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(Published Friday, September 6, 2024)
In the journey of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, there’s a phase that many practitioners go through, often during late white belt or early to mid-blue belt. It’s a time when the student, having learned the fundamentals, becomes obsessed with acquiring new techniques. This is what I like to refer to as the Technique Collector Phase.
Let’s break down the progression that leads to this phase:
Starting from Zero: In the early months of sparring, white belts know nothing. Consequently, everything works on them because they have no defense against even the most basic moves.
Survival Mode: Around the three- to six-month mark, they realize they’re not getting tapped as often. Why? Because they now recognize the common submissions used at the gym. Their defense improves simply by knowing what’s coming.
The Leap to Technique Collecting: From there it’s logical to conclude that if they were caught because they didn’t know a technique, then perhaps they can catch others by learning obscure, exotic techniques their training partners haven’t seen yet. And in their minds, tapping people is the ultimate sign of improvement.
Thus begins the quest for new techniques, often scouring YouTube and BJJ Fanatics instructional videos to gain an edge.
The Arms Race
Another dynamic that fuels the technique collector phase is the friendly rivalry many experience with their “jiu-jitsu brother” — that training partner who started the same time they did. This rivalry can spark an arms race of sorts. Each person tries to one-up the other with new techniques, but once a submission works, the other training partner catches on, and the cycle begins anew.
It’s fun, it’s competitive, and both partners learn a lot. But is it the most efficient way to improve?
Well… it depends.
There are definite benefits to this phase:
Increased Knowledge: Each new technique adds a new concept to your understanding of jiu-jitsu. You learn different ways to manipulate joints, apply leverage, and set up submissions.
Exploration: It encourages exploration of different guard styles, submissions, and sweeps. This is essential for broadening your understanding of the art.
However, there’s a downside to this scattershot approach.
Jack of All Trades, Master of None
A common pitfall during this phase is spreading yourself too thin. Imagine trying to learn four new sweeps every week for a year. That’s around 200 sweeps! While that sounds impressive, it’s a recipe for shallow understanding. Instead of mastering a few sweeps, you’ve become a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.
Now, let’s compare this to a more focused approach.
The Power of Focused Learning
What if, instead of learning four new sweeps a week, you focused on mastering just a handful of sweeps for an entire year?
At a bare minimum, you’ll need enough sweeps to cover the following three scenarios:
Sweeping an opponent on their knees
Sweeping an opponent who is standing
Sweeping an opponent with one knee up and one knee down
And you’ll probably need an A and B option for each scenario so that as your opponent shuts down one option, you can ping pong over to the other, giving us a total of six sweeps altogether. By honing in on these six sweeps in sparring, drilling, and live practice, you wouldd develop a deep understanding of the mechanics and timing required to pull them off while sparring. After a year, who would be better at sweeping: the student with 200 shallow sweeps or the student with six highly refined sweeps?
The focused student wins every time.
So What Should You Focus On?
The next question is, what techniques should you focus on? Some suggest modeling your game after successful competitors with similar body types or attributes. While this can work, I believe that beginners aren’t always equipped to make that decision wisely. Instead, I advocate for a focus on the fundamentals — the techniques that have stood the test of time because they work.
The Simple, Effective, and Efficient Litmus Test
When choosing techniques to focus on, I recommend looking for those that meet three criteria:
Simplicity: The fewer steps a technique has, the easier it is to learn, remember, and apply. Simple techniques are harder for opponents to disrupt.
Effectiveness: Focus on techniques that work across multiple rule sets — in Gi, No-Gi, self-defense, or competition. If it works in all settings, it’s worth investing time in.
Efficiency: Techniques should work against larger, stronger opponents. If your game relies on strength, speed, or flexibility, it’s not going to hold up against bigger opponents or as you age.
Note: That’s not to say one should ignore collar chokes. Learning collar chokes, might seem limited to Gi training, but even in self-defense, a collar choke works just as well on a t-shirt or jacket. For this reason, I still feel they are absolutely fundamental.
Focus on the Fundamentals
The fundamentals have withstood the test of time because they are simple, effective, and efficient. While they may not be as flashy as the techniques you’ll find on YouTube, they’re the bedrock of a solid game.
When we focus on fundamentals, we develop a game that works for a lifetime, not just a season. The goal for many of us is to be able to do jiu-jitsu into our 50s, 60s, and beyond. That longevity comes from mastering the basics, not chasing the latest trendy technique.
The Balance: Explore and Focus
The technique collector phase is natural, and I encourage it — but with balance. Learn as much as you can, explore new concepts, and expand your knowledge. But always return to your core techniques. These are the techniques that will serve you best in the long run, allowing you to grow, adapt, and stay on the mats for years to come.
Hope that helps.
- Mike
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