Looking for some advice-
I love this forum and have been getting some great information from it. I am pretty new to BJJ(14 mos) and not very good. I will be testing for my blue belt next week, and the following week Leo Viera is coming to my school for a seminar and some privates. I plan to take a private with him and have some questions, would love to know what you all think.
When you have a lesson with someone, do you all choose one area you want to work on? Let the instructor decide? What if you need (like I do) work in all areas of your game?
Sorry if this seems like a foolish question, this will be my first private lesson, and I really would appreciate any feedback you can offer as to what you all like to do so I don't feel like I am wasting this valuable opportunity.
Flaming is expected, but not required.
Enzo
enzo, I would pick one area and have him really focus on it. the thing is, at 14 months of training, his input is likely to be on the same level as if you were taking a private from an average black belt.
Thanks Andre, thats sort of what I was thinking. I sure do appreciate the advice.
no problem! :) I would also say that if you arent sure what to work on, bring a partner around your level for you to roll with while Leo watches. Then ask him what he thinks you should work on, and focus on that.
I would have to agree with Andre on what he said. You can ask him to teach you a small series of moves. I did that with Marcelo. You can chain together 6 moves in that private if you are good at remembering things and still have time to roll.
I took a private with Leo in Sao Paulo last year and here is how it went down - we just started rolling, he was smiling as he would just blow though positions, but not just tapping me at will.
After about 5 minutes, he asked to turn the video camera off for the technique portion of the private. We did a lot of butterfly, armdrag stuff, and his legweave pass. after going through the techniques, we sparred again and he left openings for me to try the stuff that he just taught. If I tried something other than the technique he showed, he would lightly smack my head and say, "work the technique!".
It was one of the best set-up privates I have taken, he is incredibly friendly and easygoing, as well as being humble. I would recommend rolling, and ask for specific advice on how to improve what you did wrong. Looking back, I don't really play butterfly guard, so I wish I would have asked about something that would fit into my game better. Have a great time, by the way!
Thanks for the advice everyone. This has really given me some great ideas.
Passing
trust me
you will never forget his lessons on passing
he showed me more about passing in an hour and a half than I had learned in 3 years and it was all very simple to use and remember
wheres your club?
BALEIA-thanks for the advice. That is certainly an area where I could use some help, along with just about everything else. BTW-I train in Ft Lauderdale, Fl.
I second BALEIA's advice. I was trying to think of something really good to say but his is not just a good, but the correct answer.
When you get a private on passing I'm assuming (B, correct me if I"m wrong) that it's a way to both learn effective fundamental movements that are applicable at all levels of BJJ
as well as
Working on something even more fundamental like sensitivity and base (which can be a difficult concept for beginners)
So you get the useful techniques for passing, a better understanding of fundamental movements that occur all the time when rolling AND a better understanding of even more basic issues like base, posture etc.
myself and 3 others did a Private with Leo about a month after ADCC 2003 while he was visiting Atlanta. He showed us awesome passing combinations, answered any questions we had about passing and made us do drills for us untill we truely understood the moves.
Than I asked him how he came up with that fuckin crazy move he does on the Mundial 2000 Remix Highlight.Its a funny story!
Leo is King
you will not be dissapointed, and you wont find a more genuine person in jiu-jitsu.
That move is freekin Halarious....What did he day??
The Whale is right I was at that seminar too and Leo is one of the most open and humble instructors ever......you can ask him anything and he won't hold anything back.
He walks around making sure everyone has even the most miniscule detail down.
His passing is awesome because he knows where to put the wieght......"not too much forward, not too much back....right here" Almost like standing up on a Surf board either you stand or you fall but you have to have you weight and Balence in just the right spot!!
well, the move in question, he saw a kid at his academy execute. so he thought he'd try it one day in competition. Except the move was usually done from butterfly or open guard. Leave it to Leo to try the thing standing.
he did it because the guy he was fighting was very good at judo and he knew if he left his one leg exposed, his opponent would sweep it out. well, the sweep created so much momentum that leo was able to sweep the guy on top and end I think in knee on the belly
his explanation is funnier though.
Roll with leo too. its awesome cause you dont feel him very much, and he's never in one spot for more than a couple seconds.
he will go with every move you attempt instead of trying to resist it by crushing your face. thing is he will let you attempt a move but he always has a counter.
ttt for leo
One thing I think a lot of relatively new guys can benefit from is asking high level guys how they "think" about moves or transitions. Its the approach that can help you grow quicker than just a series of moves (though at a beginner level, if you don't know any particular moves, you're SOL). I realize you've already had your private but it could be something for the future.
CC
So how much does he want?
Average salary per month in Brazil is $200-$500 and that's if you work your ass off.