Rethinking The Fundamentals

(Published October 5, 2023)

I was listening to Matt Thornton on a podcast the other day and was reminded of one of my favorite quotes of his. He says the fundamentals are not what’s most basic, but what's most important.  He went on to say that he's gotten to the point where he only teaches the fundamentals anymore.

I really like the idea of that.  The art of Jiu Jitsu is endless. You could literally teach your students a new technique every single class and never get to the end of it. It would be like trying to find the end of the internet.  So why would you waste time teaching a technique that you would deem as unimportant?

Of course that begs the question...

What is truly important when it comes to BJJ?

To me it boils down to three things:

1. Simplicity

2. Effectiveness

3. And Efficiency

Simplicity

Don’t get me wrong. Complexity has its place. Sometimes, a specific situation demands an intricate approach. In that vein, certain complex techniques are absolutely fundamental. But, if a simple move gets the same job done, why complicate matters? A hammer does a perfectly good job of nailing things to the wall. No need for a Rube Goldberg machine. As Pavel Tsatsouline puts it, "It is vain to do with more, what could be done with less."

Effectiveness

If we're going to talk about what's really important, let's not beat around the bush. Why settle for what works on white belts? Let's focus instead on techniques that work on people who are actually good at Jiu-Jitsu.  To that end, it makes sense to use an evidence based approach when it comes to determining effectiveness. Simply put, a technique can be determined to be truly effective if it works at the highest levels of competition. 

Efficiency

But it’s not just about what works, or even what works at the highest level, but rather it’s about what works efficiently, especially when you're not the biggest or strongest person in the room, because the whole point of Jiu-Jitsu is to help the little guy beat the big guy. The really important stuff of jujitsu is what works against bigger stronger younger faster more athletic opponents, and to do that, your Jiu-Jitsu must be efficient. This is what allows the Davids to conquer the Goliaths of the world, time and time again.

Comprehensive But Not Overly Complicated

Building a curriculum that's both comprehensive and easy to digest is like walking a tightrope. Stray too far one way, and you're bogged down in endless complexity. Veer the other way, and you're too simplistic. Like a boxer who can throw a hand full of strikes with laser-like precision, it's better to have a handful of techniques you can execute flawlessly than a toolbox full of half-baked moves.

Common Pitfalls

Beginners often give up on the fundamentals too quickly when they encounter challenges. Sometimes this happens due to poor instruction of techniques and/or a lack of instruction in counters and re-counters. Other times these details are taught, but they go in one ear and out the other. But I feel like these issues can be solved with a solid fundamentals program.

Building a Solid Foundation

In the end, I feel like the key to a rewarding BJJ journey lies in honing a focused curriculum that's as comprehensive as it is simple, effective, and efficient. One that includes not just techniques but also counters and re-counters, and that works at the highest levels against all kinds of opponents. By narrowing our focus, we can go deep instead of wide, mastering the critical elements of this complex and rewarding art.

If this approach resonates with you and you find yourself in Oak Harbor, feel free to stop by. We look forward to seeing you on the mats!

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