Question 1

What does a typical class look like at Bear Trap?

Accepted Answer

Drew has spent years studying the pedagogy of jiu jitsu -- the approach to teaching, and the theory of practice & learning. He has structured the gym program with what he's learned, iterated upon, and battle-tested over classes he's taught over the past half decade.

We offer fundamentals and advanced classes. Fundamentals is designed to smoothly run into Advanced class; feel free to stay for both. All levels are welcome to either, and we guarantee all levels will benefit from both classes.

The difference between Fundamentals and Advanced is this:
- Fundamentals is focused on teaching what grappling is, and getting folks familiar with the breadth of grappling - positions, movements, and submissions that you'll deal with while training. The primary goal is to build skills that you can apply in the Advanced class. There is a heavy focus on concepts, and you will come out of this class with a better contextual understanding within grappling as  whole. Higher belts can still benefit from this class, as you can never be too sharp with the basic building blocks.
- Advanced hones in more specifically, with depth as the focus (instead of breadth). We will alternate specific areas of grappling throughout the year, which allows us to build in-depth competency in a relatively short period of time. Again - all levels are welcome to Advanced as well; lower belts will still receive great value from the concepts and skills in the advanced class.

The structure for each class is generally the same. You will pair up, or be paired, with someone roughly your own size for the drilling. Both types of classes begin with a skill-building warmup. Coach will demonstrate the technique with the uke (the demonstration partner). We make sure folks have time to ask questions, see the moves again, and feel comfortable before moving onto drilling the technique(s). We will drill and practice the technique with a partner. During this time, Coach Drew will make sure your form is correct and safe, so you learn the right way and aren't getting false positives or developing poor habits. He will adjust the technique if you are having difficulty with it so you are not overwhelmed and can learn with the right building blocks, at your level and pace.

We focus on only a few techniques at a time so you can receive detailed instruction and the conceptual underpinnings. We reserve a few rounds for sparring, and then people may stay after to ask Coach questions for further help with the techniques, or continue to drill or spar with each other if they like.

Question 2

What is American Jiu Jitsu?

Accepted Answer

"American Jiu-Jitsu is the evolution of jiu-jitsu itself… It's constantly evolving, and if you don’t get on the train, you’ll get left behind" - Heath Pedigo

As a martial art, Jiu Jitsu focuses on taking a dangerous opponent to the ground to limit their ability to strike, then to control and eventually submit them. Japanese Jujutsu was an ancient martial art that was used by samurai warriors and focused on hand to hand combat. As time progressed, the takedowns and submissions from Jujutsu and other traditional martial arts were more specifically honed for sport through different cultures and rulesets to create Catch Wrestling in Europe, Sambo in Russia, and Judo in Japan. When Judo was brought to Brazil, the focus was placed less on the high-amplitude throws that are recognizable from Judo, and instead shifted towards the goal of submitting the opponent on the ground.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was historically marketed toward members of the upper class that could afford to buy gis to train in, and to explicitly exclude Luta Livre fighters who trained what is more similar to modern NoGi with the influence of submission wrestling. Once the Gracie family brought their version (known as Gracie Jiu Jitsu) to the US, it took off. Most know it to have been prominently featured in the UFC. Over the next several decades, the influence of American folk style wrestling, judo, sambo, and catch wrestling have been integrated into the sport of jiu jitsu. Jiu jitsu has since accelerated in its evolution and development. The exciting throws, takedowns, and lower body submissions that the sport is now known for demonstrate a stark contrast from its arrival to the US. This is not a coincidence; this acceleration is just the ripple effect from the intentional avoidance of including other forms of grappling in its roots in Brazil.

This is how American Jiu Jitsu has been changing the game. We don’t bow to photos; we don’t call people master; and we believe inclusion and open mindedness leads to innovation and a better sport for all. We believe in free exchange; the more free a training environment and community is, the better it is for the growth of the sport.

This is why we at Bear Trap AJJ say: never settle.

Question 3

Do I have to compete if I join your gym?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! While we believe in the value of competing for all grapplers to sharpen their game and challenge themselves to push their limits beyond what they thought possible, we welcome grapplers with all sorts of goals. But do be prepared for high-level training for hobbyists and competitors alike, and all will be expected to support the team. We don't cut corners in our training, and our goal is to improve the caliber of jiu jitsu in West Michigan with hard work and dedication. As long as you're willing to put in the work and learn, competitor or hobbyist, you are always welcome at Bear Trap AJJ.

Question 4

Is training jiu jitsu safe?

Accepted Answer

All combat sports come with risk of injury, but we prioritize safety above all to minimize risk:

- Not training hard in the days before competition.
- We learn proper technique, especially standing, so students feel confident and safe moving in all positions with themselves and their training partners and in competition.
- Ensuring that before we do higher-risk techniques, everyone understands how to move in the best way to minimize injury risk. 
- Not permitting rolling and sparring behavior that is overly dynamic and uncontrolled. We abide by "slow is smooth, smooth is fast". 
- Being conscientious & mindful of training partners' injuries and limitations before rolling.
- Not ripping submissions. We will teach you to control the position before applying submissions.
- Banned techniques include: scissor takedowns (kani basami) and jumping closed guard. These techniques introduce dangerous levels of risk that we will not permit in our training environment.

Mouthguards are a matter of personal preference, but we don't roll without them -- dental work is expensive and headbutts happen sometimes! You can try storebought boil-and-bite mouthguards, or get custom mouthguards made especially if you have fit issues with the storebought. Niki has been using custom Impact Mouthguards for years and swears by them; many others like Sisu or Damage Control.

Question 5

Will jiu jitsu help me for self-defense?

Accepted Answer

Short answer is "yes", with a caveat rooted in a healthy dose of reality. We guarantee that with six months of regular training, you will see a noticeable difference in your ability to handle yourself compared to someone who doesn't train (and most people never step foot on the mats). However, the safest approach is always to avoid the risk of physical confrontations and be aware of your safety and surroundings at all times.

While we don't believe jiu jitsu "self defense" classes are often realistic, and tend to be used for marketing more often than not, we know people - women in particular - who have been able to use basic methods to keep themselves safe. You promise will notice an increase in your self-confidence and your ability to handle and carry yourself.