Pro’s Guide to Studying Jiu Jitsu & Who to Study! (FOR FREE)

Summary

The speaker shares his journey and strategy for effectively studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, emphasizing the importance of structured learning over mindless drilling. He advises focusing on positional games and escapes rather than just submissions, and tailoring study to personal strengths and weaknesses. The speaker also recommends analyzing top athletes' matches to understand key sequences and adapting techniques that suit one's body type and game style. He concludes with suggestions for reliable free resources, urging learners to apply what they learn intentionally to improve their skills.

Takeaways

• 🤼‍♂️ Learning Jiu-Jitsu can feel overwhelming due to the vast amount of information available, similar to drinking from a fire hose.
• 📚 To study effectively, focus on a structured method that filters out the noise and helps assimilate information into a coherent system.
• 🆓 Utilize free resources and apply them to your learning method for long-term improvement in the sport.
• 👀 Initially, the speaker learned by watching Kit Dale's instructional videos and analyzing techniques on YouTube, but found it unstructured.
• 📈 The importance of focusing on positional game and escapes rather than just submissions was emphasized, as most time is spent getting to submissions.
• 📝 Private lessons helped the speaker identify gaps in knowledge and focus study on filling those gaps.
• 🚀 Studying what you need, rather than what you like, can lead to significant improvements and increased confidence in your game.
• 🧠 Analyzing your own game and identifying areas of deficiency can guide your study plan and maximize return on investment of study time.
• 🌐 Studying individuals with similar body types may not always be beneficial; consider their psychological factors and game style that align with your own.
• 🎥 Watching matches without commentary allows for unbiased analysis of key sequences and understanding the rationale behind techniques used.
• 🔍 Cross-referencing techniques seen in matches with instructionals and other resources can help reinforce learning and application.
• 🆓 Follow specific Instagram accounts and YouTube channels like Jason raal, Brian Glick, John Carlo, and Brandon Reed for high-quality, free content.

Q & A

What is the main challenge beginners face when learning Jiu-Jitsu according to the speaker?

Beginners often face the challenge of being overwhelmed with too much information at once, similar to 'drinking from a fire hose,' which makes it difficult to retain and effectively use the knowledge.

Why does the speaker discourage beginners from focusing solely on submissions?

Focusing only on submissions can be ineffective because submissions occur in only about 2% of a match, with the remaining 98% being spent on positioning and setting up the submission. Beginners should focus more on positional control and escapes before diving deep into submissions.

What advice did Josh Alsop give to the speaker that helped improve his learning process?

Josh Alsop advised the speaker to write down all the positions he knew and identify gaps in his knowledge. This method allowed the speaker to focus on areas where his understanding was limited, leading to more efficient and targeted learning.

What was the turning point in the speaker's training that helped him develop his guard game?

The turning point came when Luke, from the speaker's gym, advised him to spend six months working exclusively on developing his guard, which became a significant advantage in his training and competition performance.

How did the speaker’s approach to studying change after initially following the methods of athletes with similar body types?

Initially, the speaker followed athletes like Gordon Ryan and Nicky Rodriguez due to their similar body types. However, he later realized that disposition and style also matter, not just physical similarities. This led him to focus on athletes whose styles aligned with his own strategic approach, like Gordon's slow, methodical game over Nicky Rod’s fast-paced, explosive style.

What is the speaker's current methodology for breaking down matches to improve his Jiu-Jitsu?

The speaker watches matches without commentary, breaks down key sequences where the match was won or lost, and analyzes why certain moves were successful. He then cross-references these findings with other matches or instructionals and tests them during training to see if they fit his game.

Why does the speaker believe that application is more important than simply gathering information?

The speaker compares learning Jiu-Jitsu to scientific research, stating that gathering information without applying it is useless. The real value comes from experimenting with the techniques learned and testing their effectiveness in practice.

What advice does the speaker give about selecting specific Jiu-Jitsu matches to study?

The speaker advises that you should study matches and techniques that are relevant to your own game. For example, if you have a movement-based game, you should focus on athletes with a similar style. Watching techniques that don't fit your style or body type may not be as beneficial.

What are some free resources the speaker recommends for learning Jiu-Jitsu techniques?

The speaker recommends several free resources, including Jason Raal’s Instagram for detailed match breakdowns, Brian Glick’s YouTube channel for concise, high-level technique explanations, and John Carlo’s YouTube channel for instructional content. Brandon Reed is also recommended for his wrestling-based Jiu-Jitsu techniques.

Why does the speaker emphasize avoiding 'meme' accounts on social media when learning Jiu-Jitsu?

The speaker advises against following meme or joke accounts because they often provide low-quality, unverified information. Instead, he suggests focusing on reputable sources with proven methodologies, such as the experts he mentioned, to avoid distractions and get better results.