shen -
Standard BJJ Seminar Disclaimer:
I'm gonna charge you a little too much money to show you some very impressive, but not especially useful stuff. What exactly doesn't matter because in 2 months, you will have almost zero memory of anything I showed. However, we can take a picture together and then for the rest of your life, you can list me as one of the instructors you have learned directly from.
Session -LCSULLA -nowaydo - Yes, that was one of the things I was thinking. "Purple Belt Syndrome".
I, personally, want someone to show me something that "I think I already know".
That gives me the "Wow" Factor.
I think that's not a view commonly shared. Most want to learn some crazy 'new' technique. Have you ever heard reviews of Rolyer's seminars? He shows basic stuff and people complain.
This also parallels attendance. Im sure if one of the Mendes Bros does a seminar...its packed. But a Sergio Penha probably isn't.
Except most people could probably pull more from tightening up their basics, or the expounding on a basic comment than they could from something "WOW".
Mendes bro's will show you a million steps that you probably won't be able to do, and most likely won't even fit in your game. A seminar from a guy like Saulo will give you multiple things that could improve your game immediately.
ColeMillerATT - I have an entire seminar dedicated to the kimura. It has finished and set ups. Probably a lot or maybe even everything you've seen before but I guarantee I'll show details that will make you go back to the moves. Same with devastating de la Riva guard (attacks), destroying the dlr(passes and shutting down), and classic everyone likes favorite subs and setups.
I think you have to have a game plan going into seminars. I had 1-3 seminar buddies back in the day that would go with me, and if you use teamwork properly they can be vital in remembering and continuing to drill techniques.
My seminars recently have been more for good causes than me, and those just tend to be really enjoyable because of the people who attend. It's just a really good atmosphere and several times a brown or a black present has come up with a really good option off of one of my series and I just impromptu asked them to teach that technique to the class. 
Hillary - I think you have to have a game plan going into seminars. I had 1-3 seminar buddies back in the day that would go with me, and if you use teamwork properly they can be vital in remembering and continuing to drill techniques.
My seminars recently have been more for good causes than me, and those just tend to be really enjoyable because of the people who attend. It's just a really good atmosphere and several times a brown or a black present has come up with a really good option off of one of my series and I just impromptu asked them to teach that technique to the class.
I teach a lot of seminars, and I always have a theme for them. Kimuras, leglocks, open guard maintenance, escapes, mount control, back control, etc. I really much prefer to teach one theme, as folks walk away with something they can use right away due to reinforcement of basic movements and concepts.
Personally, I like sem's to be on one thing, I went to an Ralek sem and it was on the bridge and roll, as far as sem's go I like that.
But in general i rarely go to sem's, to expensive and if you ever tried to read my notes from them it's like "what the fuck did i write"?
goatfury -
I teach a lot of seminars, and I always have a theme for them. Kimuras, leglocks, open guard maintenance, escapes, mount control, back control, etc. I really much prefer to teach one theme, as folks walk away with something they can use right away due to reinforcement of basic movements and concepts.
cdog1955 - Personally, I like sem's to be on one thing, I went to an Ralek sem and it was on the bridge and roll, as far as sem's go I like that.This. Plus the rule of no video camera allowed. If I was a black belt, I would have someone record it, and mail out DVD copies to attendants with maybe a coded section so I know where leaked copies came from.
But in general i rarely go to sem's, to expensive and if you ever tried to read my notes from them it's like "what the fuck did i write"?
No offense intended, but some of you sound like you might have kinda boring seminar themes. Personally, I like to have FUN themes! Some of my most successful recent themes for BJJ seminars have been:
"Midnight in Paris", "Enchantment Under the Sea" & "Moonlight Serenade"
--Oh, and I just did one called, "a Walk in the Clouds with Toe Holds". Honestly, it was SOOO good!
nowaydo -goatfury -
I teach a lot of seminars, and I always have a theme for them. Kimuras, leglocks, open guard maintenance, escapes, mount control, back control, etc. I really much prefer to teach one theme, as folks walk away with something they can use right away due to reinforcement of basic movements and concepts.
Do you advertise your theme?
I find most have a theme, it is just not known until you get there.
Yes, always.
