!): My elbows look like I took sandpaper to them. Turns out drilling escapes means friction. Who knew?
- You Need Imagination (or a Dummy): Trying to simulate where an opponent would be is weird. Sometimes I’d just stare at the ceiling picturing arms and legs.
- Details Matter Way More: Online, you gotta REALLY pay attention. “Just shove their hip here” – wait, exactly where? Angle? How much pressure? Rewind, watch frame-by-frame. Easy to miss tiny things that make the whole thing work.
Where I’m At Now & What Actually Helps
I’m not pretending I’m gonna tap anyone out anytime soon. But here’s the thing: I’ve moved beyond absolute zero. I understand the concepts behind some escapes and positions now. My hips move a tiny bit better. I’m less confused by the weird names. If I ever step into a real gym, I won’t be completely clueless.
Would I recommend trying this? Honestly? It’s better than nothing if you’re stuck. Especially if you pick solid beginner content and focus on foundational movements. It gives you SOMETHING to work with. But man… you gotta manage expectations hard. It’s awkward, it’s messy, it involves bruised elbows and tangled limbs. And nothing replaces trying things on a real person. Still, for getting a taste and learning the very basic ABCs? Yeah, those online resources work. Just maybe don’t expect graceful ninja moves right away.
