The age old question has been coach how can I get better at Jiu Jitsu faster? And while Jiu Jitsu has no short cuts but it does have some pretty cool cheat codes!
Yes of course getting better at Jiu Jitsu simply does need mat time and repetition, but there are some little advantages you can give yourself to get the edge on your training partners
Below are some of the best ways that increase your training efficiency and help beat those plateaus we all see sometimes in our Jiu Jitsu training
Drilling
I have spent years training in both Gi and No Gi disciplines. As a slow learner I found it incredibly hard to get used to the body movements that Jiu Jitsu requires. At times it feels like your moving against your natural instincts
These movements had they been practised and drilled more would have drastically curbed my learning curve. For example a simple arm bar or triangle choke seems straight forward to experienced practitioners. But in reality the confusion of which arm to hold and which way to move your hips takes time.
Drilling is a fantastic way to get your body used to the patterns of Jiu Jitsu. Repetitively forcing your body to move against itself will create muscle memory. Before you know it the reaction time is faster and your transitions are so much more smoother. Drill as much as you can. How? Find a training partner tell him/her to be quiet and let you hit 50 armbars in turn they can do the same. The movements of drilling should start slow then increase in speed over three or four sessions. Slow learners may need more time
Move Your Hips
Moving your hips creates opportunities. I remind my students consistently that nothing comes from laying flat on your back or even laying on top of your opponent. You WILL either have your guard passed or be swept from the bottom. The best way to create openings for your techniques is to move your hips and thus creating angles of attacks, sweeps and of course a submission
YouTube & Instructionals
Against the advice of probably thousands of coaches watch YouTube tutorials or instructional videos. No coach or trainer is perfect we will miss a vital detail that might just be the defining factor of understanding a technique and not. YouTube videos help tie techniques together and there are some amazing coaches out there that do a far better job of explaining techniques. If you benefit from it take it with both hands!
The flip side to watching tape i.e. YouTube, instructionals etc is that it can overwhelm you. Don’t let that happen. Being overwhelmed for l\most looks like shutting off from the position or technique all together and just putting it in the “too hard basket”. It is important to watch only what you are specifically working on. This helps keep you motivated, engaged and thus learning.
Coaches Limitations
Lastly sometimes a coach may act holier than though and not have the ego in check to admit they do not know or they are not great at a particular technique. Look we all have our individual BJJ games and favourite “go to” techniques. But what doesn’t help a student is restricting their growth with bad advise, wrong advise because of an inflated ego. There is only one “John Danaher” and he is even humble enough to admit when he does not know. So who are we as coaches to “know it all”. It is important to explore all avenues of Jiu Jitsu and not keep areas restricted due to monetary motivations or other self driven factors
Apex Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coaches Love To Help
If you’re stuck, need advise or train in the Merrylands, Parramatta areas in Sydney simply drop in. We can help you get more out of your Jiu Jitsu game and help develop your skills.
Email us: admin@apexbjj.com.au
