Discouraged by flashy jiu-jitsu? Don’t be!

I teach a lot of “BJJ 101” classes – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes designed for people newer to jiu-jitsu, yet important for upper belts as well. After all, you’re only as good as your basics! However, I find that a lot of white belts (and even some blue belts) have yet to get a grasp on what basics actually are. Sometimes they think that good basics are the basic versions of advanced, avant-garde concepts. But they’re not, so I’d like to briefly explain how newcomers can make their jiu-jitsu serve them best.

Apply high-percentage techniques accurately and early, and you’ll have something far more valuable than an entire library of flashy stuff!

The good news is that flashy, complex moves draw a lot of newcomers to BJJ. The bad news is that such moves make those same people disappointed in themselves and disenchanted with BJJ later on. Why? Well, for the same reason that you’d begin your understanding of math at basic addition and subtraction instead of quantum physics. Start your understanding of math with quantum physics, and you will be wowed and maybe even feel smart, but you’ll have little (if any) ability to practically apply your math “skills.”

For example, here’s a basic detail of a basic move that’s fantastic for the BJJ newcomer. Check out this video whether or not you know how to do a basic keylock submission. It’s a move that you can learn within your first five minutes of BJJ training, and Chewjitsu shows it well. However, he puts special emphasis on the little detail of ‘revving the wrist’ to finish the submission easily and efficiently. You can waste a lot of time and energy if you don’t know this detail, not to mention wasting the hard-earned, dominant position you’ve gained on your opponent! Moreover, the wrist detail is something anyone can do. No special attributes like extra flexibility, strength, or talent are required. So the wrist-rev is honestly a game-changer at the most basic level, and I’ve seen my share of instructors who skimp on this detail!

Unfortunately, such details are overlooked by novice to intermediate BJJ practitioners. Oftentimes, that’s because their attention is looking far ahead to complex, multi-staged maneuvers that may not even have the chance to occur. In the end, you’ll have far more success and happiness in you jiu-jitsu journey if you approach training with a mentality of learning solid basics applied early.

Come train at NJ United Mixed Martial Arts and take advantage of our 7-day free trial offer! Whether you’re an aspiring competitor or casual student, you will benefit from training in our friendly, professional, and ego-free environment. Call us at 973-638-1570 to schedule your first class, and visit us on the web at http://www.njunitedmma.com/ for more info.

JJ Mike