What is the first lesson like in your school for Jiu Jitsu?

Break Falls?

Blocks?

Stance Work?

Wrist escapes?

I remember going through high and middle blocks and learning how to perform a basic punch. Then moving on to basic wrist escapes going against the thumb.

Looking back now, it wasn't much. At the time, it was all brand new though and very mysterious.

If you are teaching, how different, if at all, is the way you teach the first class from the way you learned in your own?

I wish I could answer this Fletch but I don't know when Taedwondo ends and Hapkido, JJJ or BJJ start. All of the items you list we train. It also depending on what day you showed up as we work on a 6 day rotation period so no day is the same ... not to mention the curriculm taught on that day.

My first day when I showed up just to check things out was basic punching from a horse stance. This was followed by fundimental kicking and stances. Then I was taught the Fundimental Pattern. Next time I showed up we did falling techniques (break falls) ... but being new I only did to a certain level and then watched. It wasn't till much later did I start learning hand techniques (wrist escapes) but then again I could have missed days as I only came 3 days a week. Blocks were learned from the basic with the hand techniques.

Now, my favorite things to do are grappling (a passion), breakfalling (thrown and throwin), one-step self defense patterns (with partner), and kicking drills (person, blocker shield or paddles).

I studied with the WJJF. I attended the final class of the year, just before their Christmas break.

Basically it was rapid fire self defence techniques. It was really practical stuff, blocking punches, and then counter striking to set up the hip throw. Block punch, reverse elbow to face, hip throw. Block punch, light tiger claw jab to throat, knee to groin, hip throw... and so it continued..

Obviously as a beginner I wasn't expected to do everything. But I enjoyed it none the less, and felt as though the techniques I had learnt would translate in to a real situation quite easily (with a bit more practice on my part)

We went over ettiquite, basic stances, break falls. Those of us with prev MA experience were shown some other stuff.

The first day with my current master?

He said "Do you have experience with Judo?" I said no and we went over the most practical throws for my body type. That may be one of the reasons why I like Osoto-gari.

Then we went for a little sparring. At first it's more MMA but nowadays it's basically Judo grappling cuz I don't see the reason to kick/punch if he knows how to counter it.

-Taison out

After 15+ years of training in a few different styles, I compared different aspects of the training and tailored my style to accomadate what I thought was the most important aspect of Ju-Jutsu for a beginner. With that said, I generally start every class with Ukemi (breakfalls) and rolls. This helps everyone prepare for falling. This is followed by whatever the technique of the day happens to be. For beginners (to include the first day), most techniques start from a single-wrist grab defense. I've found this helps them concentrate on the technique (kote-gaeshi, kansetsu waza...) before they start using these in defense of more "involved" attacks. Hope this helps...

First we learned etiquette, then drilled breakfalls and rolls for the rest of the lesson. Then we were taught one standing lock at the end of the lesson and repeatedly trained it.

This sort of pattern continued for quite a while until our breakfalls were good enough to handle breakfalling on the tatami out of a throw.

That sounds about right, Leo. Rolls, ukemi, and maybe one "actual" defense technique. I've seen too many instructors try to teach 5 or more techniques in a single class, and it just becomes too much to remember!

I think learning how to fall is the most important 1st thing a new MA person can learn