I’m a blue belt. I got my blue belt in 2002. Shortly after that I got injured and quit for a long time. I was able to start back up in January 2020. I have been back and constantly training for just about 3 years. I just couldn’t turn the corner for my purple belt. About 6 months ago I started really focusing on everything you discussed in this video. Plus I picked up 5 hours of open mats on the weekend at different gyms. I also dropped about 70lbs and have been weight training. My BJJ has completely exploded. I’m getting and catching techniques in live rolling that I had learned 5 mins earlier. I’m subbing guys my own rank multiple times in a roll after being crushed by these guys 6 months earlier. I’m giving our brown belts a hard time now. It’s a great feeling to finally get to this point. I literally close my eyes and feel the roll, and react accordingly to the other persons movements. Great Video, and Thanks for the content.
No problem happy to help and happy you last year had such a huge improvement. Being dedicated and consistent works slowly but makes a huge difference over 6 months
@@keithhere5292 I’m thinking I can create my own BJJ system too. My moves and techniques can’t be utilized because they are so deadly. I’m thinking I could be a 10 striped corral belt. I’m going to call it Dim Mak BJJ. Who’s with me? We can come up with some really cool Lore. I’m thinking some lost Tibetan scrolls found in the Brazilian Rain forest… I’m definitely on to something here…
I respect the tips you give here, I received my BB in 2015, 17 years on the mats this year. Lower belts are improving faster than ever, more and more belts mean nothing (esp in no gi and the current leg lock meta). I feel the path to black belt is quite easy and simple. Train 3 times a week consistently, don't burn out and go too hard like most white-purple belts do, do strength training 2-3 times a week and always remember to stretch/do mobility work before and after class. Compete every now and again to test yourself. Do this for 10 years and you'll get black belt. It doesn't have to be complicated.
Your right about burning put.. been doing BJJ for 3 months..at the start I gaged it by how smashed and hard I went.. probably was more me both understanding it and treating it like a workout.. now I go a little bit smoother and my night seems to last longer. Also mat rolls become more and 1 on 1 training session instead of survival
@@madpaddy21 exactly! Remember it's a marathon, Not a race. The best guy on the mats is the guy who has usually been around the longest, stayed the healthiest and most balanced. The guys who burn out, get injured or quit never make it.
Jon was my instructor when I was training at Alliance in Atlanta. This guy is incredibly knowledgeable and the most effective instructor I’ve ever had. It’s one thing to know a sport it’s another thing to teach somebody else how to practice it and he’s exceptional at the latter.
Thanks so much Tito! Miss those days really enjoyed my time with you guys in that beginner and intermediate program. Hope you are doing well. Still training in Atlanta?
As a whitebelt i really appreciate your content. Also it really gives me hope to see someone of your physique outclassing really jacked opponents. Great content very specific and just superhelpful!
@@JonThomasBJJ why don't you pump some iron and gain some muscle mass? you;d be a killer, man. Honestly, only in bjj schools do i see no fitness and conditioning part in the classes. BJJ is becoming watered down, full of IT and arty-hipster-chess-nerds who think they don;t need to be fit and strong and that its all about technique. But lets be honest, all of this sophisticate butt scooping stuff wont save them from an athletic meathead high school wrestler late at night.
That’s why I took several private lessons from my instructor (Machado bros lineage) who was a second degree BB at the time. He taught me several details to counter moves, and give me a choking game. I learned more from an hour with him, than rolling hard on the mat for a couple weeks. It worked for me as I was able to use the moves to tap out training partners.
Yup going super hard the wrong direction without though just makes you tough and injured but eventually over a long time you will burn out and not be able to explain or repeat what you are doing
One issue I’m having as a purple belt for a few years now is identifying problem areas. As a white and blue felt the problems were very obvious. Now, there are small adjustments to be made which are kind of hard to notice sometimes.
I would say try to roll with the highest belts in the gym to see where you are struggling with them, if you are the highest belt and no one can expose problem areas then go compete or visit another gym for a training trip to get exposed. Then one or two rolls with someone like that should give you tons of positions you need to fix up. If you can’t do that then try to pick a new guard or new position you want to learn and try to use it on people. Even if you already beat everyone in your gym if you don’t normally play spider guard and try to start using it on people then that’s gonna be new skills for you, or do specific training and start in a position no one in your gym normally puts you in.
Of all the coaches teaching here in UA-cam I would have to say that this guy is the only one who explains complete ideas and has a very systematic approach to everything he does. John Danaher might be the expert in finding details in techniques or even creating new ones, but usually they are not helpful when starting BJJ. This guy however has explained so many basic ideas so well that I'm able to proceed with my white belt struggles more efficiently. Also his personality is just so perfect for coaching.
You are my favourite online Jiu Jitsu coach. Thank you, and please don’t stop. You always explain things step by step, and my most used system when training is a system you showed on one of your vids
Best BJJ channel on UA-cam. I’m starting back after a 20 year hiatus from training, things have changed a lot. My instructor is from Brazil, and I find it hard to understand him. I’m fortunate to have found an online resource by someone who is a gifted teacher and communicator.
This is what made me sub to your channel. So many great channels out there talking about positions, attacks, escapes etc. but videos where someone is explaining a systematic way to get better at BJJ is rare and so . Thank you for your content 🙏🙏🙏
Really great video. I’ve been doing jiu jitsu a while and currently fight in mma. One thing that popped up a lot to me in this video is not getting too bummed out in training when you aren’t pulling off what you want to pull off, but trusting that it takes time and consistent training. You always suck at whatever you are first trying, and it may take longer than you expect to get really good at it.
This is such a good pep talk! As a white belt I needed this. I’ve been allowing stuff to happen instead of forcing positions to determine what I need to work on and where I’m completely clueless. Thanks man! Would love to train one day!
I found this useful! Basically 1) need to train often enough IDEALLY 3 times a week, bare minimum 2x a week but really 3 is ideal. 2) MUST continue internalising techniques and technical points in BETWEEN physical training sessions in the gym with VIDEO instructionals.
Thanks buddy I enjoyed talking about it! Happy to see people enjoy Thai style of content. I’m going to be making a lot more of them now, any requests for future topics?
