Open Mat Jiu Jitsu Saint Paul, MO

Open Mat Jiu Jitsu near Saint Paul, MO. Experienced Brazilian jiu jitsu players in Saint Paul, MO shouldn’t limit their time practicing martial arts to competition or classes. Time spent trying out new submissions, positional and situational drills, and live sparring greatly increases not only your skill as a martial artist, but also your personal health and enjoyment of jiu jitsu. It’s also an optimal way to get to know other martial artists and help them become better jiu jitsu players, too.

At Gracie Barra O’Fallon, our mission has always been to make Brazilian jiu jitsu accessible and rewarding to all Saint Paul, MO residents interested in 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 Saint Paul, MO looking to come in, roll with other grapplers, and improve their skills in a free, fun setting. Conveniently located off Interstate 64 and Highway 364, our O’Fallon Brazilian jiu jitsu gym is easy to access for Saint Paul, MO BJJ players who want to sharpen their game. View our schedule for weekly dates and times, or call us at 636-544-3655 for more details about Saint Paul, MO open mat jiu jitsu sessions at Gracie Barra O’Fallon.

Why Come To Open Mat Jiu Jitsu?

Since the beginnings of recorded martial arts, it has been well known that structured drills and practice under a teacher, while crucial, are only one element in becoming a well-rounded martial arts practitioner in Saint Paul, MO. Different martial arts have their own terms for free sparring or practice of new skills. Judo, for instance, calls these sessions randori, karate practitioners often talk about kumite, while in Brazilian jiu jitsu the sparring at open mat sessions is referred to as rolling.

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

• Getting to experiment with new moves you may have seen while watching MMA or submission grappling matches, in instructional videos, or seen performed by higher-ranking students
• Allowing other Saint Paul Gracie Barra students to improve their skills alongside yourself
• Receiving feedback from higher-ranking students about your technique
• Practicing for competitions
• Meeting other jiu-jitsu students and getting to know them in and out of the gym
• No two sessions are alike — one week could allow you to focus on situational grappling or work from bottom position, while another week may have a black belt from a Gracie Barra gym in another city coming through Saint Paul, MO and wanting to roll

What To Expect At An Open Mat Jiu Jitsu Session

Coming to an open mat jiu jitsu session may seem quite intimidating, especially if you’ve just been promoted to a new belt level or someone only visiting Saint Paul for a few days and not a regular at one particular Gracie Barra gym. However, most open mats are welcoming and accessible. Keep these tips in mind when heading to open mat jiu jitsu in Saint Paul, MO:

• Expect to roll. Many people at any given open mat are there to get serious grappling time in. There will often 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 another person on sweeps or moves from mount pays dividends, especially for less experienced grapplers.
• Don’t be afraid of rolling with a senior grappler. Even if you are a blue belt and get asked to spar with a black belt, go ahead and do it. You’ll be shocked at what you can learn from one-on-one sparring or drilling with a BJJ player with more experience.
• Use your time intelligently. Especially if you are readying yourself for an upcoming BJJ tournament or other competition, just coming to an open mat to roll is not the most intelligent decision. Working on guard passes, anticipating certain situations, and takedown drills are all important things you can do at open mat.
• Change what you’re doing based on your partner. It’s good practice 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 good purposes. Higher belts should look to practice newer skills or experiment with various techniques against lower belts, mastering those skills, and then try them out against equally skilled or superior partners.
• Have fun and enjoy the atmosphere! Open mat is a great chance to meet other Gracie Barra martial artists, talk about BJJ, MMA, or anything else, and boost your skills in a unstructured atmosphere. It’s not uncommon for a group of people to go out and grab something to eat or a drink after an open mat session to continue that team spirit and friendship.

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

Gracie Barra O’Fallon strives to offer the finest in Saint Paul martial arts training as well as team spirit and friendship, regardless of your experience or current skill level. Along with Brazilian jiu jitsu, we offer Saint Paul, MO kickboxing and self-defense classes, as well as Barra Fit, which merges high-intensity interval training with martial arts fundamentals.

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 accessible to anyone who wants to learn it, as well as instilling positive values like honor, respect for others, and discipline. Gracie Barra O’Fallon has brought this mission to many people from all around Saint Paul, MO, supporting the new student while improving the veteran. Our Saint Paul, MO open mat jiu jitsu sessions are intended for committed Brazilian jiu jitsu players who are searching to further their martial arts abilities, and as such they are open only to Gracie Barra BJJ practitioners at the blue belt level or above. If you are interested in stopping by for a Saint Paul, 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.