8 Mistakes Beginners Make at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Singapore

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art for anyone who wants to learn self-defence, enhance fitness, or compete. It is a popular combat sport among people of all ages, focusing on grappling, ground fighting, and submission techniques. But when someone starts learning BJJ, it's easy to make many mistakes. These actions can slow down learning or even cause injuries. Beginners must stay alert and pay close attention from the start to grow in the right way.

Training in BJJ requires steady practice, smart thinking, and precise movements. It’s not just about speed or strength—it’s about timing and technique. This list will help new students avoid common mistakes and build a strong foundation in BJJ in Singapore.

1. Ignoring the Basics

New students often try to perform advanced moves before they have learned the basic skills. This skips essential steps and weakens their skills later. Without learning the basic guard, mount, or escapes, controlling the match or defending against attacks becomes much harder.

Instead of chasing advanced techniques, students should master the fundamentals. Strong basics form the foundation of all training. In BJJ, everything ties back to these core principles. A solid start ensures consistent progress over time.

2. Using Too Much Strength

Some beginners squeeze, push, or pull too hard at first. They try to force moves using strength rather than proper body control, which often wears them out quickly or even leads to injuries for themselves or their partners.

Why strength-based movement creates setbacks:

• Covers up weak technique: Stronger students often overlook the importance of positioning because their muscle compensates for precision.

• Raises injury chances: HIgher likelihood of injuries for both the person and their training partner.

• Burns energy quickly: Using excessive strength drains energy quickly, limiting learning time.

  
  

Training becomes smoother when students move with balance, not pressure. The goal in BJJ classes is to move smartly, not just powerfully. Once students stop forcing moves, they start learning them better.

3. Avoiding Giving Up

Some people cling and hold on too long and refuse to give up. They believe surrendering means failing or looking weak. But this kind of thinking can harm them. Staying too long in a choke or joint lock can cause serious injuries and reduce the chance to learn and improve.

Giving up gives students a fresh chance to restart and perform better the next time. It honours the training partner and protects the body from harm. Every time someone gives up, it teaches them something valuable. It helps students grow stronger, not fall behind.

4. Neglecting Defense

Focusing only on attack makes many students forget how to protect themselves. When beginners chase submissions all the time, they miss the chance to learn how to escape and stay safe. Good defense involves calm thinking and more control.

Benefits of early defensive focus:

• More time in matches: Defense helps students stay in the game longer.

• Sharper awareness: They learn to notice danger and change positions fast.

• Better progress later: Solid defense becomes the base for future attacks.

  
  

Students who train in defense early learn how to stay out of trouble. They begin to understand where they are on the mat and what to do next. That makes their training smarter and stronger.

5. Skipping Practices

Practices may feel boring, but they are the key to fast improvement. Some people try to skip them and jump straight to sparring. If you don't practice, you won't remember the moves. That makes it harder to use them during a real match.

Practices help the body remember how to move, grip, and shift weight. Just like learning to write or ride a bike, practice builds strong habits. Skipping this step makes moves messy and unclear.

6. Sparring with Ego

Sparring is about learning, not winning. But some students train with too much pride. They just want to beat their partners. This gets in the way of learning and builds bad habits. They don’t try new moves or learn from their mistakes.

Downsides of ego-driven rolling:

• Limited learning opportunities: Avoiding challenging partners restricts growth.

• Unwillingness to try new techniques: Fear of losing leads to repetitive patterns.

• Tense training environment: Over-competitiveness creates discomfort for others.

  
  

Rolling should feel like practice, not a fight. People who leave their ego aside learns faster. They take more chances and gain more skill over time in BJJ classes.

7. Training Inconsistently

Missing classes often disrupt steady learning. It’s hard to remember moves when training isn’t regular. Some students start strong but soon stop attending consistently. This breaks their flow and makes it harder to return.

Even two or three classes each week help keep the body and mind connected. Attending regularly builds rhythm. It makes the training feel natural and helps the brain retain each lesson more clearly.

8. Not Asking Questions

Some students stay quiet even when they’re confused. They may not want to bother the coach or appear unsure. However, asking questions clears up confusion and leads to helpful answers.

A conversation with the coach shows that a student wants to grow. A small tip can fix a move or help avoid a mistake. Every question leads to a better understanding of how BJJ is done.

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Conclusion

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Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu requires effort and focus. It’s easy to make small mistakes that slow progress or cause problems. By learning about these eight common errors, beginners can move forward with more purpose. Good training begins with smart habits, not just hard work.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu rewards students who train often, stay patient, and focus on learning, not just winning. When beginners show up, listen, and stay calm, they begin to feel more confident. From beginner BJJ classes to the advanced ones, learning BJJ in Singapore teaches new ways to think, move, and grow. Avoiding these early mistakes helps students stay safe, train well, and enjoy the path ahead.