How to effectively study bjj?

I know what you're feeling. I'm a brown belt now, but when I was a blue I got really frustrated and went on a journey to learn all kinds of new moves to get me through situations. It worked. i became a lot better, but it wasn't the best way.

There's a natural sticking point when moves stop working for you because the people you're rolling with are good enough to shut them down. You're going to have an urge to discover new moves to counter them, which will work because they're not familiar with those moves. But this will only work for the next belt or two and will stick you in mediocrity.

The solution -- which is what I'm focusing on now, and which I wish I did earlier -- is to get much better at the fundamental moves.

Study the videos here and on youtube to learn as much about those moves as possible. Varations, tweaks, timing, weight distribution, everything. Everyone has something to say about those moves and positions that will expand your understanding and that's when you'll see real growth. Take notes. Then do some visualization and shadow grappling. Then make sure to practice those tweaks in class. Pull someone aside and ask if you can try stuff out on him. Set yourself a goal to hit each tweak X number of times in class, until it becomes natural.

Also, watch videos of people sparring and see what they do in situations that frustrate you. You'll learn so much this way.

Hello,
Which instructionals do you recommend for fundamentals, please ?
Cheers,

RobyBJJ, post: 62717, member: 32035

Hello,
Which instructionals do you recommend for fundamentals, please ?
Cheers,

Drillers make killers but like the guy said focus on the fundamentals

Keeping some sort of journal might be helpful. Include things like who was at class, what you learned, what worked and what didn't. Outside of training things like diet, rest, stretching and conditioning are all important imo. If allowed also filming yourself live rolling can give you feedback on what you are doing right/wrong. Good luck hope this helps. Mon-Sat is awesome there will be ups and downs, stay on the path and you will see progress.

JBerg, post: 62712, member: 11456

I know what you're feeling. I'm a brown belt now, but when I was a blue I got really frustrated and went on a journey to learn all kinds of new moves to get me through situations. It worked. i became a lot better, but it wasn't the best way.

There's a natural sticking point when moves stop working for you because the people you're rolling with are good enough to shut them down. You're going to have an urge to discover new moves to counter them, which will work because they're not familiar with those moves. But this will only work for the next belt or two and will stick you in mediocrity.

The solution -- which is what I'm focusing on now, and which I wish I did earlier -- is to get much better at the fundamental moves.

Study the videos here and on youtube to learn as much about those moves as possible. Varations, tweaks, timing, weight distribution, everything. Everyone has something to say about those moves and positions that will expand your understanding and that's when you'll see real growth. Take notes. Then do some visualization and shadow grappling. Then make sure to practice those tweaks in class. Pull someone aside and ask if you can try stuff out on him. Set yourself a goal to hit each tweak X number of times in class, until it becomes natural.

Also, watch videos of people sparring and see what they do in situations that frustrate you. You'll learn so much this way.

I agree with the other posts. If you look at top level grapplers they really only use a couple of techniques per position. I made my best progress when I focused on that while using my other study time learning defenses and counters to the common attacks I faced at my gym.

Thanks a lot for all your answers !

RobyBJJ, post: 62717, member: 32035

Hello,
Which instructionals do you recommend for fundamentals, please ?
Cheers,

You can’t go wrong with Danaher’s Go Further Faster series. Keep an eye out for when they are part of daily deals. That plus whatever deal they are presently running on BJJ Fanatics makes them reasonably priced.

For me, open mat has been the most important part of my training for years, especially as I've run my own school since I was a purple belt, so I don't get many higher level training partners. I will pick a topic (often helped by videos here, along with various instructionals, BJJ Globetrotters camps, etc), then focus on it for a long time, often several years (e.g., open guard retention is probably never going to stop being a useful thing to work on).

The main thing that will help is finding a good training partner. By that, I mean somebody who is interested in technique and willing to show up to drill with you on a regular basis. If you find a person like that, make sure you treat them extremely well as they will massively raise your level. That means you have to be equally consistent.

Unfortunately, I've yet to find somebody quite like that, but I'm getting closer.

slideyfoot, post: 63052, member: 798

For me, open mat has been the most important part of my training for years, especially as I've run my own school since I was a purple belt, so I don't get many higher level training partners. I will pick a topic (often helped by videos here, along with various instructionals, BJJ Globetrotters camps, etc), then focus on it for a long time, often several years (e.g., open guard retention is probably never going to stop being a useful thing to work on).

The main thing that will help is finding a good training partner. By that, I mean somebody who is interested in technique and willing to show up to drill with you on a regular basis. If you find a person like that, make sure you treat them extremely well as they will massively raise your level. That means you have to be equally consistent.

Unfortunately, I've yet to find somebody quite like that, but I'm getting closer.

I used to ask a training partner to stay back 10 minutes after class if they werent busy to either film techniques we learned that day and/or work on something that we wanted to practice. It's not much but you definitely feel like progress happens this way because you know you're putting in that time even though results may not be visible immediately.

I often don't try to memorise everything these days, but I catalogue everything that I've learned through a training diary.
I focus more on things I like to for my game, and there are other techniques I keep in the back of my mind (sub/pos escapes)

Cool: yeah, I've been keeping a training diary since about 2002, though it's become a teaching diary at this point. I keep forgetting to update, so I'm nowhere near as regular as I used to be, but it's still going and I still find it useful to take notes. :)

As a beginner: One of the first lessons I got when studying the GG fundamentals course was that one must roll with purpose. I'd aim for one thing to do from each position. It can be a full escape or just a weight distribution tip, for example. And I focus on that for the week (at least) whenever I roll. So your "homework" is to evaluate yourself and find the proper beginner techniques you wish to work for each and every position (including standing). The fundamental courses would be very helpful for this.

