Getting a black belt in BJJ takes the better part of a decade for most people. Actually, it often takes more than a decade. During this time, you’ll meet lots of people on the mats and make lots of friends.

At your academy, those that you’ve known from day one, are no longer just training partners – they’re friends, and good ones at that. In some circles, this is even perceived as a family. No matter how you name them, the bonds that form between teammates after years of training together are strong.

But, are they strong enough to make you stay at your academy even if it is not the best option for you, due to various reasons? The term Creonte is the source of much controversy in the Jiu-Jitsu world where respect is a huge part of the culture. However, respect is not always bound by loyalty, and being a Creonte means being disloyal but not necessarily disrespectful.

From training at multiple academies at once to switching to another team, you can become a Creonte in a matter of hours. Are you too afraid of being labeled a Creonte, or do you have no problem with such a tag?

What Does Creonte Mean?

Let’s start with a very popular nickname for “disloyal” people in Brazil. The common term, that quickly caught on in BJJ gyms is “Creonte”. Some claim that the nickname is something that Master Carlson Gracie made up.

You’d expect a character like Carlson to have a made-up name for people who would leave his gym and go to another. The story has Carlson adopting a name from a popular Brazilian soap opera called Mandala. It featured a character who was constantly switching allegiances and being repetitively disloyal.

In the sense of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, labeling someone a Creonte means calling them traitors. While betrayal is a strong word for something as benign as visiting another BJJ academy, the phrase, along with strong feelings for the barer, exists as a part of BJJ to this day.

Creonte Culture in BJJ Gyms

Gym policies such as the one Carlson Gracie had unfortunately still exist today, banning students from cross-training and labeling them Creonetes. When you’re a student training at a BJJ academy, you might run into this “no training at a different place” policy. This is actually quite common in the world of BJJ.

Some gyms take that matter as far as prohibiting attending seminars that take place in your town, just because a different academy is an organizer. Imagine having Rafel Lovato Jr. teach a seminar and you can’t go or you’ll be labeled a Creonte.

Some folks even give themselves the right to frown upon positive social media engagements regarding other academies. If you congratulate someone for their success in competition, for example, you might once again end up a Creonte.

If you’re part of such an academy, you might want to consider your future, even at the expense of becoming a Creonte. McDojo gyms are quite famous for employing the threat of Creonteism as a means of keeping their students from leaving.

Bailing on an academy in need for selfish reasons is not a respectful thing to do in any circumstances. However, looking for the best option out there for you, while being straightforward about it is a different thing. This is just one example of why the lines surrounding the term Creonte are blurred at best.

Creonteism In Jiu-Jitsu Competition

When it comes to tournaments, the Creonte situation gets a bit messier. Competition means you can end up standing opposite anyone, teammates included. In most cases of students from the same academy, the outcome is a gentlemen’s agreement.

In most instances, people go for a roll more than a fight, staying safe and playful. However, if you’re training at three different academies, you’ll need to at least be crystal clear about which one you’re going to represent. Now, if all three academies are comfortable with your choice there’s no issue here. however, examples like this are quite rare in the BJJ community.

In essence, I feel there’s no need to brand someone a Creonte if they train at multiple locations but only compete under one banner. After all, BJJ is about exchanging experiences, not about working in secret.

If you think a student training at multiple locations is going to uncover heavily guarded secrets, you’re completely mistaken. In a local competition scene, competitors face each other so often that it doesn’t matter if they train together or apart. They’ll still know what their opponent likes to do.

Loyalty In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

So, what does loyalty actually mean in terms of grappling? Does it mean blindly following whatever an instructor says? Or, does it mean respect and logic above any emotion?

In truth, loyalty doesn’t just happen because you train at an academy and pay for the pleasure. That’s anything but loyalty. That’s just business and if you’re conditioned by such constraints, you’re in a McDojo. Run far and run fast.

This brings us to another burning subject. Are you really a Creonte if you bail on a McDojo? The instructor is certainly going to portray you as one, no doubt about it. However, do you really owe such a place any loyalty? McDojo gyms are actually not legitimate among the real members of the BJJ community, so what does that make you?

Moving away from the McDojo example, let’s look at a more legitimate one. You’ve been at an academy for a while. You have friends, learned a lot, and competed on multiple occasions. However, for one reason or another, you need to switch academies.

Regardless of the reason, are you really a traitor? Have you let your team down because you of moving because it really makes sense for you?  If BJJ is truly about respect nobody should stand in your way. Furthermore, people need to support your decision and look forward to seeing you on the open mat or at a competition. That’s the adult thing to do. Not frown and call each other names.

In terms of training at a few neighboring academies on a regular basis, I can see the contradiction. These are all different competition teams, often in direct rivalry due to the vicinity.

Training regularly in two or three such academies is going to make it tough for you to choose a team as well. But the inability to visit a seminar, or an open mat, without becoming a Creonte is just plain dumb.

Honestly, a successful academy with a coach that knows what they’re doing should not have Creonte philosophy. If an instructor knows how to motivate students, keep them happy, and treat them fairly they’ll return on their own. There’s no need to use scare tactics in public branding.

You’re NOT a  Creonte for Switching Teams

NO! No one has the right, no matter how “hurt” they feel, to call you a betrayer for changing the spot where you train BJJ. If you change gyms, that means you were not happy with something in your last gym. Maybe, you were happy, but you think you will be happier in a new one.

There are numerous reasons for changing a gym and there is no one you have to give an explanation to why you did something. Perhaps some of your closest friends are in other gyms, or a gym is closer to your home. You just did it because you think it’s better for you and that should be enough for everyone to understand your move.

BJJ Gym Owners Don’t Like to Lose Students

When someone decides to open up a BJJ school, they decide to put all of themself in that venture. most likely, they’re not doing it for the money, since there’s not a lot in coaching. However, income does drive desire, and making some money from a BJJ academy inevitably leads to wanting more

Seeing as BJJ is not an Olympic sport, BJJ gym owners can’t get a lot of money from the town, or country so, monthly membership fees are something that gym owners are “living” from. That’s the main reason why they feel bad when someone leaves their gym.

However, business should not come at the expense of the student’s education in Gentle Art. Going for cash only creates a culture where the level of BJJ suffers, and such gyms tend to lose long-time students who need another challenge, which hurts the most.

That, however, does that give them the right to call someone a traitor and betrayer, or anything derogatory. There’s just no point and it won’t solve a thing!

Who’s Guilty of Your Wish to Change Gym?

The interesting thing here is how instructors and gym owners never question their selves, whether it is their fault you left. They just name someone Creonte and leave it at that.

Why is it never Instructors fault? There is no rule saying you should stick with your first instructor for the rest of your life. If you truly want to learn BJJ, you want to pick the brains of as many coaches, instructors, and top competitors as possible, which by definition means cross-training at many gyms.

What if you think you can’t progress in your gym as much as you would progress in another one? What if you are still training there because you want to be loyal?  Or worse, you don’t want people to talk about you as Creonte?

These are not valid reasons to stick to a gym and it is not your fault for wanting something better elsewhere. Being loyal doesn’t mean you have to work against yourself.