@@JonThomasBJJ No worries. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the principles side of bjj. I have very limited mat time at the moment so drilling the shit out of individual techniques isn't an option. I find that the principle based learning stuff gives me the most bang for my buck because I can take a principle such as, "keep knee elbow space closed off" and apply it to several positions. It doesn't always work but at least when I fail I know what went wrong, if that makes sense?
I mostly like this video. I will say that if you have a specific goal in live sparring like passing the guard and you achieve it, dont stop and reset in that position. What if your partner had a goal to try and escape side control and you just stopped that match? I would have a few goals to focus on in the match so you dont disrupt the flow of training and potentially take away an opportunity from your partner. Have a secondary goal after you pass like trying to attain mount or getting an armbar. If your opponent escapes back to guard, you get to start over on your primary focus.
This is awesome very insightful and true getting in shape is super important drilling techniques also very important but knowing the game the when the why and the how priceless
i did tkd for years and taught Olympic style, did bjj for the last three years with knowing a few techniques from reading and researching a very humbling experience. lol I told my instructor that i just wanted to get the basics down really well, so i trained with their MMA class and BJJ guys got the basics down within three to four months my endurance went through the roof, rolling with higher belts and beating some of them while free sparring after class was a incredible worth while experience. I told my students if you ever get the time or money to try BJJ with another martial art do it, it's well worth it's weight in gold. Great video yes if they learn the body positions and the basic techniques of BJJ they would be better off in a street fight with a little bit of Thai boxing/boxing added with it.
This video landed at just the right time for me. I’m a 4 stripe blue belt and have been feeling that it’s hard to know where to go. I really like roadmaps like this video provides
What you're saying reminds me of chain wrestling the difference between someone having a good takedown and then someone having a good sequence of takedowns all they need is to get to one leg and then they can run a double high crotch or a single leg to a sweep single if you get somebody down how to hold them down control their hips use a spiral ride to get to your PIN combinations or your tilt or back points.. or how to chain wrestle and get off the mat if you're on the bottom how to stand up how to sit out how to switch how to Grammy roll... You got to have counters and be able to flow adapt boxing is very similar
I agree with the idea that the most important part of training is the post sparring reflections to identify problems and formulate possible solutions. However, sparring instinctively with full speed may increase the possibilities of injury and reduces the time you have to observe and solve problems in real time. I feel the most productive rolls are with people that have enough control of their movement such that sparring can be slow and technical, of course if you are rolling with someone that imposes a high pace you should mach it, but it should not be the go to mindset.
I’m definitely gonna start working no gi more. Last few months has been fixing up my back with lots of strength training but it’s going really good now so I think soon I’m gonna start adding in some no gi and after a while working it, I will start making some content, but I would want to work quite a while on it before releasing anything as I want to test all ideas and get a lot of high level sparring with good competition to test
I'm a Judoka and recently started BJJ, and i'm having to change my game completely (even in standing) and it's been really fun to figure out what does and what doesn't translate. I've been watching your instagram videos a lot and that's been helping. Asking for feedback all the time, getting advice, rolling often, still doing judo to stay on top of that skillset, though toned it down. Reassuring as i'm trying to do all the things you've explained in the video already, so good to know if I stick to it and persevere it should start to come together. I know that it will as it did with Judo. Quite literally starting all over again
I am a long time Judoka as well. I started BJJ to add to my Judo arsenal... But I find BJJ so much more confusing. I am slowly advancing in BJJ and like you it really is like starting over.
@@andrewmurphy9932 I always felt relatively okay on the ground but I’ve become a lot more aware of how reckless the judo style is and how much more methodical BJJ is
@JONTHOMASBJJ This is a fucking phenomenonal video, but I'm a visual learner. If youre talking about half guard, even a half second still image of half guard would be wildly beneficial to my comprehension of what you're saying. Just a UA-cam tip, you're great on the jits. Cheers
Thank you very much for the video. im a white belt, and Jujitsu has been hard for me to grasp, but i knew i was overthinking it. i will go into my training session like that. i appreciate the advice!
Thanks so much for sharing! I’m a white belt, just started two months ago. Didn’t have my 1st stripe yet. I struggle with the mount. I can control the position but i have a lack of submissions. I don’t really know what to do from there. You helped me so much with your suggestions! Thanks for sharing!
funny i’ve never watched this channel but came across this video after I was thinking of how to really explain how to train bjj for success since yesterday. What I kinda came up with is drawing a tree where grappling is the trunk and main branches are areas of grappling (guard, half, side mount, mount all top and bottom, and takedowns etc) off each branch is a smaller branch for example i like the hip switch pass position in half guard. from that there’s a branch for passing, a branch for applying the kimura when they reach to stop the pass, sliding the knee across the belt line and attacking the leg when the counter by pushing you forward and trying to take your back, there’s branches from that position with a variety of leg locks. there’s a branch from when you get to the three quarter mount position from the hip switch and then that has branches with the kimura, arm bar and go go plata. freely swing from branch to branch is a half guard game, that happens to be my A. B game is when they beat my hip switch with a knee shield so I go to cradle and have the same branches from there. Then there’s a C, and the idea is to build all the initial branches out like the half guard until your tree looks super full. I think that’s the best way to visualize the goal and the way to get there is through everything you just said in this video. Cool channel, Im going to check out more of your vids lol 👍🏼
Found this really inciteful. Iam a brown belt and iam not exactly "self taught " but I've made most of my progress by trial and error. Tons of research etc. Your channel is awesome. Love the content. Iam really trying to get to that next level and this def helps. I need to re evaluate my philosophy on studying the art.
Dude, I love the “concept talks” because I can learn a ton even without seeing or feeling anything (ideal for listening at work). If you don’t already have a playlist of these, I’m going to make one.
Yeah they are really fun never realized how much people want them. Would be interested to see if people could get something out of me talking about positions.
What I hope my game is ten years from now? Fluid. Constantly adjusting, micro movements, subtle and hidden application to major results, the ability to flow around whatever my partner is applying, redirecting their game into mine. Its going to be a busy ten years....
White belt here… I’m not sure how it works at all gyms, but with mine I find their open-mat sessions to be invaluable for drilling those techniques that I need to work on. One of the coaches who I rolled with a couple of days earlier approached me for example and asked if I’d like to go through escaping mount, as that was a weak area she’d identified during that roll. However, (at my gym at least) there is always someone who will spend time to go through some stuff - so long as you reciprocate of course 😉.
