Simplifying the Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Puzzle

With thousands of existing techniques that can be studied, there’s no denying that Jiu Jitsu is a game of knowledge. 

A Jiu Jitsu practitioner who has been training for just 2 months can easily out maneuver and control someone who has zero self-defense knowledge… 

… And generally speaking, the practitioner who is exposed to more positions, and has spent more time on the mats will have a greater chance of winning. 

But there’s a smarter way to becoming good at Jiu Jitsu without drilling every technique under Helio Gracie’s red belt. 

A wise man once said, “You don’t need to be good in a hundred moves – you have to be good in 10”. 

This wise man happens to be a young relative of Helio’s.

He’s also conquered 10 IBJJF World Championship titles as a black belt with a staggering 82% submission rate out of all the matches that he won. 

Earning him the GOAT (greatest of all time) status in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 

This man (if you can call him that) is Roger Gracie. 

In the video below, Roger explains why it’s better to focus on a selected few techniques and how to master them.

When it comes down to taking your Jiu Jitsu to the next level, it’s not about how many black belts you train with, how many instructionals you’ve watched, or trying to find the one hidden move that you’ll catch someone with. 

Don’t get me wrong – all those things come in handy and will assist with your progression BUT only to a certain point. 

You will reach a point where you’ve been exposed to all the common positions and submissions but how will you make them work? 

That’s the beauty of Jiu Jitsu. There are countless ways to achieve the same outcome. 

It’s just a big puzzle and we need to find the right pieces that fit for us. 

How many different ways are there to take someone to the ground? 

Double legs, single legs, foot sweeps, duck under, arm drag, ankle pick, Judo throws, and the list goes on… 

What about getting the Kimura submission? 

You can get it from literally anywhere… standing, diving, top and bottom half guard, full guard, back, side control, turtle… not to mention the different variations to finish – Tarikoplata, Monoplata, one-handed, rear-naked grip etc.

It’s open to your creativity since different techniques work for different people based on their personality, style, and body type. 

Take what you like from Roger’s wisdom and apply it to your own learning. 

Identify a few moves that work really well for you in each position, and double down on them.  

You’ll slowly develop a deeper understanding of those moves and begin to pick up on the small details that only come through experimentation and repetition.