Rickson Gracie’s opinion on “Creonte”

There is a popular Rickson Gracie interview where he said, “Why should I waste my knowledge on a student who seems disloyal?” If you think about this sentence a bit deeper all you can notice is hypocrisy in it.

Every student’s money is worth the same. And if the instructor is taking someone’s money he is obligated to treat him as same as anyone else in the class. He may like him or dislike him but he is taking his money and he should have that in memory all the time.

The only fair thing the instructor can do is to say to the person to leave and never come back. If the instructor is taking someone’s money and he doesn’t want to share his knowledge with him then that is a fraud, and, once again, you’re probably in a McDojo. Even if the instructor’s last name is Gracie.

Final Thoughts about Creontes in BJJ

The point is that you should be loyal to those who are loyal to you. You should be fair to those who are fair to you. And you should respect those who respect you. You should not respect instructors who like you for the first two weeks and after that, they forget that you exist.

Being loyal is not a one-way street, it’s mutual in every aspect of your life so is in BJJ. At the end of the day, you should be your own top priority. That’s why you are there and for your money, you can choose what you think is the best for you.

You’re not obliged to give your money to anyone. If you’re unhappy, the only thing that will happen will be for you to stop training. You will feel stupid in a few years when you find out you wasted so much time in the wrong places and the wrong people, even if they called you a BJJ Creonte. So what?

What I want to say is that being loyal and being stupid should never go together!

BJJ McDojo Gyms EXPOSED by Former Instructor

Training At Different BJJ Gyms – Acceptable Or Not?

Is BJJ Running the Risk of Creating McDojos?

Related Articles:

The Warning Signs Of A McDojo
Rickson Gracie: Moder BJJ Black Belts Reminds me of Karate practitioners Clueless of Jiu-Jitsu
Rules Of Thumb For Visiting A Foreign Jiu-JItsu Academy
The Most Common Excuses For Quitting BJJ
10 Obvious Reasons Why You’re still a White Belt
You Think You Deserve a New Belt? Go Ask Your Instructor About It! Maybe he’s Wrong!
Things To Look For When Choosing A BJJ School
BJJ White Belt Survival Kit: 5 Essential Tips For Beginners

The post Creonte Culture – Loyalty, Disloyalty, and Traitors in BJJ appeared first on BJJ World.

While these are crucial elements for jiu-jitsu success, one overlooked component greatly contributes to the enjoyment of training, effortless practice, and overall impression of the sport.

When we mention flexibility, it’s not just about the easier execution of flashy moves. Flexibility transforms your jiu-jitsu experience into something much better. It elevates your enjoyment of the sport to a higher level. Here’s how.

Enhanced Mobility and Range of Motion

Flexibility undoubtedly gives you a broader range of motion, allowing you to perform many techniques that would otherwise be difficult or impossible.

As someone who has been focusing exclusively on open guard and guard retention for over ten years, I know how important it is to have flexible hips. Hips are, alongside proper techniques, the most important aspect of guard retention.

Additionally, flexible hips make it easier to transition between various guards, adapt to new situations, and respond to your opponent’s reactions. It is also much easier to maintain control and set up submissions.

Improved Defensive Capabilities

A crucial fact is that a flexible body can easily escape tight spots. When someone applies pressure, and you are flexible, you will notice how even a shrimp escape becomes more efficient. This also applies to full mount and side control, where a flexible person can maneuver more easily.

What’s essential is that someone flexible not only escapes submissions and bad positions more easily but also expends much less energy in the process, as the struggle with their own body is reduced.

Effortless Transitions and Flow

You may have heard that jiu-jitsu is often described as a “game of human chess,” where fluidity and the ability to transition smoothly between positions are paramount. Flexibility significantly aids in transitions and the overall game of human chess. For flexible people, the concept of the game of human chess becomes clear by the second training session, while those who are not flexible might struggle even after a long time, as every transition represents a battle with their own and their opponent’s body.

It’s important to note that flexibility enhances your movements, making them more effective, aesthetically pleasing, and enjoyable.

Reduced Risk of Injury

In a physically demanding sport like jiu-jitsu, the risk of injury is always present. However, flexibility significantly reduces the risk of injury and serves as a protective measure. Flexible joints, tendons, and muscles are much better at absorbing impacts and protecting against sudden stretches and awkward movements.

For flexible practitioners, the possibility of strains, sprains, and other common injuries is so reduced that it is rare to find practitioners over 50 who aren’t flexible. Injuries tend to sideline those who are not flexible, diminishing their enthusiasm for training in older age unless they drastically commit to yoga or stretching.

Greater Enjoyment and Longevity in the Sport

When you combine better defense, improved mobility, effortless transitioning, and a significantly reduced risk of injury, it all culminates in a much more enjoyable jiu-jitsu experience.

When you are not constantly struggling with your own body due to a limited range of motion, you can focus on various techniques and strategies within the art, which ultimately makes this sport incredibly interesting. All of this leads to a deeper love for the sport and genuine enjoyment of it.

Effortless Jiu-Jitsu Through Flexibility

You’ve probably noticed people in your academy who spar effortlessly. If you take a closer look, most of those who spar effortlessly and have an effortless jiu-jitsu game are flexible. I would say 99.9% of such practitioners are highly flexible and simply enjoy the sport. They are known for being able to do the most sparring rounds and having the best conditioning. However, flexibility is often the main reason for this.

You can notice how easily they defend their guard, and even when they get into difficult situations, they can quickly escape and continue sparring without problems when others cannot.

Additionally, they are often the last ones on the mat, looking for another round of sparring.

It is crucial to note that flexible practitioners usually experience less soreness and muscle tightness after training, which makes recovery easier and allows them to enjoy the training and recovery process more. Consequently, they can train for more hours.

Conclusion

Whether you are a beginner or someone who has been training for a long time, incorporating flexibility training into your routine is something everyone should do. Reduced risk of injury, fluid movements, and effortless training and sparring are things that everyone practicing jiu-jitsu should have in their arsenal. So, get a yoga mat, start stretching, and watch your game flourish.

If you want to know how to start and you don’t have any experience with yoga or stretching, “Yoga For Rocks” by Sebastian Brosche is a great way to start to stretch and enjoy Jiu-Jitsu much more

Yoga For Rocks by Sebastian Brosche. 

The post Flexible People Enjoy Jiu-Jitsu More: Here’s Why You’ll Want to Start Stretching Today appeared first on BJJ World.

Have you ever wondered what does Oss mean? “Oss” or “Osu” or even “Osss” is one of the phrases most often associated with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts with Japanese roots. BJJ is a lot less ceremonial than Eastern martial arts Oss remains a big staple, despite the fact that many BJJ practitioners don’t know the original Oss meaning. You’re going to hear the word “Oss” when you enter a BJJ academy almost everywhere in the world. It’s almost as certain as the fact that you’re going to tap during class.

So, why not understand what you’re saying or being told? Let’s begin.

How Do You Pronounce OSS?

In most cases, pronunciation depends on your gym and your head coach and the way he uses it. You can say short “OSS” (oh-ss) or long “OSSSS” (oh-sssss).