Being brand new, I just try to stop their hand from doing what they intend it to do, or their general movements. Counter everything. Then I use schoolyard wrestling techniques (strength and leverage). I try to stay in side control and let them tire out, then go for an Americana, or something basic. Sucks not knowing anything yet. I move quickly, but go extremely slow on subs. I also don't apply chokes yet. I let their head rattle around in my elbow pit. I don't want to hurt anyone, as I have no proper choking experience. It's fun, but hard on my 47 year old body!
After about 2 years of training Im getting ready to quit since Ive hit kind of a brick wall for the past 3-5 months. Im gonna follow this advice and see if I can get back on track.
Usually when you hit a brick wall, you need to find a side project or position that’s exciting to work on and go deep on it, that’s what always keeps the interest for me. Normal rolls to diagnose my game and specific to trouble shoot.
Great content, and very well organized. My biggest take away is to turn the brain off during sparring to make sure the moves are instinctual, which gives them the best chance of working, and also helps identify holes in your game. ✌️
Yeah so many people try to think in the match on the beginning but you freeze and nothing works, you got trust your intuition even though it will be often wrong, but eventually you will learn what movements are useful and which aren’t. This combined with specific training to reprogram patterns will make your pattern recognition improve a lot and your ability to act fast under stress.
John Danaher broke down the positions you need to do depending on where you're currently at. First is getting them to the mat, 2nd is pass the legs, 3rd is get to a dominant position, and 4th is submitting them. You can start with Kaizen and work on specific moves for each of those positions. For example, one day you want to work on getting them to the mats. Okay so you focus 1 day during rolling doing takedowns. Pick a few and work on those. Practice as much as possible for that day if you have a partner. Next day, pass the legs, so you work on that and little by little you've gained a good skill set.
hey JonThomas, I just want to comment on your post, expressing how good this content is. it makes a lot of sense as whole, and one thing in particular that caught my moment is when you said: "you need to shut your Brian off!" I truly believe in that statement, bc I usually apply this concept as one of my own. thank you for sharing this.
Yeah it’s funny because the people who start jiu jitsu in the beginning who try to do the technique and be the most “technical” struggle so much vs people who just spazz out and use no thought, and it is really frustrating for them because they feel like they are doing the right thing and shouldn’t lose to someone non technical. That’s where understanding the difference between mine off regular sparring and separate analytical specific training time makes a huge difference.
I agree with all this. Positional sparring to get reps on weaknesses, this gets you better at applying techniques. But flow rolling is important also to get reps at identifying opportunities for subs/sweeps. In a normal 5 min roll, we tend to get stuck in certain positions, but with flow rolling you get to see a lot of positions, each time giving you an opportunity to spot subs/sweeps
I for 10 years largely have just 'turned my brain off" but it has kept me largely with in my game and "trying to win" taking each roll as an opportunity to practice a move or a series of moves is imo how I intend to get to the next level. Also, in every tournament I have a game plan and then its freestyle after the initial gameplan.
Yeah I think you got to have balance in what you are focusing on sometimes the main focus need to be just learning to turn the brain off and let your self act under stress and for others at certain times it’s finding a position to go deeper on and understand
This is such solid advice - the modular framework and pattern- recognition elements of BJJ are essential for true growth in the art and great video🥋🤙🏼🛡️⚔️
So, more accurately we can describe "my game" not as a prescription, but an assessment of "what I'm good at, what I'm getting better at, what I'm struggling with, etc..." and rather than pigeon holing any given round / training session from the top down (good > bad), focusing on the bottom up (worst / most secure positions) allows you to see the opportunities for the goods 👍
Im brand new to BJJ. Im a smaller guy just looking for better self defense. Im also just starting boxing. Tonight is my 1st white belt class in bjj, my 1st ever class days ago was an advanced class that me and another new guy went to, so we didnt learn much yet. Is bjj good for street defense? Alot of what we went over the other day was offensive or ground stuff. In a street scenario im expecting a guy whose bigger to grab me, possibly get me in a hold. Does bjj cover getting out of basic choke holds and grabs that one would encounter in a street scenario before going to the ground?
Great video! Perfect way to get a more structured learning process in BJJ, and something I really needed. In general I like how you talk a lot about consepts instead of just showing different technuiqs. Makes BJJ a lot more dynamic, and easier to adjust after my spesific body type. Heared you are coming to Kristiansand for a seminar next year. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us :)
Older guy here (staring down the big 5-0 as a 3 stripe whitey). I am in good shape but I can't always match the intensity (let alone recovery) of my classmates who are in their 20s and 30s. I kind of hit on some of these concepts - working specific sparring into rolls as opposed to just going hell for leather. It's really helpful to have it broken down properly like this. This fills in the blanks for me. I have a plan for my training in 2023 now.
Yeah the specific sparring is so powerful especially when you start working the grip fighting portion of the game that allows you to control where the match goes
You should really change your diet. You can't be an athlete without eating like one. Even at 50, most 30 year Olds aren't terribly more fit than a 50 year old with a good diet
Greats points, I try to review my rolls as you say and just react to what my opponent gives me. When I identify a weak position that I was not able to defend well, I review videos on the subject and I practice at home with a dummy cause my wife does not want to be my rolling partner. I then take it to class to try my defense.
havent started the video yet, will edit later. jiu jitsu i find is very cerebral, and a lot of the ways to improve aren't necessary related precisely to BJJ - or sports as a whole. when i picked up jiu jistu kore then 10 years ago, many things came naturally to me in terms of instinct, tempo, and improvising submissions - but only when i had truly taken steps toward truly mastering the basics and an added sense of humility did any of that become effective. i moved out of the country and didnt train for 5 years, and just started again last year. i lost much of the foundation and a great deal of my humility in relation to BJJ due to the fact that i am a higher belt than many of the MMA fighters i train with. the result of this is im right back where i started in many ways, back to going for a flashy pass or an unsafe sub. im hoping to really go back to my roots and do it right this time. tha ks for reading
Always on point, great concepts. When you bring up this overarching principles that help “simplify” bjj, I find it super helpful. It’s a welcome break from the technique-by-technique saturation that we see elsewhere, which can be overwhelming.
