What’s up everyone in BJJ land. I’ve been thinking and that can be dangerous but in all seriousness. I was wondering. Do you isolate techniques, and perfect them individually or do you work on the what ifs? And then do you drill them, connecting them into a system? What’s worked best for your game?

I know for myself. When I started it was one move. But watching the upper belts destroy me consistently there had to be a trick. Right? A system…

 But what it turned out for me was journaling, recording myself, and asking them questions all this helped. But it wasn’t everything. 

So I took my fav submission and worked backwards and forwards till I uncovered all the strengths and weaknesses. Putting myself in the most vulnerable positions and not so vulnerable.

Eventually or organically it all fit together into a flow. But that was one position and there are so many out there to make our own. 

What’s up everybody? I was wondering when you step onto the mat for a sparring session, what’s your mindset? Survival and defense? Hunting submissions? Working on specific positions, methods? Or just rolling and reacting? Or something entirely different? 

For me, I’ve confronted this question every time. Survival, has been my default at all costs. I’ve found when attacking I get submitted or put into bad positions. So I work on my control. My intention is to roll to my partners body type. Take space away or give it. Get on their back or their side or attack where they’re not defending. I’m mostly defense and maintain base.

Besides those and many other thoughts I have a plethora of things I’m working on. Besides making it fun and not staying in my head.

Above all, after I step off the mat like I stepped onto it. I acknowledge that I am very fortunate to be doing this hard thing at my age. OSSS. 

Hi everybody. I was wondering where does your jiu jitsu come from? Live training, classes, seminars, You Tube, or high level matches, UFC etc.? Or a combo?

For me, it’s teaching, mat time, ROL-TV, and You Tube.

The mats push me to improve, but teaching it is what really makes it stick. It forces me to explain it, feel it, internalize it. You Tube is a point of reference for me. Sometimes I find something new, other times I don’t. But either way, it shows me where I’m at in my jiu-jitsu.

Here’s to a healthy new year on the matts. 

What one concept or mindset shift that made the biggest difference in your BJJ journey- and how did you discover it?

How do you structure your training to ensure you’re prepared for both the physical and mental challenges of BJJ? 🤔