Also, in some gyms, people use “OSU: which pronounces slightly differently, as strong and short (oh-su).

Theories For The Origins of OSS

Some researches show that the word “Oss” first appeared at the Imperial Japanese Navy Officers Academy in the early 20th century. They would use it as a greeting between themselves, as a means of paying respect.

The usage of the word “Oss” in most modern BJJ dojos around the planet is a clear reminant of BJJ’s Japanese roots. As most of you know, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu developed in Brazil as the evolution of Mitsuyo Maeda’s Judo and Catch-Wrestling expertise.

Since it all began with the Japanese martial arts, it is logical why some Japanese formalities or “reiho” found fertile ground in Brazil. One of them is “Oss”.

Here are the main theories related to Word OSS and its origin. and true meaning.

The “Onegai Shimasu” Theory

Today, in every Japanese martial art gym or dojo in the world, when the teacher or sensei, bows to the kamiza (a shrine usually containing a Grandmaster’s photo) and then bows to the students, the students reply: “ONEGAI SHIMASU!”

At the end of the lesson, while they bow to the teacher, the students reply “DOMO ARIGATO ONEGAI SHIMASU!” The phrase “Onegai Shimasu” at the begging of the lessons demonstrates the students’ will to participate and learn. Bluntly, it translates as: „Please let’s do it“.

The other, longer version, which also contains the words “Domo Arigato” (translating as “thank you very much”) could also be interpreted as „Thank you very much for your teaching“. A fitting way to end class.

So, the root meaning of “Oss” in Japanese martial arts is a demonstration of gratitude for the knowledge shared by the instructor.

Because we Westerners tend to shorten the expressions, especially those we are not familiar with, in time, the expression „Onegai Shimasu“ slowly abbreviated into “Oss”, commonly used today to convey the same meaning as the longer term in a polite way.

The “Good Morning” OSS Theory

This theory suggests that “Oss”/”Osu” could’ve come from Japanese Linguistic Professor Mizutani Osamu’s test. Every morning, the language expert would greet random people by saying the traditional Japanese good morning phrase “ohayo gozaimasu”. While doing so, he would note every response he would receive.

While most people would respond to the greeting the same, some of them would use the shortened version “Osu” to reply. It was probably their way to shorten the greeting because “Osu” wasn’t officially noted anywhere at the time.

What’s even more interesting is that most masculine men would shorten the return greeting. So, if you take into consideration that usually muscular people train in combat sports, this theory makes sense. Somewhat.

All in all, according to this theory, the real “Oss” meaning is actually a short way of saying good morning.

The Kyokushin Theory Of OSS

In Kyokushin Karate dojos, the term “Osu” is a very usual term, but comes from the loner phrase of “osu no seishin”.

It’s actually a combination of two different Kanjis. The verb, “Osu” means “to push”, and Shinobi means “to suffer” or “to endure”. When those two verbs are put together they create a term that has a lot of interpretations.

If you google that sentence, you’ll get many different things that could actually represent the “Oss” meaning.

Here are some examples of what the meaning of “Oss” according to this theory:

• “The Importance of Effort”
• “Combat Spirit”
• “Not Showing is Suffering”
• “Advance with a steady and positive attitude”
• “The Power of Will”
• “Overcome the obstacles by going through them”

The “Oshi Shinobu” Theory

When some people in Japan would look to verbally express “Chi Energy” they would say “Oshi Shinobu”. In the book, “Book of five rings” or “Go rin no sho”, written by Miyamoto Musashi the famous katana-wielding warrior wrote that Samurais would use “Oss”/”Osu” or other similar phrases to muster their inner strength on three occasions:

1. Before the fight,
2. In the middle of the fight, and
3. After the fight.

According to this theory, the meaning of “Oss” is actually a war cry used on the battlefield to raise the combat spirit.

What’s The Modern OSS Meaning?

The meaning of “Oss” is a diverse one today. When looking to answer the question “what does Oss mean?“, the answer is that the phrase has less of a courteous and more of a social meaning and application.

Namely, the word Oss is the go-to phrase used for greeting or an acknowledgment of understanding demonstrated techniques. It can also be shared as a compliment for a particularly impressive competition, rolling performance or to celebrate victory. For example, you could hear an entire arena muttering “Oss” in admiration of Berimbolos when they first appeared.

Although not as distinct as in Japanese culture, respect remains a huge part of Jiu-Jitsu. Some schools, like Gracie Barra, have kept more of the traditional elements than others. In a GB academy, people bow before entering the dojo, often accompanied by “Oss”. This is meant as a token of respect towards Carlos Gracie Jr, the founder. Like Eddie Bravo’s 10th Planet, other schools do barely any bowing, but “Oss” is still muttered daily as a token of respect.

So, in general, the word “Oss” demonstrates mutual respect between two sides. No matter the philosophy of an academy, the meaning of “Oss” usually expresses respectful behavior on the mats.

Meaning Of OSS In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Just like in other martial arts related to Japan there are several main meanings for “Oss” in BJJ today. To sum it up, today, “Oss” means one or all of the following:

• Greeting
• Response
• Respect
• Compliment
• Encouragement

Greeting: Many practitioners in many Jiu-Jitsu gyms greet each other with Oss. Most of the time it’s used seriously, but lately, some people greet each other with “Oss” in a fun and more playful manner.

Response: If you want to say you understood something, or you acknowledged something saying “Oss” is a good way to do so.

Respect: If you want to show respect to your instructor or your teammates, bowing and saying “Oss” is probably the best way. You can wave them goodbye with “Oss” or greet them when you see them.

Also, if your instructor demands the use of “Oss” at the beginning and at the end of class, you should embrace it as a sign of respect.

Compliment: Loud and deep pronunciation of “Oss” is used when someone pulls some good technique. You can usually hear it in tournaments, but in gyms too.

Encouragement: Encouraging your teammates or just trying to tell them they did something well is always a good gesture. Using “Oss”, in that case, is a good way to encourage them, just like saying “good job”!

Who Introduced OSS To Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Practitioners?

Grandmaster Carlson Gracie brought “Oss” to BJJ simply because he was taught to use it by Mitsuyo Maeda, who himself used it very often.

Carlson’s stuck with the term “Oss” with the goal of carrying over Japanese standards of conduct and ethics into Jiu-Jitsu.

Other modern versions of Japanese-born martial arts like Judo, Karate, Ju-Jitsu, etc, also use the term heavily, as a means of paying respect to the Japanese roots and culture.

What Does OSS Mean In MMA?

At the beginning of MMA itself, the word “Oss” was widely used, mostly in gyms among sparring partners.

The fighters themselves would come from different sports and cultures, so they wanted to represent their sport and their gym in the best possible way by paying respect through greeting people with the respectful “Oss”.

One of the most popular fighters in the world, George St-Pierre would greet everyone with “Oss” every time he would step into the octagon. He would also wear a Japanese Gi and a rising star stirnband representing the culture of Japan.

In modern times, the word “Oss” has been more or less eradicated from MMA, as all focus is now on performance, and, regrettably, sh#t talking.

