I hope so. It’s a tough spot. I really like this gym, despite being nogi only. (The coach is a brown belt, former college wrestler and trains under a former UFC champion who has a gym 45 minutes away. They seem cordial, and my coach teaches a class there, but he’s going on 4 years as a brown belt. I don’t think he wants it, but also not sure if his coach really cares to give it either. Really as a middle finger to IBJFF). He teaches a completely different game than I have learned previously. Lots of leg entries, naturally, but more so, it’s ‘American Jiu Jitsu’. Focus on pinning, technical advancing to pins, dog fighting and working towards the back. It’s also the only gym I can confidently make it too, as they have a midday class.
There are two other options close to me. 1. Very cultish that really really really cares about your lineage, branded Gis, etc. The blackbelt professor there received his BB from Roger Machado. 2. Basically a beer belly bjj club. I’m sure they train hard, but it’s more community based alternative to softball.
30 minutes from me is the former UFC champion gym and a great great respected school, with 20 or so blackbelts and 30+ people who show up to 6am class. I can make it during the summer, but once school starts, I can’t make morning classes and night classes will always be a consistent no-go, with the kids/wife needing me.
My current goal is to just train my two days a week during lunch hour, drill, learn new techniques and hope folks join when there is someone good who consistently comes in. Essentially, helping the coach build it. THEN, when I can, drop in at other schools to get hard rounds.
The irony is not at all lost on me that previously I never learned new techniques in classes, but instead watched videos and tried them until I was successful, BUT had great partners to now, drilling and learning technique without great partners.
I will say, my ability to use weight and control my body is getting really good here. Training with light partners requires me to be smart and conscious of weight distribution and floating when in top position. There was a moment when my coach had sat through in a scarf hold on me. I waited for right moment and sat up and took side control from him. I immediately, laughed and sat back so he could have side control. I just said reset us and said I’m not going to learn anything using my 100lbs difference against you.
