5 Questions That Will Make Any BJJ Technique Better.

Author - Luke Gooding

In an art as complex as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu it’s easy to become a technique hoarder and quickly acquire a low-level understanding of a technique before quickly moving onto the next. The real challenge and the whole point of course is to become truly proficient in a technique. There are many ways to do this, but these 5 questions will help you zero in on what matters most and get more return on your training time.

1. Where is my power source?

2. How am I connected to my opponent?

3. What’s the angle?

4. How do I know when to execute?

5. How can I optimise?

1. Where is my power source?

Every technique has an anchor point from which we generate power to execute the technique. The mat and your opponent are the two primary power sources with different parts of your body connecting to them to generate power. For any technique one or more of your feet, knees, head, back, shoulders, elbows, or butt, are typically grounded to the mat or opponent when you execute a technique. Being consciously aware of where your power source is can make all the difference.

2. How am I connected to my opponent?

Distinguishing how we connect to our opponent is key. Are we grabbing with our thumb, using a friction grip, pinning them to the floor, being pinned to the floor, using multiple limbs, encircling them with our limbs, or even tactically leaving space for them to move into. We need to be deliberate in how we connect to our opponent.

3. What’s the angle?

There are no straight lines in nature and there are no straight angles in jiu jitsu (well at least not in good jiu jitsu). Find the right angle in a sweep and your opponent will fall into the space. Find the angle in a submission and all you'll have to do is lean in. The correct angle doesn't just make a technique more effective; it makes it more efficient. What’s the angle?

4. How do I know when to execute?

The "when" otherwise known as timing is very much the icing on the cake. You have a power source, you're connected, and you've got the angle set but when do you pull trigger? What are the cues? Is it a shift in weight? Is it space opening up? Do I wait for my opponent, or do I manipulate them to give me what I want? Don't be early, don't be late, be on time!

5. How can I optimise?

Details matter. If coach said to hold the foot does he mean the in-step, heel, blade, or toes, and how? With my thumb? The crook of my elbow? My wrist?  Experiment with the little things, ask your training partners for feedback, take note of what worked and what didn’t, and find the small details that make the big difference.

Next time you train consider these 5 questions and watch your progress skyrocket.