Examples Of OSS Used In Martial Arts Gyms

Most of the time you’ll hear “Oss” in different situations. Although, it’s used in normal conversations too between two practitioners of the same martial art.

Below is the list of situations/conversations when “Oss” is used in gyms:

Class Intro And Outro As A Greeting: When the class is starting students line up with their professor in front of them. After a short speech from the professor, he bows and greets everyone with “Oss” and the students reply in kind.

The same bow and greeting with “Oss” usually happens after the class is done.

Acknowledgment and Understanding: Once the instructor shows the technique he will usually ask if everyone understood the technique. If everyone understood the technique it’s not unusual to hear “Oss” as a response.

In this case, the “Oss” meaning is shown as acknowledgment and understanding of instructions.

Partner Drills and Sparrings: You can say “Oss” in rolls/sparrings or when drilling when you want to praise your partner. Instead of saying “nicely done”, “you performed great” or “good technique” you can simply use the term “Oss”.

Just like at the start and the end of class, you can use “Oss” at the start or at the end of a roll.

Internet communication: I’ve noticed that many people in BJJ finish online conversations by saying OSS. So in this case the OSS meaning would be “goodbye”.

When To Use OSS And When To Not

Just like with everything there are do’s and don’ts when using “Oss”. Here are two main things to remember in case you’re used to using “Oss”:

• Only use “Oss“ with people who train in BJJ or in some other Japanese Martial Art: there’s a low chance that anyone outside of the gym is going to understand what you’re trying to say when you say “Oss” to them. So, if you want to avoid weird looks use the phrase just in conversations connected with Jiu-Jitsu.
• Try to avoid using the term too often. There is such a thing as overusing the phrase to a point where it loses it’s meaning. Check your timing and context when reaching for “Oss” in your vocabulary.

How To Use OSS Jn Japan

In the case you find yourself in Japan, using “Oss” is reserved only for special occasions. So, definitely avoid saying “Oss” to a Japanese person unless that person is:

• Younger than you,
• Lower in rank, or
• They demand you to say it

In Japan, the term “Oss” is a mark of assertiveness and masculinity, so in the case of the wrong usage of the phrase, things could get messy.

Interestingly enough, you should try to avoid “Oss” completely if you are female in Japan.

The State Of The Phrase OSS Today

As mentioned above, BJJ academies are in general considerably more laid back than traditional Japanese schools. While you can get away with “Oss-ing” your way everywhere around a BJJ gym without it being a big deal, you should take more care in the East.

The meaning of “Oss” is a multi-purposeful one, ranging from “hi” to “excuse me” to “let’s roll”. So, next time someone asks “What does Oss mean?”, or “What’s the “Oss” meaning, know that there’s more than one correct answer.

And no, it is not always appropriate to use it because you can misinterpret “Oss” meaning and look weird or even land you in trouble.

20 Rules of Life That Will Change You Written By Japanese Samurai 400 Years Ago

https://bjj-world.com/loyalty-disloyalty-creontes-traitors-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/

Guy Accused for Sexism in BJJ Class and “brushed” by his Instructor

The post OSS Meaning: Discover Its Origin, Usage, And Purport In Martial Arts appeared first on BJJ World.

The top 10 BJJ white belt mistakes everyone makes:

1. Trying to attack inside someone’s guard:

This is one of the most common mistakes beginners make. When you’re in the closed guard you would think it’s a good idea to try and choke someone or go for an Americana arm lock. After all, you are in the top position. but when you try that you end up getting your back taken or in an armbar every time.

You need to remember that BJJ is known for using the closed guard to attack from the back. So if you’re in someone’s guard your only concern should be to get out of it and pass your opponent’s legs. There is a common trope in Jiu-Jitsu that goes:

Position before submission.

Before you try and submit someone you should make sure you’re in a good position to do so, also you should focus on improving your position before you even think of attacking.

2. Extending or reaching with the arms:

There are very few instances in Jiu-Jitsu where extending your arms fully is a good idea. When you are trying to pass an extended arm can become a way to knock you off balance and when you’re on the bottom, extended arms tend to mean free armbars and kimuras.

If you’re finding yourself getting into armbars a lot, you may be making this common BJJ white belt mistake.

Do you know how they say? Keep your friends close, but keep your elbows closer.

If you are be mindful of keeping your arms close to your body at all times and never reaching out with your hands when you’re in a bad position.

3. Giving up your back:

This one is a bit weird since everyone knows you shouldn’t turn your back on someone. We intellectually know not to do it but inevitably we may make this mistake without meaning to.

We will talk more about how that happens in other BJJ white belt mistakes.

But the most common way white belts give up their back is while someone is trying to pass their guard so they try to turn and run away or get up, giving up their back. The other common way white belts give up the back is while in the bottom of the mount, some guys will get frustrated and start to turn giving up their back.

While it’s not necessarily wrong to turn your back to the opponent as there are many ways you can retain your guard with rolls, turtle, and stuff like that, it’s highly suggested that at the start of your BJJ journey, you keep your back away from your opponent.

4. Keeping the hips too high while passing

One of the biggest BJJ white belt mistakes that everyone has made at least once and even some blue belts make is keeping their hips too high while passing. When you pass and you keep your hips high it becomes really easy to sweep you.

If you find yourself getting swept every time you try to pass someone’s guard and you don’t even know why. Try lowering your hips.

Keeping your hips low while passing will give you a better base and will help you pass the guard without giving up position to your partner. However, you can still make this mistake after passing…

Many white belts make the mistake of keeping their hips too high in side control. Then they will face the same problem. It becomes really easy to sweep them and push them off balance.

So remember: Always keep your hips as low to the ground as possible.

5. Driving your forearm in your partner’s neck!

This is not only a mistake it is also what is known as a dick move. You won’t win any friends while doing this but you will also make it easy on your partners and opponents to submit you with an armbar or an arm triangle. When it comes to this one it’s really easy to fix.

Just don’t do it, focus on improving your position and finding other ways to submit your opponents that are more effective and won’t make your training partners hate rolling with you.

This brings us to one of the biggest dick moves and BJJ white belt mistakes of all time…

6. Digging your elbows in your partner’s thighs!

Again, this will not win you any friends but it is also a mistake. Personally, I love going for triangles when guys try to dig their elbows into my legs. It also leaves you exposed to collar chokes and sweeps.

So once again the solution to this is very simple. Don’t do it!

Learn to open and pass the guard, you’ll find that it is more effective and you’ll have an easier time making friends at your gym.

7. Not using underhooks:

Some of you might be wondering what undercooks are. When you hook your arm under your partner’s armpit that’s called an under-hook. If you’re trying to pass someone’s guard or improve your position you need to use under-hooks or your partner will take your back. This also happens a lot in half-guard.

You don’t even fight for the under-hook and you make it really easy for your partner to control you, so always try to fight for the under-hook and you will make controlling your partner much easier.

8. Adjusting a triangle by pulling on your foot:

Sometimes we go for a triangle choke but we don’t get our legs in the right placement right away. So you may feel inclined to go in there and adjust the triangle so you finish your submission.