JBerg, post: 62712, member: 11456

I know what you're feeling. I'm a brown belt now, but when I was a blue I got really frustrated and went on a journey to learn all kinds of new moves to get me through situations. It worked. i became a lot better, but it wasn't the best way.

There's a natural sticking point when moves stop working for you because the people you're rolling with are good enough to shut them down. You're going to have an urge to discover new moves to counter them, which will work because they're not familiar with those moves. But this will only work for the next belt or two and will stick you in mediocrity.

The solution -- which is what I'm focusing on now, and which I wish I did earlier -- is to get much better at the fundamental moves.

Study the videos here and on youtube to learn as much about those moves as possible. Varations, tweaks, timing, weight distribution, everything. Everyone has something to say about those moves and positions that will expand your understanding and that's when you'll see real growth. Take notes. Then do some visualization and shadow grappling. Then make sure to practice those tweaks in class. Pull someone aside and ask if you can try stuff out on him. Set yourself a goal to hit each tweak X number of times in class, until it becomes natural.

Also, watch videos of people sparring and see what they do in situations that frustrate you. You'll learn so much this way.

slideyfoot, post: 63052, member: 798

For me, open mat has been the most important part of my training for years, especially as I've run my own school since I was a purple belt, so I don't get many higher level training partners. I will pick a topic (often helped by videos here, along with various instructionals, BJJ Globetrotters camps, etc), then focus on it for a long time, often several years (e.g., open guard retention is probably never going to stop being a useful thing to work on).

The main thing that will help is finding a good training partner. By that, I mean somebody who is interested in technique and willing to show up to drill with you on a regular basis. If you find a person like that, make sure you treat them extremely well as they will massively raise your level. That means you have to be equally consistent.

Unfortunately, I've yet to find somebody quite like that, but I'm getting closer.

One can learn a limited number of things at one time. I think it’s good to start some where and study the situation until you have it in control from several points of view. ( very hard to master, but atleast get good at some thing. Playing quard or hand fighting might be good subjects to start with.) Ofcourse you need to follow what is going on in class, but your own time. Try to master things that are important to your game.

I think the best approach here is studying you would for anything. A lot of practice makes perfect, and studying the theory (videos on here and these forums etc) will aid that. Little and often is the best way, rather than cramming. 7 videos over 7 days with a night's sleep on each of them to think about them and also execute them in classes is better than sitting there and watching 7 videos at once then not doing anything for a week. Find out how you learn best, Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinaesthetic are what teachers used. And everyone learns differently.

I learn a lot from watching the instruction in class, the doing it. Then after sparing I'll watch videos on here on what I got caught out on during the rolls.

As slideyfoot mentioned, a training partner that you vibe with is worth their weight in gold. Even better if you can also have a friendly rivalry with that person. I've found that that's something that has helped my growth. I'm always in an arms race with a couple of people at my gym, to try and get an advantage over each other, but we also brainstorm and problem solve and help each other get better, so we're always challenged.

One thing I'd like to also recommend is that you hyper-focus on a specific thing. Lets just say its half guard. First make yourself have an unpassable half guard. Then you start getting arm drags to the back. Eventually they cant stop your arm drags. Then you work on your back attacks. Etc, etc. This is obviously an oversimplified and idealistic scenario but the point still stands. IMO you should branch off of what you already know instead of trying to go in completely new to certain things. Eventually you'll be good enough that you should be able to incorporate new positions more easily.

Oh, and roll with people you're much better most of the timethan so you can work your offensive and defensive timing.

One thing that's been helping me lately is deep diving into something. I've been doing it for teaching, but it's obviously been helping my progress as well. Instead of watching a million unrelated things pick something to focus on and watch a million different approaches to it.

How do you run a marathon? One step at a time. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. And keep praying that you are headed in the right direction. (Having an instructor helps. Having multiple instructors and experienced partners who will work with your learning style is even better.)

I think that unterstanding what is happening and what is the next step is a key.

I know this is going to sound counter intuitive but if your training a lot and not seeing any improvements I would recommend taking a break. Not a long break. Take a few days off or a week off. Don't do anything BJJ related. Do something else you enjoy that's creative. Sometimes stepping away lets you come back with a fresh look and your learning will accelerate. It unloads your central nervous system and lets you come back primed for learning. Clears the fog.
Also make sure you are getting enough sleep.

cfernandes79, post: 63957, member: 36618

I know this is going to sound counter intuitive but if your training a lot and not seeing any improvements I would recommend taking a break. Not a long break. Take a few days off or a week off. Don't do anything BJJ related. Do something else you enjoy that's creative. Sometimes stepping away lets you come back with a fresh look and your learning will accelerate. It unloads your central nervous system and lets you come back primed for learning. Clears the fog.
Also make sure you are getting enough sleep.

I would ask how do you know others are Improving? I believe that if you are seeing improvements you are aware of what they are doing different from before. This improved awareness is essential to you growing/improving. Think about what others are doing how they are improving then look at yourself and see if maybe you also need to change and make the same improvements.