Standing BJJ Classes - More than Judo and Wrestling

People used to think that in order to learn standing, you just need to join judo or wrestling class here and there. But the standing game in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has evolved far beyond just judo and wrestling. A lot of what's allowed in BJJ isn't allowed in judo, and a lot of things you can do in judo or wrestling give your opponent an advantage in BJJ.

Unique standing skills you need for BJJ

Here are some skills that are super important in BJJ that aren't emphasized as much in wrestling and BJJ:

1. Standing submissions - Wrestling has no submissions, and in judo, the rules are very strict. In BJJ (and the streets) you can basically slap on whatever you want.
2. Standing Back takes - In BJJ, we believe taking your opponents back is the best thing you can do. In wrestling and judo, they often give their back on purpose.
3. Landing in advantageous positions - In judo and wrestling, pinning someone for a few seconds or throwing them on their backs is often enough. In BJJ, we need to get to a safe position that can be used to submit the opponent or hold them for a longer time.

Meet Gauthier, our Standing BJJ Coach

Gauthier Blommaert is a BJJ brown belt and an internationally competitive judoka that also has wrestling experience. He's been training judo for more than 24 years, BJJ for 10. He was also third in the IBJJF Europeans in master 2022.

"I've never met anyone in my life that can blend the standup of judo and wrestling so seamlessly with the ground game as Gauthier" - Stapho Thienpont

Worstelen Gent

While we're not a wrestling gym and we don't offer pure wrestling classes. We do stand-up wrestling in our no-gi classes, and our standing BJJ classes also tackle wrestling techniques. Depending on the current theme, Gauthier changes between gi and no gi to tailor to the current needs of the gym.

Judo Gent

Our standing curriculum isn't limited to just judo. But with Gauthier's 24 years of judo experience in the international competitive judo scene, we can proudly say we have a strong judo background.

Gauthier masterfully blends effective old-school judo techniques with the modern needs of BJJ and self-defense.

Why you need to learn standing BJJ

Beyond pulling guard

In modern BJJ, many competitors choose to just pull guard (sit on their ass) instead of working their stand-up. This leaves them with two options: They can pull guard or pray their opponent plays guard. If you want to dominate the fight from the first second the fight, you need to be able to choose if you'll play top or bottom. To do that, you need a strong stand-up game.

If you dominate the standup game, your opponent will never have a chance to start attacking, you force them to defend themselves from the first second to the last.

For self-defense

In a self-defense situation, you need to have the option to stand or go to the ground. Your BJJ won't help you if you can't take your opponent to the ground. If someone on the street can take you down and punch you in the face, then that's bad as well. Work on your standing to make sure you're safe everywhere.

Finding our No Gi BJJ gym in Gent

Company: Stark Ghent VZW

Address: Nijverheidskaai 3c, 9040, Belgium

Finding the entrance

You can just click the map above to find the easiest route to the gym. But sometimes people have a hard time finding the entrance because it's a bit hidden. That's why we're adding some extra instructions.

If you go to the location on the map below, you'll find a bike store named "Grand Départ" to get to the gym, you need to walk through the parking and walk in through the red gate on the right. There you'll see a tent, the door is under the tent on the right.

Parking instructions

Sadly, we're not allowed to park in the parking lot of the bike store or next to the gym. That's why you will need to park on the street.