Then you pull on your foot while your partner is struggling to get out and you are twisting your ankle in all sorts of dangerous ways. Not to mention that even if you do adjust it with your foot all bent, the triangle won’t be as effective as it should be because of your bent foot.

If you have to adjust your triangle you should always do so by grabbing your shin and not the foot.

It is safer this way and more effective, so avoid making this BJJ white belt mistake.

9. Treating every roll like its a life-or-death situation

You’ll often hear that white belts are dangerous. But why would white belts be considered dangerous with other Jiu-Jitsu belt ranks around?

Well, it’s because they tend to treat every roll like the other guy is trying to kill their family.

I personally had a situation not so long ago where I was rolling with a white belt and we landed in full guard. I was on the bottom and this guy for frustrated, so he then decides it would be a good idea to throw his entire body weight at my head as hard as he can.

Thankfully I reacted in time and rolled backward landing in mount. But if I hadn’t, I could have gotten seriously injured.

Many people have similar stories and battle scars from spastic white belts.

So, in order to avoid these common BJJ white belt mistakes, just relax and understand that it’s not the end of the world. If you get submitted learn from your mistakes and try again, don’t worry if you lose because you’re going to lose a lot before you get good.

10. Not tapping:

This is the most dangerous BJJ white belt mistake on the entire list…

Sometimes (especially with the guys though women also make this mistake) white belts may get too prideful and not tap to a submission. The one result of this is injury…

You either get your legs, elbows, or shoulders injured or, best-case scenario, you are put to sleep (which is not good for your brain at all).

Regardless of whether it is in training or competition, tap as soon as you get caught and tap often. It is always better to lose and get right back to training than to get injured and be off the mats for a long time.

In conclusion:

If you are a white belt and you found this helpful, just remember that everyone has committed all 10 of these BJJ white belt mistakes at least once in their BJJ journey. Keep learning and keep growing because the more you do it the better you will get at this amazing sport and martial art.

OSS!

The post The top 10 BJJ White Belt Mistakes Everyone Makes and How To Fix Them appeared first on BJJ World.

The Kimura is one of the most versatile moves in Jiu-Jitsu. It offers plenty of options that range a lot further than just a shoulder lock. It does take time for people to start seeing things clearly, though, and understanding the full extent of Kimura possibilities takes time. In fact, even though most people show the Kimura sweep (AKA sit-up sweep) among the very first things, which I strongly disagree with, people do not realize the sweeping power a Kimura actually provides.

The Double Trouble Concept Regarding Sweeps

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. After years of teaching people stuff like scissor sweeps and pendulum sweeps from the closed guard during their first weeks of training, and them failing miserably at comprehending how it all worked, I started wondering if we were insane to do so. After all, that is the way we were taught – this is a fundamental technique, you “learn” it now and make it work. Horrible, if I am being honest.

Things like sweeps are quite complicated when it comes to pulling them off in BJJ. Even if you are trying to sweep a stationary body it would be difficult without understanding mechanics, let alone trying to execute a sweep on an opponent that is fighting back. So, I decided to try a different approach.

The basic goal of a sweep is to get from a bottom position to a top one. The method is not set in stone, only the end result is very specifically defined. That simply means you can pretty much do anything that makes sense, as long as you end up on top. So, why open a closed guard up and go for complicated sequences that won’t work if an opponent does not make several errors in a series? Instead, it is much easier to use the threat of something else to get people to topple over. Submissions are that threat.

The Kimura sweep is the perfect example of how threatening with a sweep while holding on to submission will get you either a sweep, a submission, or very often, both. That is the double trouble principle of sweeping that you should always strive for from guard.

Kimura Sweep Mechanics

Let’s talk a bit more about the Kimura sweep. Whenever this sweep is mentioned, people usually think of the sit-up sweep for the closed guard, given that a Kimura-like motion initiates it. The “old-school” version of the sweep has you getting up from closed guard, looking to throw an arm over the shoulder of an opponent as you are looking for a Kimura. The threat of the Kimura leaves them exposed to a sweep. Well, at least at a beginner level.

A more effective and practical way of attacking the Kimura sweep from the closed guard would be to actually break the posture and get a proper Kimura grip first. Basically, look to get the submission before even thinking about sweeping. With the posture broken and the grip set tightly, you can choose which direction to sweep towards. As long as their head is on the ground, you can initiate a sweep with a simple bridge (hip bump), go for a butterfly hook or simply kick one leg out from underneath them.

Something most people do not often consider si doing a Kimura sweep from the half guard. It can work in many different ways, but rollovers are usually the best option. Similar to the closed guard, really do try and get the submission from the bottom. This has people scrambling to defend which gives you the option to roll them over, whether with a barrel roll or by simply following them as they try to posture out of the submission. It is really that easy.

Just to tease you a bit more, you might also want to explore “sweeping” from bottom side control. While this won’t get you to sweep points it will get you out of a tight spot with an option to tap the top person out. The Squirrel lock is the Kimura sweep I’d go for from there.

Why The Kimura Sweep Beats All Other Sweeps

The mechanics of the Kimura submission is what makes the sweep such a dominant option. The principle of double trouble sweeping works well with guillotines and triangle choke as well, just to name a few. However, the Kimura beats every one of them as the best possible way to sweep a result of the mechanical advantages it provides.

When in a Kimura grip, you have extreme levels of control over the elbow of an opponent, but controlling the forearm with a figure four configuration that involves both your hands. Moreover, they’re combined in a wedge system which makes it really hard for the other person to get out of. The real control, though, comes from the placement of your armpit over their shoulder when the top arm goes for the setup.

This means that you not only control their shoulder, you also control their posture. As long as you close your elbows to your torso after getting a Kimura from the bottom, you will be impossible to shake off. This means that you have control over the entire torso in a diagonal fashion, which immediately provides you with a direction to work on off-balancing. Additionally, you can easily control the neck and head causing even more balance issues for your opponent.

In Conclusion

The Kimura sweep, old school or new school from closed guard or from half guard, will work like a charm. You just have to be brave enough to think about the Kimura more like a position for attacking different things, including a shoulder lock, than simply as submission of its own. Time to start experimenting!

Learn 4 Kimura Submission Defenses And Escapes

The post Why The Kimura Sweep Is The Best BJJ Sweep? appeared first on BJJ World.

If you think BJJ is hard, you have never tried to wrestle a day in your life. I’m not going to go down the rabbit hole of different sports, different goals, and all that jazz. The bottom line is that wrestling is hard physically and mentally because it is based on simple things that you want to accomplish. Those things are getting someone down to the ground primary and pin both their shoulders, secondary. As simple as it sounds it is extremely hard, mostly because the other person is resisting and trying to do the same to you. And yet, whenever BJJ folks engage in takedowns, they act as if they have never tried their hand at them. Apart from the less than the optimal methodology of training Jiu-Jitsu takedowns, another huge thing is missing – takedown defense.