Here's an upcoming one in the Philly area.
shen -Lol! VU
No offense intended, but some of you sound like you might have kinda boring seminar themes. Personally, I like to have FUN themes! Some of my most successful recent themes for BJJ seminars have been:
"Midnight in Paris", "Enchantment Under the Sea" & "Moonlight Serenade"
--Oh, and I just did one called, "a Walk in the Clouds with Toe Holds". Honestly, it was SOOO good!
I wish they would all advertise the general subject matter so you can make a decision on if you want to go. If the wrong type of people show up its a complete waste to them and possibly their partners. I went to a Miyao seminar because I wanted to see some of their DLR and berimbolo stuff up front. There were a lot of white belts there who had no business doing any of what we were learning. I had the misfortune of being paired up with a white belt who had only been training for 6 weeks (he was huge and I was the next largest guy in the room). Needless to say, he didn't get anything out of the seminar and neither did I. I spent the whole time trying to explain basic grips and positioning of things, let alone even attempting the techniques being shown. Part of that is also on the host school's instructors to be real with students on whether the seminar is for them or not.
goatfury -nowaydo -goatfury -
I teach a lot of seminars, and I always have a theme for them. Kimuras, leglocks, open guard maintenance, escapes, mount control, back control, etc. I really much prefer to teach one theme, as folks walk away with something they can use right away due to reinforcement of basic movements and concepts.
Do you advertise your theme?
I find most have a theme, it is just not known until you get there.
Yes, always.
Here's an upcoming one in the Philly area.
nowaydo -goatfury -nowaydo -goatfury -
I teach a lot of seminars, and I always have a theme for them. Kimuras, leglocks, open guard maintenance, escapes, mount control, back control, etc. I really much prefer to teach one theme, as folks walk away with something they can use right away due to reinforcement of basic movements and concepts.
Do you advertise your theme?
I find most have a theme, it is just not known until you get there.
Yes, always.
Here's an upcoming one in the Philly area.
Great! That's exactly what I'm talking about! Perfect.
When I do wrestling/clinch/judo/general takedown seminars, I usually print out my lesson plan and hand it out to all in attendance.
I'm also a school teacher.
Both of my parents are retired schoolteachers, and I started tutoring when I was in high school. I've pretty much enjoyed teaching in some fashion since then.
That's great!
Sometimes, it appears that some think just because they obtain a certain belt level that automatically gives them the "gift" or science to be a teacher.
Emily Kwok once told me that she doesn't think a lot of BJJ instructors put much thought or effort into the science of teaching and all it involves. She thinks many just believe that because they can do something well, they can express and communicate it well to others. They don't think about how their lessons are being absorbed and how they can make them more effective.
Any time that I'm at a seminar, or even just a class with a different teacher, I probably spend as much time focusing on the teaching as I do on what's being taught. I'm often more impressed by how something's taught then I am by the actual technique itself.
My day job is teaching people how to use IT systems, so I think you naturally tend to think about how to teach, as well as what to teach.
James
Sir Taps - Any time that I'm at a seminar, or even just a class with a different teacher, I probably spend as much time focusing on the teaching as I do on what's being taught. I'm often more impressed by how something's taught then I am by the actual technique itself.
My day job is teaching people how to use IT systems, so I think you naturally tend to think about how to teach, as well as what to teach.
James
Session -Gui mendes is an excellent teacher. I went to his seminar it was full of bjj science, from the techniques to the concepts and training methodology. Full of gemLCSULLA -nowaydo - Yes, that was one of the things I was thinking. "Purple Belt Syndrome".
I, personally, want someone to show me something that "I think I already know".
That gives me the "Wow" Factor.
I think that's not a view commonly shared. Most want to learn some crazy 'new' technique. Have you ever heard reviews of Rolyer's seminars? He shows basic stuff and people complain.
This also parallels attendance. Im sure if one of the Mendes Bros does a seminar...its packed. But a Sergio Penha probably isn't.
Except most people could probably pull more from tightening up their basics, or the expounding on a basic comment than they could from something "WOW".
Mendes bro's will show you a million steps that you probably won't be able to do, and most likely won't even fit in your game. A seminar from a guy like Saulo will give you multiple things that could improve your game immediately.
I most often ask the head instructor if they have any specific theme in mind. If not, I will have a theme, but usually leave it up to the sponsoring school how they want to advertise/promote the seminar (especially if they pay a flat fee i.e. they're taking the risk on how many people attend). Once in the seminar, I will increase/roll back specific techniques depending on the level of attendants.
Karel (Silver Fox) Pravec