Everyone wants to improve.   Whether our goal is for a black belt, to stay in shape, or to simply learn a few moves for self-defense.  No matter the end goal, a progression forward is required.  Since most people are looking to improve at BJJ, let’s look at how that is best accomplished.

The reality is that many newcomers to the art are overwhelmed with its complexity.  Every move has is 4 or 5 steps and just when you think you’ve got it, someone shows you the counter, and the counter to the counter.  It is daunting and seems like there is no firm ground to stand on.  In truth, there are counters to every move - this is a reality.  However, there is a clear path to improvement.

When the beginner runs into this reality, the immediately think they need to learn more moves that the next guy to stay one step ahead.  I would argue that the answer is not in knowing more moves, but rather, perfection in the simple moves we all know.  Think back to the last 4 or 5 matches you have seen in sport bjj or mma.  How many were won by a crucifix?  Now think, how many were won by a rear naked choke, or an armbar?  

Even at the high levels, the basic moves apply.  The only difference is the ability of the practitioner to execute them against resistance.  So we return to our original question, how does one get better.  Simply stated. it is by correctly learning the fundamental movements and drilling them over and over against resistance.  

It is for this reason that in our classes we cover only the basics.  We learn 2-3 moves per class (oftentimes a refresher on something already taught), and we drill that position against resistance.  Every class ends with rolling to integrate the material into an overall game, but to skip the drills is a mistake that costs years of time to the practitioner.

Why is that?

Many of us have been at schools where the class follows the following format:  
(1) Instructor showing a move, say an armbar from the guard
(2) Class practices this slowly
(3) Repeat for a few more unrelated moves
(4) Everybody rolls

The issue with the above format is that everyone in the class has an ego.  Even if you try to suppress it, it lives on.  So when you roll, you are competitive with everyone.  Additionally, you know everyones game to some extent and have a mental track record of wins and losses.  You know what you can pull off and what you can’t.  So most people roll the same way every time in order to not lose.  No one is going to try the new armbar and give up a great position - they’ll return to their tried and true moves.  

Now fast forward a few weeks.  At this point you haven’t used the new move since it was taught, your game is about the same as it was, and worse yet, you likely forgot the moves you were just shown.  The good news it that you’ll probably be shown it again in a few months so you can re-”learn” it.

Now, contrast this to learning a move slowly and then drilling that for a few minutes using progressive resistance.  Done well, there is no ego, its new to everyone.  You can try without risk of failure.  After all, if you go for it and lose position, you just start over - big deal.  You now have a chance to try out a move, feel how it works, and see if it works for you.  At this point you are much more likely to try it in sparring should it arise, since you have started to fold it into your game already.  As a final benefit, you actually spend more time working positions instead of scrambling in a roll.  

So in our classes we cover a few things for each position.
1. Holding (principles)
2. Escapes (typically 3 high percentage moves)
3. Attacks (typically 3 high percentage moves)

This may not seem like much, but the beauty is that these are the bread and butter fundamentals that you will go to all the time.  This is not to say new moves aren’t great, but without a firm foundation in the above, you are wasting your time working on the wrong things.  Even black belts drill elbow escape and warm up with shrimp drills.  There is a reason.

See you on the mat.