Excellent advice. As a result, I thought carefully about a session yesterday where I struggled to achieve mount from a side position. My leg got trapped as I telegraphed its movement across. Now I know to recreate that moment with a partner and work through it. Also great point on turning your brain off during sparring. Becoming consciously logical during matches has cost countless precious milliseconds to great disadvantage. Very much appreciate the tip.
Yup absolutely! Be mind off in the sparring, then reflect afterwards and identify the problem points and use specific training and drilling to reprogram the subconscious responses.
Regarding conditioning, one problem I've seen is that some recreational martial artists treat the skill workout as a conditioning session. There may be some conditioning in a skill class and some skill involved in a conditioning session, but one should a adopt a layered approach to training - meaning both skill and conditioning must be addressed separately and then together. In other words, spend some time working out and not just on the mat.
Interesting i actually do everything you say and done so before watching... i put myself in half guard just to get to waiter and sweep and see reactions i even done subs without ever drilling or being taught such as like a barotoplata when opponent tried to stack i dont think about anything before sparring but troubleshoot in the moment alot
I just stumbled across your site and quite enjoyed that post. Perhaps if you have time you could answer a question i wrestle with...I don't have nearly enough opportunity to make it into the gym (averaging 2x per week). On my off days, i am always looking for ways to improve on my own, but I never really know the best approach. Solo drilling to build muscle memory? Grappling dummy to practice submissions? Conditioning exercises to improve my fitness for BJJ? Yoga to improve mobility? In a perfect world I would spend time on all of those things, but if I had that kind of time I would simply go to the gym more.
So that’s where after the roll reflection matters a lot. Of course you can’t truly turn your brain off so even when you aren’t trying to think while rolling your brain will still throw thoughts and observations at you, when you finish the roll it should be pretty easy for you to take a mental note of what the big things you struggled with, or what was working well, were. Then use specific training time where you start and spar from a position to do more analytical thinking while rolling type stuff to reprogram your pattern recognition. Then when you go back to normal rolling you gotta go with the flow and trust what options your brain gave you were the best ones you could have.
I've been practicing jujitsu as cardio training. I'm mostly a weight lifter and I'm one of the strongest in the class. I get wrecked a lot. My strength certainly helps in some scenarios, but skill and experience is far more advantageous.
woww that chess analogy you mentioned, I thought about the same idea exactly. an AI, if trained using data from some of the best chess grandmasters, can potentially come at a point where it reinforces itself to beat some of the best of chess players. Jiu JItsu, being the human chess it is, doesn't have a set of pre-defined movements or rules, so even if the AI the has data of Roger Gracie and Gordon Ryan summed up together, it won't be able to adapt that easily, since there is more room for innovations in JJ than chess.
Yup absolutely. In jiu jitsu someone physical can make up for a lack of knowledge in the beginning vs someone else with less experience, but if you go to a really high level and are treating it as a case study on the best move in a position it’s just impossible to know at least with mid game positions like open guard. If you are in an armbar or something it’s similar to being in a forced mate position in a chess puzzle that’s solvable but mid game and opening is too many variables often.
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I’m a blue belt. I got my blue belt in 2002. Shortly after that I got injured and quit for a long time. I was able to start back up in January 2020. I have been back and constantly training for just about 3 years. I just couldn’t turn the corner for my purple belt. About 6 months ago I started really focusing on everything you discussed in this video. Plus I picked up 5 hours of open mats on the weekend at different gyms. I also dropped about 70lbs and have been weight training. My BJJ has completely exploded. I’m getting and catching techniques in live rolling that I had learned 5 mins earlier. I’m subbing guys my own rank multiple times in a roll after being crushed by these guys 6 months earlier. I’m giving our brown belts a hard time now. It’s a great feeling to finally get to this point. I literally close my eyes and feel the roll, and react accordingly to the other persons movements. Great Video, and Thanks for the content.
No problem happy to help and happy you last year had such a huge improvement. Being dedicated and consistent works slowly but makes a huge difference over 6 months
“How long you been training?”
“It’s complicated.”
@@BarChordA Probably a combined 7 years right now. Super consistent for the last 3 years. I’m in a huge growth phase right now.
@@ConveyApp Bro- its def time you self promote- u are at least 3 stripe purple
@@keithhere5292 I’m thinking I can create my own BJJ system too. My moves and techniques can’t be utilized because they are so deadly. I’m thinking I could be a 10 striped corral belt. I’m going to call it Dim Mak BJJ. Who’s with me? We can come up with some really cool Lore. I’m thinking some lost Tibetan scrolls found in the Brazilian Rain forest… I’m definitely on to something here…
I respect the tips you give here, I received my BB in 2015, 17 years on the mats this year.
Lower belts are improving faster than ever, more and more belts mean nothing (esp in no gi and the current leg lock meta).
I feel the path to black belt is quite easy and simple.
Train 3 times a week consistently, don't burn out and go too hard like most white-purple belts do, do strength training 2-3 times a week and always remember to stretch/do mobility work before and after class. Compete every now and again to test yourself. Do this for 10 years and you'll get black belt. It doesn't have to be complicated.
The path is easy? Doesn’t seem it. Simple, yes.
@@AujaAguja if you love the sport as much as most of us do, you'll attest it's easy to rock up and train!
@@llai8501 ah, in that case, yes! Oss
Your right about burning put.. been doing BJJ for 3 months..at the start I gaged it by how smashed and hard I went.. probably was more me both understanding it and treating it like a workout.. now I go a little bit smoother and my night seems to last longer. Also mat rolls become more and 1 on 1 training session instead of survival
@@madpaddy21 exactly! Remember it's a marathon, Not a race. The best guy on the mats is the guy who has usually been around the longest, stayed the healthiest and most balanced. The guys who burn out, get injured or quit never make it.
If you did an audio book on Jiu Jitsu topics like this, I would buy it
That’s great to hear! I think these things are so important I’m happy to see a lot of people really value it as well!
@@JonThomasBJJ same. I'd buy an audio book from you homie
@@AJJ_BrosI think at least as a start I will be doing a lot more of videos like this that are good just as audio
You have been turning me into a fkin monster!! 6’2 140lbs
@@JonThomasBJJ ASMR gonna be a new money spinner.
