Open Mat Jiu Jitsu Defiance, MO

Open Mat Jiu Jitsu near Defiance, MO. Skilled Brazilian jiu jitsu students in Defiance, MO shouldn’t limit their hours practicing martial arts to competition or classes. Time spent testing out new submissions, positional and situational drills, and live rolling greatly increases not only your ability as a martial artist, but also your enjoyment of jiu jitsu and wellness. It’s also an optimal way to meet new friends and help them along their martial arts journey, as well.

At Gracie Barra O’Fallon, our mission has always been to make Brazilian jiu jitsu accessible and rewarding to all Defiance, MO residents who practice it. In addition to our full schedule of jiu jitsu classes for all ages and abilities, we offer multiple open mat sessions every week for adult Gracie Barra BJJ players at the blue belt level or above in Defiance, MO looking to drop in, roll with other grapplers, and practice their skills in an enjoyable, unstructured setting. Conveniently located off Interstate 64 and Highway 364, our O’Fallon Brazilian jiu jitsu gym is easily accessible for Defiance, MO BJJ players who want to better themselves. View our schedule for weekly dates and times, or call us at 636-544-3655 for more details about Defiance, MO open mat jiu jitsu sessions at Gracie Barra O’Fallon.

Why Come To Open Mat Jiu Jitsu?

Since martial arts have been established, it has been regarded that structured drills and practice under a trainer, while crucial, are only one element in becoming a well-rounded martial arts practitioner in Defiance, MO. Different martial arts have unique terms for free sparring or practice of new skills. Judo, for example, calls these sessions randori, karate practitioners often talk about kumite, while in Brazilian jiu jitsu the sparring at open mat sessions is named rolling.

The benefits of open mat jiu jitsu sessions in Defiance, MO are diverse, and include:

• Getting to try out new moves you may have seen in instructionals, while watching MMA or submission grappling matches, or done by higher-ranking belts
• Allowing other Defiance Gracie Barra students to improve their abilities along with you
• Receiving advice from higher-ranking students about your skills
• Practicing for competitions
• Meeting other jiu-jitsu students and getting to know them both on the mat and off
• Every session is different — one week could allow you to focus on situational grappling or work from side control, while another week may have a black belt from a Gracie Barra gym in another city in Defiance for a few days and wanting to roll

What To Expect At An Open Mat Jiu Jitsu Session

Visiting an open mat jiu jitsu session may seem fairly scary, especially if you’ve just been promoted to a new belt level or someone only in Defiance for a short period of time and not a regular at one particular Gracie Barra gym. However, most open mats are friendly and accessible. Keep these tips in mind when heading to open mat jiu jitsu in Defiance, MO:

• Expect to roll. Many people at any given open mat are there to get good, solid grappling time in. There will usually be some small-group drilling or instructional sessions, but one-on-one grappling is most common.
• Don’t forget the benefits of drilling. Even with most people at open mat focusing on rolling, being able to work with a partner on guard passes or moves from guard has multiple benefits, especially for those with less experience.
• Don’t be afraid of rolling with a higher level belt. Even if you are a blue belt and get asked to spar with a black belt, don’t hesitate to do it. You’ll be shocked at what you can expect from one-on-one sparring or drilling with a BJJ player with more experience.
• Use your time intelligently. Especially if you are preparing for an upcoming BJJ tournament or other competition, just coming to an open mat to roll is not the smartest decision. Situational drills, takedown practice, and improving your guard passes are all important things you can do at open mat.
• Adjust what you’re doing based on your partner. It’s a good idea not only for higher level belts to roll with many of the newer students at an open mat, but also to use that time for the right purposes. Higher belts should look to practice newly-acquired skills or experiment with various techniques against lower belts, mastering those skills, and then use them against equally skilled or superior partners.
• Have fun and enjoy the atmosphere! Open mat is an ideal place to hang out with other Gracie Barra martial artists, talk about BJJ, MMA, or anything else, and boost your skills in a relaxed setting. It’s fairly common for a group of people to go out and grab a bite to eat or a few beverages after an open mat session to build camaraderie and team spirit.

Open Mat Jiu Jitsu in Defiance, MO | Gracie Barra O’Fallon

Gracie Barra O’Fallon strives to offer the best in Defiance martial arts instruction as well as fellowship and camaraderie, regardless of your experience or current skill level. Along with Brazilian jiu jitsu, we offer Defiance, MO kickboxing and self-defense classes, as well as Barra Fit, which melds high-intensity interval training with martial arts principles.

Since Carlos Gracie, Jr. opened the first Gracie Barra gym more than three decades ago in Rio de Janeiro, the Gracie Barra mission has always been to make Brazilian jiu jitsu available to anyone insterested in it, as well as teaching them positive values like self-respect, discipline, and honor. Gracie Barra O’Fallon has brought this mission to many people from all around Defiance, MO, nurturing the new student while improving the veteran. Our Defiance, MO open mat jiu jitsu sessions are made for serious Brazilian jiu jitsu players who are seeking to grow their mastery of martial arts, and as such they are open only to Gracie Barra BJJ practitioners at the blue belt level or above. If you are think about stopping by for a Defiance, MO open mat jiu jitsu session at Gracie Barra O’Fallon, or for more details on any one of our programs, call us at 636-544-3655 or contact us online.