You Don’t Have To Be Good At Takedowns

Finally, something you wanted to read. It is true though, you don’t have to be good at takedowns to be successful at any level in Jiu-Jitsu. Of course, being good at them will help and it is so much fun once you get into it. However, they are definitely not something you must have in your arsenal. At least not in terms of offense.

Unlike most grappling arts and combat arts that involve grappling, BJJ has a sneaky back door when it comes to avoiding takedown battles – pulling guard. It is something that is specific to the sport, and as such, might even be considered a takedown of its own, even though it won’t earn you any points. Basically, it is the easy way out of having to trade takedown and throw techniques with someone. However, the moment you come up against someone who has elite-level takedown abilities (and there are plenty of wrestlers and Judokas in BJJ) you won’t even have the time to think about ta guard pull, let alone do it.

That brings us to the one absolute must in the realm of Jiu-Jitsu takedowns – defense. If you can stay on your feet and fend off attacks, you can hope to get a takedown of your own or do a guard pull if that is what you prefer. In terms of the guard pull, though you will have to earn the right to do it. the best way to achieve that is by really focusing on developing immaculate BJ takedown defense.

The Basics Of Jiu-Jitsu Takedowns Defense

When it comes to Jiu-Jitsu takedowns, there are several aspects you need to be aware of. For the most part, takedowns will come in the form of wrestling and/or Judo attacks. That translates to lower body attacks (from the waist down) that wrestlers like, or upper r body throws that are common in Judo. Of course, you can’t only rely on this categorization, given that Judoaks have nasty sweeps, and wrestlers have the underhooks and front headlock game that will allow them to toy with you if you don’t expect it. So, how do you approach takedown defense in Jiu-Jitsu?

Grips are the absolute first thing you should worry about. Whoever wins the grip fight, will wind the takedown battle. In fact, it is the same as on the ground. What is it that you’re looking for in terms of grip fighting? Gi or No-gi, your goal is the same, and that is to have your grips in the inside space of your opponent. Those outside grips (like the below or forearm Gi sleeve grip) everyone loves are useless. Instead of just gripping for the sake of it, win the grip fight in a meaningful way.

Next up are your hips. Wrestling or Judo, if someone can’t get to your hips, they’ll have a hard time taking you down. Moreover, you’ll have an easier time pulling guard. Sprawls are the obvious thing movement-wise, but there are also other ways to make your hips inaccessible, involving arm placement and angles (which will be discussed below).

The third thing you should always have in mind is levels. Sometimes people won’t attack using grips on your upper body, or look for your hips. There are instances where people go all the way to the ground, looking to ankle pick, doa low single, or spin into Imanaris. Being aware of the level that your opponent is operating on is one of the crucial aspects of Jiu-Jitsu takedowns defense.

Making Sense Of Chaos

Let’s bring a bit of order to takedown chaos. Before you even think about grips, make yourself unavailable for the grips opponents that love takedowns will most certainly look to use. First up, you need to have proper posture. head up, hips slightly underneath you and forward, eyes looking front. This will make you very hard to bend down or pull forward. Another key moment here is keeping your back arm with the wrist glued to your thighs. This both reinforces the posture, takes away gripping options, and protects the hips. And this is all before you even engage.

Since the chaos of Jiu-Jitsu takedowns is not as scary now, let’s go further. Once you have your p[roper posture and arm placement, notice where the opponent si in relation to you. For a guard pull, you will need grips, but you must not reach to get them, o you will open yourself up to takedowns. Controlling the distance will allow you to frustrate opponents, and decide when to take action yourself.

This brings us to angles and the all-important footwork. whenever you’re engaged in a standing exchange, having your hips square is a very bad idea. That means that a staggered stance is am just, but you must not have your legs too wide apart either. The distance you make when you do a step is more than enough, It will also help you define which is your back arm (you need to have that one glued to your hips, remember). From there, aim to be at an angle to your opponent, looking to move away from their lead leg and ar as much as you can (since we’re talking defense). Stay on the balls of your feet, knees slightly bent and retain the posture at all times.

All of the above will make you notoriously hard to take down.

In Summary

Training Jiu-Jitsu takedowns does not have to involve countless hours of trying to throw and wrestle people to the ground. You can get away with pulling guard at will, as long as you can stay on your feet long enough to set it up. That is exactly what takedown defense provides you with. So, the first thing to know about BJJ takedowns – don’t get taken down!

The post Want To Pull Guard? Master Jiu-Jitsu Takedowns Defense! appeared first on BJJ World.

People are already starting to see the opportunities that the Ashi Garami BJJ position provides. As most grapplers wised up to leg locks (more or less), the defenses to heel hooks and kneebars are becoming stronger and stronger That still leaves the attacker in the Ashi Garami position though. Until now, we had one track mind – go for another leg lock. That is still an option, but so are sweeps and passes. We are now arriving at a moment where the Ashi Garami is turning into a position of control equal to that of a guard, rather than just a submission hunting sweet spot.

Fusion BJJ: Where Modern Meets Traditional

Let’s talk more about Fusion BJJ. We are at a point in time where Jiu-Jitsu is no longer Japanese or Brazilian. It is simply Jiu-Jitsu, plain and simple. As such, the evolution of the art has taken us to a direction nobody could have foreseen. In fact, there has even been resistance for a while to change the “old ways’ but luckily, it did not prevail. How could it, when Jiu-Jitsu is not some ancient art that has been done for centuries and it would be an insult to some long-dead grandmasters to try and do a move differently, even if logic dictates you do so.

When you enter a BJJ gym nowadays, you will see as many different styles as there are people on the mats. Even in world-class competition dens, where people have inclinations towards certain areas, you can notice that different competitors do the same moves in a very different way. That is what Jiu-Jitsu is all about – letting people express their individuality. And there’s no better way to express yourself than when you have at your disposal everything the art/sport has to offer. And that includes both the old school stuff and the modern innovations that have defined Jiu-Jitsu in the last decade.

When it comes to fusion, you are encouraged to mix everything together, as long as it makes sense. For example, there’s no need to bicker over whether or not you should use Gi or No-Gi grips – use them both as you’re progressing through something. The ASh iGarami BJJ position, seen as guard is the perfect example. In leg locking, you wouldn’t really think about Gi grips, but you would do them if you are in a similar position but you perceive it as a guard. Why not fuse everything together to optimize the outcome?

The Case For The Ashi Garami BJJ Guard 

The only reason I need to present the case for the Ashi Garami BJJ guard is that people usually do not perceive the position as a guard. When you analyze it and break it down a bit, you will see that the Ashi Garami actually offers more than any other guard in BJJ does.

What defines a guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? One person needs to be on the bottom and the other on top. If the bottom person has their legs in between themselves and the top person, they are in guard, regardless of the specific configuration of the limbs. Universally speaking, this is the BJJ guard, and there are, as we know, countless variations of it.

Going further, what are our options from the guard? You have two, if we are being honest – sweep to get on top (for points) or submit and finish the job then and there. There are no other offensive options that the guard offers. In addition, to be able to execute either of those, you will need to control the position and know how to stay in it when the top person inevitably tries to get past your legs (pass).