Jon was my instructor when I was training at Alliance in Atlanta. This guy is incredibly knowledgeable and the most effective instructor I’ve ever had. It’s one thing to know a sport it’s another thing to teach somebody else how to practice it and he’s exceptional at the latter.
Thanks so much Tito! Miss those days really enjoyed my time with you guys in that beginner and intermediate program. Hope you are doing well. Still training in Atlanta?
Crazy how time flies! Was always a better class when you were in it. You brought so much positive energy
This is absolute gold. "Pattern Recognition" . . . . BOOM!!!!!
As a whitebelt i really appreciate your content. Also it really gives me hope to see someone of your physique outclassing really jacked opponents. Great content very specific and just superhelpful!
Thanks buddy! You need to be able to believe with good enough technique you can beat people bigger and stronger.
@@JonThomasBJJ why don't you pump some iron and gain some muscle mass? you;d be a killer, man. Honestly, only in bjj schools do i see no fitness and conditioning part in the classes. BJJ is becoming watered down, full of IT and arty-hipster-chess-nerds who think they don;t need to be fit and strong and that its all about technique. But lets be honest, all of this sophisticate butt scooping stuff wont save them from an athletic meathead high school wrestler late at night.
Checkout my channel for free bjj instructionals brother!
That’s why I took several private lessons from my instructor (Machado bros lineage) who was a second degree BB at the time. He taught me several details to counter moves, and give me a choking game. I learned more from an hour with him, than rolling hard on the mat for a couple weeks. It worked for me as I was able to use the moves to tap out training partners.
Yup going super hard the wrong direction without though just makes you tough and injured but eventually over a long time you will burn out and not be able to explain or repeat what you are doing
One issue I’m having as a purple belt for a few years now is identifying problem areas. As a white and blue felt the problems were very obvious. Now, there are small adjustments to be made which are kind of hard to notice sometimes.
I would say try to roll with the highest belts in the gym to see where you are struggling with them, if you are the highest belt and no one can expose problem areas then go compete or visit another gym for a training trip to get exposed. Then one or two rolls with someone like that should give you tons of positions you need to fix up. If you can’t do that then try to pick a new guard or new position you want to learn and try to use it on people. Even if you already beat everyone in your gym if you don’t normally play spider guard and try to start using it on people then that’s gonna be new skills for you, or do specific training and start in a position no one in your gym normally puts you in.
Of all the coaches teaching here in UA-cam I would have to say that this guy is the only one who explains complete ideas and has a very systematic approach to everything he does. John Danaher might be the expert in finding details in techniques or even creating new ones, but usually they are not helpful when starting BJJ. This guy however has explained so many basic ideas so well that I'm able to proceed with my white belt struggles more efficiently. Also his personality is just so perfect for coaching.
You are my favourite online Jiu Jitsu coach. Thank you, and please don’t stop. You always explain things step by step, and my most used system when training is a system you showed on one of your vids
Thanks so much buddy means a lot! Do my best to put together the most organized and concise material I can
@@JonThomasBJJ Now do more no gi stuff! Please?
Best BJJ channel on UA-cam. I’m starting back after a 20 year hiatus from training, things have changed a lot. My instructor is from Brazil, and I find it hard to understand him. I’m fortunate to have found an online resource by someone who is a gifted teacher and communicator.
Oh wow 20 years a lot had happened! Happy to have you back on the mats! Hope the videos help make the come back as smooth and fun as possible.
This is what made me sub to your channel. So many great channels out there talking about positions, attacks, escapes etc. but videos where someone is explaining a systematic way to get better at BJJ is rare and so . Thank you for your content 🙏🙏🙏
This is incredibly good advice, if you just replace "jiu jitsu" with "fencing" it applies perfectly.
Really great video. I’ve been doing jiu jitsu a while and currently fight in mma.
One thing that popped up a lot to me in this video is not getting too bummed out in training when you aren’t pulling off what you want to pull off, but trusting that it takes time and consistent training. You always suck at whatever you are first trying, and it may take longer than you expect to get really good at it.
This is such a good pep talk! As a white belt I needed this. I’ve been allowing stuff to happen instead of forcing positions to determine what I need to work on and where I’m completely clueless. Thanks man! Would love to train one day!
I found this useful! Basically 1) need to train often enough IDEALLY 3 times a week, bare minimum 2x a week but really 3 is ideal.
2) MUST continue internalising techniques and technical points in BETWEEN physical training sessions in the gym with VIDEO instructionals.
Excellent stuff. It good to hear about a learning method rather than just watching endless techniques.
Thanks buddy I enjoyed talking about it! Happy to see people enjoy Thai style of content. I’m going to be making a lot more of them now, any requests for future topics?
@@JonThomasBJJ No worries. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the principles side of bjj. I have very limited mat time at the moment so drilling the shit out of individual techniques isn't an option. I find that the principle based learning stuff gives me the most bang for my buck because I can take a principle such as, "keep knee elbow space closed off" and apply it to several positions. It doesn't always work but at least when I fail I know what went wrong, if that makes sense?
I mostly like this video. I will say that if you have a specific goal in live sparring like passing the guard and you achieve it, dont stop and reset in that position. What if your partner had a goal to try and escape side control and you just stopped that match? I would have a few goals to focus on in the match so you dont disrupt the flow of training and potentially take away an opportunity from your partner. Have a secondary goal after you pass like trying to attain mount or getting an armbar. If your opponent escapes back to guard, you get to start over on your primary focus.
This is awesome very insightful and true getting in shape is super important drilling techniques also very important but knowing the game the when the why and the how priceless
i did tkd for years and taught Olympic style, did bjj for the last three years with knowing a few techniques from reading and researching a very humbling experience. lol I told my instructor that i just wanted to get the basics down really well, so i trained with their MMA class and BJJ guys got the basics down within three to four months my endurance went through the roof, rolling with higher belts and beating some of them while free sparring after class was a incredible worth while experience. I told my students if you ever get the time or money to try BJJ with another martial art do it, it's well worth it's weight in gold. Great video yes if they learn the body positions and the basic techniques of BJJ they would be better off in a street fight with a little bit of Thai boxing/boxing added with it.