Where does Ashi Garami fit in the story? Well, to begin with, you have you in between you and your opponent – the definition of the guard. Now, it gets blurry when it comes to the top and bottom person sometimes, but that is the good thing. Playing the Ashi Garami BJJ guard provides you with an additional option apart from the sweep and submit – you can directly pass. And this is before I even mention the higher level of control and the myriad of transitional attacks that stem from the position.  Interested yet?

The Perfect Guard For Competitors? 

Let’s talk about the applications of the Ashi Garami BJJ guard. The one area in which you can really reap the benefits from this fusion Jiu-Jitsu approach is competition. seeing the Ashi Garami as a guard is a logical step for competitors – you already use it anyway. The Single Leg X Guard and the 50/50, for example, are just a couple of micro-adjustments (pun intended) away from their use as Ashi Garami variations.

IN that context, what I find the most unique about the Ashi Garami BJJ guard si that the person you’re looking to control and attack with it doesn’t necessarily have to be on top. It is perfectly okay if they are on their butt – you’re close to sweeping the way. That said, apart from the 50/50 and the Singel leg X, or the outside Sankaku and Irimi Ashi Garami, in leg locking terms, you also have other variations to use as guards. There’s the Inside Ashi Garami in the form of the Inside Sankaku and the Game Over position. Inside Sankaku is actually legal for everyone, with certain things to look out for when it comes to attacking the legs. If you do it on a standing opponent, though, it will be considered illegal.

From any given Ashi Garami BJJ position you have the option of playing around with positioning and grips to actually increase control and use the position as a guard. Since you’re controlling at least one leg anyway, there’s really no way for an opponent to pass your guard, because they will need both of their legs to do so. Moreover, given that their hips are often on the ground, you can not just get top position, but use the fact that you have inside control and a leg to go straight past their legs and inside control, mount or the back.

The back actually presents itself easier than in any other guard when people try and get out of an Ashi Garami. If you’re not only dead set on heel hooks you’ll notice so many high-percentage options from the position!

Conclusion

Fusing the Ashi Garami BJJ position and BJJ guards is just one example of how the old and the new school of Jiu-Jitsu can come together and give birth to something really powerful and potent. Now imagine if we apply the fusion mindset to Gi, No-gi, old, new, wrestling, sambo, etc. That is the direction in which Jiu-Jitsu is bound to grow, and the sheer number of options we can mess around with is enticing, to say the least!

The post Is The Ashi Garami BJJ Guard Something Worth Exploring? appeared first on BJJ World.

Being a BJJ brown belt is a tricky thing. To be honest, I enjoyed being a purple belt so much, that I was kind of sad that I would have to hang that belt up when I got promoted to brown belt. However, I realized that the brown belt period is one of utmost importance for anyone training JIu-Jitsu. It is just that nobody talks a lot about it. The Brown belt is basically the bridge between the BJJ of white to purple belts, and that of black belts. It is the time when you figure out how to develop those “inhuman superpowers” that black belts have when all lower ranks are throwing technical stuff at you, accompanied by various levels of athletic abilities.

BJJ Brown Belt – The Time To Think

I have said this before, probably at every belt level (well, except for the white belt, I guess), but I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a brown belt. Getting your BJJ brown belt usually means you’re entering unknown territory. It may sound like it makes no sense, but to be honest, nobody knows much of what to expect as a brown belt, and I’m not just talking about competing.

Even though to get your brown belt you will need to spend a solid amount of time in Jiu-Jitsu, the moment you end up being one, things are not really that clear. People talk about blue and purple belts, expectations, requirements, and the likes, but nobody really says much about being a BJJ brown belt. The main reason for that becomes clear when you become one – it is a highly individual and introspective period of time.

Becoming a BJJ brown belt might be confusing. Let me try to illuminate it with a very simple statement – this is the time to think. During all your previous belts, you had the chance to pick up on things, focus on execution, and even experiment. Basically what you did was monkey see – monkey do. Now, you will need to start thinking and the best way to go about it in BJJ is to look for the answers to questions like why do things happen when you do something, how can you make it better for yourself and others, and when to do, and more importantly, don’t do things.

What Do BJJ World Champions Focus On As Brown Belts? 

Many people have different experiences as BJJ brown belt, apart from the underlying common thing of having to turn your brain on. Mikey Musumeci one of the best competitors of modern times and a 4 time BJJ World Champion, has a very precise explanation of what you should expect, and focus on as a brown belt.

The one thing Mikey has to point out to all fresh BJJ brown belts is what he calls the “leg lock phase’ here, of course, he refers to those training mostly in the Gi and competing under IBJJF rules. According to Musumeci, the first few weeks of getting the “license” to actually do toe holds and kneebars gets fresh brown belts to do nothing but those, forgetting about anything else that has to do with BJJ. His advice is to have funds with leg locks, but don’t wait until brown belt to start training them, especially the defensive portions. Instead of just hunting for leg locks, start thinking about how to incorporate them in a complete game, plugging holes with the new techniques you now have at your disposal.

A very important thing Mikey points out is that a BJJ brown belt is basically a black belt – there is not much separating the two. Most brown belts get to black belt quite quickly, and getting to brown means you’re almost in the Major Leagues.

That brings us to Mussumeci’s final piece of advice for brown belts – fine-tuning everything. That mark that you’ve made that all-important jump from colored belt s to the black belt is understanding what happens and the entire game that you are playing. Focusing on this instead of just being good at moves is the most important brown belt lesson and the final “hurdle” to the black belt.

Remember The Most Important Thing

What is the most important thing to remember as a BJJ brown belt? it is the same thing I consider to be the most important in the entire sport anyway – do not forget to enjoy it. As a brown belt, though, this becomes so much more important. It is not that you will not enjoy later as a black belt, but being a black belt will get people to look at you differently. You won’t be one of the bunch of colored belts anymore – you’ll now be in the company of black belts. It is amazing how people’s perception of the same person can change in an instant just because the color of their belt is now different.

Brown belt is also the time to start enjoying losing. Purple belts are notorious for their competition-style games, focusing only on winning and submitting people. At brown belt, you will need to revisit losing and tapping out. Firstly, it will help you understand how attacks, and more importantly defenses work. Next, it will prepare you for what is ahead, because you’ll be joining black belts who have had the rank for decades very soon. expect to be humbled as a white belt yet again.

Finally, when you’re training, just let go. Stop going the route you already know in rolls, and go in a different one, even when distinct stay s you shouldn’t As a BJJ brown belt, you should be looking to figure out the stuff of your own that you can later show and explain to others. And there’s no growth if you just do the same thing over and over again.

In Summary

Being a BJJ brown belt is a huge thing. As Musumeci puts it, you’re right up there with black belts, despite still having lots more to figure out. Just don’t get caught up in the technical aspect of what you should do at brown belt, and start looking at the big picture. That is how you will get to black fast. Just do not forget to enjoy along the way!

BJJ Brown Belt Requirements And Curriculum

Mikey Musumeci DVD Review: Power Switch Guard Retention & Genius Back Takes

The post BJJ Brown Belt Tips: 5 Important Things To Focus On appeared first on BJJ World.