I have been but initiated to Jiu Jitsu, but I have enough understanding that all you say makes much sense!
This video landed at just the right time for me. I’m a 4 stripe blue belt and have been feeling that it’s hard to know where to go. I really like roadmaps like this video provides
Yeah it’s always difficult to figure out where you should be working. I think this mindset and just pursuing general knowledge is the best.
@@JonThomasBJJ exactly. This vid is so good though because it gives you a plan for figuring out what to work and how to do it. Very well done. 🙏
What you're saying reminds me of chain wrestling the difference between someone having a good takedown and then someone having a good sequence of takedowns all they need is to get to one leg and then they can run a double high crotch or a single leg to a sweep single if you get somebody down how to hold them down control their hips use a spiral ride to get to your PIN combinations or your tilt or back points.. or how to chain wrestle and get off the mat if you're on the bottom how to stand up how to sit out how to switch how to Grammy roll... You got to have counters and be able to flow adapt boxing is very similar
I got my blue belt a little while ago, your content has helped me a lot in my evolution.Oss I am from Brazil, Thank you!
This channel is so top tier. Jon's JJ IQ Is insane. Wonderful tips
I agree with the idea that the most important part of training is the post sparring reflections to identify problems and formulate possible solutions. However, sparring instinctively with full speed may increase the possibilities of injury and reduces the time you have to observe and solve problems in real time. I feel the most productive rolls are with people that have enough control of their movement such that sparring can be slow and technical, of course if you are rolling with someone that imposes a high pace you should mach it, but it should not be the go to mindset.
I really wish you would do more on no-gi. Your content is so good - take it to the masses.
I’m definitely gonna start working no gi more. Last few months has been fixing up my back with lots of strength training but it’s going really good now so I think soon I’m gonna start adding in some no gi and after a while working it, I will start making some content, but I would want to work quite a while on it before releasing anything as I want to test all ideas and get a lot of high level sparring with good competition to test
@@JonThomasBJJ awesome to hear. I think i speak for the bjj community when I say we are looking forward to that day
I'm a Judoka and recently started BJJ, and i'm having to change my game completely (even in standing) and it's been really fun to figure out what does and what doesn't translate. I've been watching your instagram videos a lot and that's been helping. Asking for feedback all the time, getting advice, rolling often, still doing judo to stay on top of that skillset, though toned it down.
Reassuring as i'm trying to do all the things you've explained in the video already, so good to know if I stick to it and persevere it should start to come together. I know that it will as it did with Judo. Quite literally starting all over again
I am a long time Judoka as well. I started BJJ to add to my Judo arsenal... But I find BJJ so much more confusing. I am slowly advancing in BJJ and like you it really is like starting over.
@@andrewmurphy9932 I always felt relatively okay on the ground but I’ve become a lot more aware of how reckless the judo style is and how much more methodical BJJ is
@JONTHOMASBJJ This is a fucking phenomenonal video, but I'm a visual learner. If youre talking about half guard, even a half second still image of half guard would be wildly beneficial to my comprehension of what you're saying. Just a UA-cam tip, you're great on the jits. Cheers
Thank you very much for the video. im a white belt, and Jujitsu has been hard for me to grasp, but i knew i was overthinking it. i will go into my training session like that. i appreciate the advice!
Appreciate it, I will take this concept beyond jiu-jitsu
LOVE the concept-videos. There are a billion instructionals, I need more conceptual to supplement
Happy to hear it! Definitely going to be doing a lot more of these as I see so many people enjoy them now
Thanks so much for sharing! I’m a white belt, just started two months ago. Didn’t have my 1st stripe yet. I struggle with the mount. I can control the position but i have a lack of submissions. I don’t really know what to do from there. You helped me so much with your suggestions! Thanks for sharing!
Love this. I'm new to jiu jitsu, but this is almost exactly how I used to train bboying. Just one of several parallels I've noticed so far.
funny i’ve never watched this channel but came across this video after I was thinking of how to really explain how to train bjj for success since yesterday. What I kinda came up with is drawing a tree where grappling is the trunk and main branches are areas of grappling (guard, half, side mount, mount all top and bottom, and takedowns etc) off each branch is a smaller branch for example i like the hip switch pass position in half guard. from that there’s a branch for passing, a branch for applying the kimura when they reach to stop the pass, sliding the knee across the belt line and attacking the leg when the counter by pushing you forward and trying to take your back, there’s branches from that position with a variety of leg locks. there’s a branch from when you get to the three quarter mount position from the hip switch and then that has branches with the kimura, arm bar and go go plata. freely swing from branch to branch is a half guard game, that happens to be my A. B game is when they beat my hip switch with a knee shield so I go to cradle and have the same branches from there. Then there’s a C, and the idea is to build all the initial branches out like the half guard until your tree looks super full. I think that’s the best way to visualize the goal and the way to get there is through everything you just said in this video. Cool channel, Im going to check out more of your vids lol 👍🏼
Found this really inciteful. Iam a brown belt and iam not exactly "self taught " but I've made most of my progress by trial and error. Tons of research etc. Your channel is awesome. Love the content. Iam really trying to get to that next level and this def helps. I need to re evaluate my philosophy on studying the art.
Love the jumping analogy. Great for acrobatics as well.
Yeah I think small examples like that help elaborate things.
Solid! Thanks for the step by step. BJJ can feel defeating, this helped me realize how to adjust my expectations and approach it more methodically.
Dude, I love the “concept talks” because I can learn a ton even without seeing or feeling anything (ideal for listening at work). If you don’t already have a playlist of these, I’m going to make one.
Yeah they are really fun never realized how much people want them. Would be interested to see if people could get something out of me talking about positions.
What I hope my game is ten years from now? Fluid. Constantly adjusting, micro movements, subtle and hidden application to major results, the ability to flow around whatever my partner is applying, redirecting their game into mine. Its going to be a busy ten years....
White belt here… I’m not sure how it works at all gyms, but with mine I find their open-mat sessions to be invaluable for drilling those techniques that I need to work on. One of the coaches who I rolled with a couple of days earlier approached me for example and asked if I’d like to go through escaping mount, as that was a weak area she’d identified during that roll. However, (at my gym at least) there is always someone who will spend time to go through some stuff - so long as you reciprocate of course 😉.
Being brand new, I just try to stop their hand from doing what they intend it to do, or their general movements. Counter everything. Then I use schoolyard wrestling techniques (strength and leverage). I try to stay in side control and let them tire out, then go for an Americana, or something basic. Sucks not knowing anything yet. I move quickly, but go extremely slow on subs. I also don't apply chokes yet. I let their head rattle around in my elbow pit. I don't want to hurt anyone, as I have no proper choking experience. It's fun, but hard on my 47 year old body!
After about 2 years of training Im getting ready to quit since Ive hit kind of a brick wall for the past 3-5 months. Im gonna follow this advice and see if I can get back on track.
Usually when you hit a brick wall, you need to find a side project or position that’s exciting to work on and go deep on it, that’s what always keeps the interest for me. Normal rolls to diagnose my game and specific to trouble shoot.
Great content, and very well organized. My biggest take away is to turn the brain off during sparring to make sure the moves are instinctual, which gives them the best chance of working, and also helps identify holes in your game. ✌️
Yeah so many people try to think in the match on the beginning but you freeze and nothing works, you got trust your intuition even though it will be often wrong, but eventually you will learn what movements are useful and which aren’t. This combined with specific training to reprogram patterns will make your pattern recognition improve a lot and your ability to act fast under stress.
John Danaher broke down the positions you need to do depending on where you're currently at. First is getting them to the mat, 2nd is pass the legs, 3rd is get to a dominant position, and 4th is submitting them.
You can start with Kaizen and work on specific moves for each of those positions. For example, one day you want to work on getting them to the mats. Okay so you focus 1 day during rolling doing takedowns. Pick a few and work on those. Practice as much as possible for that day if you have a partner. Next day, pass the legs, so you work on that and little by little you've gained a good skill set.
hey JonThomas, I just want to comment on your post, expressing how good this content is. it makes a lot of sense as whole, and one thing in particular that caught my moment is when you said: "you need to shut your Brian off!" I truly believe in that statement, bc I usually apply this concept as one of my own. thank you for sharing this.
Yeah it’s funny because the people who start jiu jitsu in the beginning who try to do the technique and be the most “technical” struggle so much vs people who just spazz out and use no thought, and it is really frustrating for them because they feel like they are doing the right thing and shouldn’t lose to someone non technical. That’s where understanding the difference between mine off regular sparring and separate analytical specific training time makes a huge difference.
Love your channel!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! 🙏
No problem happy you have enjoyed this videos will be doing more soon.
I agree with all this. Positional sparring to get reps on weaknesses, this gets you better at applying techniques. But flow rolling is important also to get reps at identifying opportunities for subs/sweeps. In a normal 5 min roll, we tend to get stuck in certain positions, but with flow rolling you get to see a lot of positions, each time giving you an opportunity to spot subs/sweeps
I for 10 years largely have just 'turned my brain off" but it has kept me largely with in my game and "trying to win" taking each roll as an opportunity to practice a move or a series of moves is imo how I intend to get to the next level. Also, in every tournament I have a game plan and then its freestyle after the initial gameplan.
Just to be clear you do say this I was just stating my path I agree with you.
Yeah I think you got to have balance in what you are focusing on sometimes the main focus need to be just learning to turn the brain off and let your self act under stress and for others at certain times it’s finding a position to go deeper on and understand
This is such solid advice - the modular framework and pattern- recognition elements of BJJ are essential for true growth in the art and great video🥋🤙🏼🛡️⚔️
Great overview just what I need at this moment in time
I like the concept talks! And all your vids! Especially the system videos (like the closed guard one)! Thank you
Yeah system overviews are so important and helpful, I love doing those as well
So, more accurately we can describe "my game" not as a prescription, but an assessment of "what I'm good at, what I'm getting better at, what I'm struggling with, etc..." and rather than pigeon holing any given round / training session from the top down (good > bad), focusing on the bottom up (worst / most secure positions) allows you to see the opportunities for the goods 👍
Completely agree whit you, tough the same.
Im brand new to BJJ. Im a smaller guy just looking for better self defense. Im also just starting boxing.
Tonight is my 1st white belt class in bjj, my 1st ever class days ago was an advanced class that me and another new guy went to, so we didnt learn much yet. Is bjj good for street defense? Alot of what we went over the other day was offensive or ground stuff. In a street scenario im expecting a guy whose bigger to grab me, possibly get me in a hold. Does bjj cover getting out of basic choke holds and grabs that one would encounter in a street scenario before going to the ground?
Forget this noise. Study TKD…you can get a black belt in 2 years. That proves it’s more effective at making you a master than BJJ.
Great video! Perfect way to get a more structured learning process in BJJ, and something I really needed. In general I like how you talk a lot about consepts instead of just showing different technuiqs. Makes BJJ a lot more dynamic, and easier to adjust after my spesific body type. Heared you are coming to Kristiansand for a seminar next year. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us :)
Jon, this message is brilliant!
OK this is the video that has helped me a lot. Thank you man I appreciate you. Keep up the good work.
Great video thank you especially for pointing out on how to improve faster.
Older guy here (staring down the big 5-0 as a 3 stripe whitey). I am in good shape but I can't always match the intensity (let alone recovery) of my classmates who are in their 20s and 30s. I kind of hit on some of these concepts - working specific sparring into rolls as opposed to just going hell for leather. It's really helpful to have it broken down properly like this. This fills in the blanks for me. I have a plan for my training in 2023 now.
Yeah the specific sparring is so powerful especially when you start working the grip fighting portion of the game that allows you to control where the match goes
You should really change your diet. You can't be an athlete without eating like one. Even at 50, most 30 year Olds aren't terribly more fit than a 50 year old with a good diet
the smartest guy in bjj just made the smartest tutorial in bjj!
Wow thanks so much! Huge compliment
Great thoughts and instruction. Keep it coming it’s always helpful!
Great, thanks Professor, oss!!
Very interesting part regarding the turning off of the brain during sparring. Thanks!