Doing things just because someone said, or because the founders did them is a great way of never really getting to know what BJJ has to offer, and of stalling the evolution of the sport in general. Unfortunately, the way most Jiu-Jitsu instructors out there teach, this is exactly what is happening. It is easy to just do what was done, just like most teachers do in schools. In both cases, teachers/instructors are not achieving two key things. First, they are not providing students with their expression of the subject matter they are teaching. Second, and most importantly, they’re not teaching the students – they are merely demonstrating.

Why Jiu-Jitsu Instructors Have An Extremely Difficult Task

What is the goal of Jiu-Jitsu instructors? To teach their students Jiu-Jitsu. Logic would have it that said instructors would use all the teaching tools at their disposal to try and transfer as much knowledge to their students in the least amount of time. You’d think this would be the main goal for all Jiu-Jitsu instructors. And yet, it is not.

Being a BJJ coach is no easy task. You should transfer knowledge to people about things like leverage, timing, principles, concepts, and how things feel. That is no easy task right there. It also demonstrates that the task of BJJ instructors is not just to teach techniques in a meaningless step-by-step by step fashion and then let students figure things out. All that has been done in the past, is how most people that have picked up BJJ between the early 1990s and the 2010s have trained. It has also been proven to be a less-than-optimal way of learning.

The task that Jiu-Jitsu instructors have extends past just demonstrating. You need to find a way to explain BJJ to people in such a way that they understand it. They need to know why they are doing the things that they are doing, why they work best that way, and not just how you execute an armbar from closed guard in 12+ steps on the first days just because someone said that it is a foundational BJJ move that should be taught to beginners. It is not, and you can try and prove me wrong. I will wait.

Sport Vs. Art Vs. Science

Here’s where the big paradigm shift of teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lies. We train BJJ like people train martial arts. That means we employ the “if this – then that” model. That is the same way in which people learn Aikido, Karate, and similar stuff. But here’s the trick – while you can learn things in technical steps like that when it comes to using them, things are different. Not in Aikido and Karate, but very much so in Jiu-Jitsu.

The reality is that sparring and competing in Jiu-Jitsu is an extremely chaotic affair. In that sense, we can compare it to things like MMA, boxing, and wrestling. And still, you don’t see boxers and wrestlers train in that traditional martial arts type that BJJ people do. How come Jiu-Jitsu instructors expect people to learn a 12-step armbar setup from a guard and execute it in rolling or a match? An armbar from the guard is NEVER, literally NEVER going to look, feel, and work that way when done live.

The way we train BJJ is like a martial art. The way we compete in BJJ is like a combat sport. There’s a glaring and big divide there. the way to bridge it is to accept that BJJ is neither exclusively a martial art nor a combat sport. it is somewhere in between. That is where science comes into play f- we need to learn Jiu-Jitsu as a science, and we need to express it like art in the chaotic sports environment that rolling and competing presents. Jiu-Jitsu instructors, now you have a different task ahead of you – figure out how to teach this to your students.

A Word On Methodology

This is where things get interesting. First of all, let’s look at a classic BJJ class. You go in, warm up, then you have technical practice with 2-4 techniques, perhaps a series of drills or positional sparring, and finally, you go and roll. Question – how many times have you used the same move you were learning that class in a roll? If we are to optimize learning, it should be done in every class with every move.

That brings me to the sheer number of techniques taught. 3 moves per training, with 3 classes per week equals 9 moves per week. That is 36 moves per month. Do you know how many new techniques are in a year? 432 to be extremely precise. There is no way anyone is learning so many moves in a year and applying them in rolling or competing. So why are Jiu-Jitsu instructors so focused on teaching this way?

When it comes to the best methodology for teaching Jiu-Jitsu, it has not been precisely specified yet. However, we do know how not to do it (from decades of experience). We also know which approach to utilize – try and teach people WHY we do things in BJJ and WHAT the goal of every move is. Jiu-Jitsu instructors should guide their students to a fundamental understanding of what is top and bottom, how levers and frames work to help them obtain their goals, and why certain mechanics are superior when it comes to executing moves. Then, we should let people form their expression of what they have learned when the time comes to have them do it live.

Moreover, as Jiu-Jitsu instructors we need to formulate a curriculum that has people drilling and executing the things taught in class immediately when they roll. There’s a future full-length article coming on this particular methodology.

Final Thoughts

Jiu-Jitsu instructors do not have an easy task. Those who simply waltz into an academy and decide what they will teach then and there, are probably going to start losing students when they start reaching purple/brown belt. The same is true for those who blindly follow decade-old curriculums just because they are a part of an affiliation. BJJ teaching methodology is in for a revamp, and all Jiu-Jitsu instructors should jump on board and improve the way we teach the new generations of grapplers. Let’s make them better, faster!

The post Why Most Jiu-Jitsu Instructors Teach BJJ The Wrong Way appeared first on BJJ World.

When Rodolfo Vieira started his UFC 258 bout with Anthony Hernandez, both he and most of the MMA fans watching expected a tough fight, but one the ADCC an IBJJF veteran would ultimately win. Well, Hernandez obviously did not agree with that assessment and put together an impressive performance to tactically outsmart the veteran grappler.

Namely, if there was ever a case for micro-adjustments outside of the realm of memes, it was in this fight. Hernandez tried to exchange strikes with Rodolfo as the fight started, only to be pinned up against the cage and taken down via a double leg that he did not really try to counter.

Vieira quickly passed the half guard and ended up in mount, although Hernandez never really looked in much trouble. When Rodolfo tried to ground and pound, Hernandez trend to turtle, which led to Vieira looking for a rolling armbar that just ended up with both fighters on their feet.

From there on, Rodolfo tried his double leg shot again, with Hernadez clearly adjusting compared to the first one. although Rodolfo got him down up against that cage again, this time Hernandez popped back up quicker.

To be honest that was the first moment that Hernandez showed his then, tying up Vieira in a headlock that ended up spinning him around and having him re-shoot for a takedown. The fight opened up a bit from there, with Hernandez controlling space through striking a bit more. Rodolfo kept shooting for the double, with Anthony adjusting constantly for a better front headlock control, and even a late triangle attempt.

All the action clearly tired Rodolfo, who came in slower into the second round, while Hernandez seemed loser and put together some impressive striking combinations. Rodolfo almost got his back, but Anthony shook him off ending up on top. That is the moment when Rodolfo Vieira MMA career hit a wall.

As he got up to his feet, Rodolfo ate a huge head kick, followed by some impressive elbows and punches that had him up against that cage. Hernandez took his time and the moment Rodolfo shot again, clearly exhausted and leaving lots of space, Hernandez got the front headlock again. Although it seemed like he was setting up a Shultz choke, he quickly changed to a really deep arm-in guillotine and it only took a few seconds to get a tap from the BJJ black belt world champion.

After the fight, Hernandez stated that “he loves eating people at their own game”, while a downbeat Rodolfo called the performance “the worst day of his life”.

The post The Micro Adjustments That Led To The First Rodolfo Vieira MMA Defeat appeared first on BJJ World.