Yeah that’s absolutely critical, one of the biggest components that holds people back
Greats points, I try to review my rolls as you say and just react to what my opponent gives me. When I identify a weak position that I was not able to defend well, I review videos on the subject and I practice at home with a dummy cause my wife does not want to be my rolling partner. I then take it to class to try my defense.
It’s a very easy sport to get better at. I never done Ju-Jitsu however you need to stretch.
Your UA-cam Commenting Skills Are Good. What Training Have You Gone Thru?
@@michaelreardon303 I’ve been doing those videos for years. I have been working at call centers for years and I do their approach
havent started the video yet, will edit later. jiu jitsu i find is very cerebral, and a lot of the ways to improve aren't necessary related precisely to BJJ - or sports as a whole. when i picked up jiu jistu kore then 10 years ago, many things came naturally to me in terms of instinct, tempo, and improvising submissions - but only when i had truly taken steps toward truly mastering the basics and an added sense of humility did any of that become effective. i moved out of the country and didnt train for 5 years, and just started again last year. i lost much of the foundation and a great deal of my humility in relation to BJJ due to the fact that i am a higher belt than many of the MMA fighters i train with. the result of this is im right back where i started in many ways, back to going for a flashy pass or an unsafe sub. im hoping to really go back to my roots and do it right this time. tha ks for reading
Dude this is great! You are a smart guy and great teacher! Amazing content you give away for free!
Mavericks baby lets go!
Great advise Jon
Always on point, great concepts. When you bring up this overarching principles that help “simplify” bjj, I find it super helpful. It’s a welcome break from the technique-by-technique saturation that we see elsewhere, which can be overwhelming.
Yeah I honestly love these types of talks didn’t realize there was so much interest in it so I will definitely be doing more of these.
This makes a lot of sense!
Thank you for breaking sumtin complex into small easy to digest concepts
No problem happy you appreciate it!
Solid video!!!! The advice is spot on.
Legit video-concepts all logical. Thank you!
Excellent advice. As a result, I thought carefully about a session yesterday where I struggled to achieve mount from a side position. My leg got trapped as I telegraphed its movement across. Now I know to recreate that moment with a partner and work through it. Also great point on turning your brain off during sparring. Becoming consciously logical during matches has cost countless precious milliseconds to great disadvantage. Very much appreciate the tip.
Yup absolutely! Be mind off in the sparring, then reflect afterwards and identify the problem points and use specific training and drilling to reprogram the subconscious responses.
Regarding conditioning, one problem I've seen is that some recreational martial artists treat the skill workout as a conditioning session. There may be some conditioning in a skill class and some skill involved in a conditioning session, but one should a adopt a layered approach to training - meaning both skill and conditioning must be addressed separately and then together. In other words, spend some time working out and not just on the mat.
Very helpful videos on this channel. I watch your content often and I practice the methods you teach. Thank you Sir!
Thank you. This makes a lot of sense.
I immediately went to my workout journal and wrote all.this down🤙 thank you!
Happy to hear it buddy! Hope this helps you in your journey
Incredible advice. As a brown belt, the amount of time I wasted doing undirected training is staggering.
Thanks for these concepts Jon, really helpful. Any content around competition would be greatly appreciated.
I will certainly do that, gonna do one soon about should you make a game plan for competition.
Interesting i actually do everything you say and done so before watching... i put myself in half guard just to get to waiter and sweep and see reactions i even done subs without ever drilling or being taught such as like a barotoplata when opponent tried to stack i dont think about anything before sparring but troubleshoot in the moment alot
Thanks
This is amazing! Great advice and bang on. Thank you!
Appreciate it!!
I just stumbled across your site and quite enjoyed that post. Perhaps if you have time you could answer a question i wrestle with...I don't have nearly enough opportunity to make it into the gym (averaging 2x per week). On my off days, i am always looking for ways to improve on my own, but I never really know the best approach. Solo drilling to build muscle memory? Grappling dummy to practice submissions? Conditioning exercises to improve my fitness for BJJ? Yoga to improve mobility? In a perfect world I would spend time on all of those things, but if I had that kind of time I would simply go to the gym more.
Thanks for taking the time to explain the concepts!
No problem buddy! I appreciate the support!
Hi! Opening statement you mentioned don’t think too much, just flow or roll, shouldn’t we be thinking about what we need to work on?
So that’s where after the roll reflection matters a lot. Of course you can’t truly turn your brain off so even when you aren’t trying to think while rolling your brain will still throw thoughts and observations at you, when you finish the roll it should be pretty easy for you to take a mental note of what the big things you struggled with, or what was working well, were. Then use specific training time where you start and spar from a position to do more analytical thinking while rolling type stuff to reprogram your pattern recognition. Then when you go back to normal rolling you gotta go with the flow and trust what options your brain gave you were the best ones you could have.
I'm starting tommorow lol, can't wait
Great content as always Jon
Thanks good this It helped me to identify a couple holes in my process which I will be plugging up right now
Happy to hear it! Hope this allows you to get to next level
This is amazing, thank you.
I've been practicing jujitsu as cardio training. I'm mostly a weight lifter and I'm one of the strongest in the class. I get wrecked a lot. My strength certainly helps in some scenarios, but skill and experience is far more advantageous.
Love the concept videos! Great content!
Thank you so much!
woww that chess analogy you mentioned, I thought about the same idea exactly.
an AI, if trained using data from some of the best chess grandmasters, can potentially come at a point where it reinforces itself to beat some of the best of chess players.
Jiu JItsu, being the human chess it is, doesn't have a set of pre-defined movements or rules, so even if the AI the has data of Roger Gracie and Gordon Ryan summed up together, it won't be able to adapt that easily, since there is more room for innovations in JJ than chess.
Yup absolutely. In jiu jitsu someone physical can make up for a lack of knowledge in the beginning vs someone else with less experience, but if you go to a really high level and are treating it as a case study on the best move in a position it’s just impossible to know at least with mid game positions like open guard. If you are in an armbar or something it’s similar to being in a forced mate position in a chess puzzle that’s solvable but mid game and opening is too many variables often.
Great video def. going to watch a 2nd time and take notes.
Happy to hear it! These small things will matter so much if you train over years
Great video. I know just enough to know this is all great advice..........I think.
Haha thanks! I think 😂
Thanks. Just came at the right time
Happy to hear it!
More videos like this please
More coming soon!