I’m much better at guitar than I am at jiu jitsu, so by analogy: When you listen to music and watch the best guitar players, it doesn’t make you able to play the things they play, BUT you have to know of those things to hone your intuition about guitar playing. You can practice scales and work on fundamentals, but in order to get really good you have to be able to HEAR the parts you want to play. For guitar that’s not too hard, because listening to music is a passive effort and usually happens naturally. But in jiu jitsu, that is a very active and analytical process. Watching matches and instructionals hones your jiu jitsu intuition so much faster than just rolling and attending class. Hearing Gordon Ryan talk about crashing the far shoulder when passing half guard doesn’t give me the skills to do it right away, but it allows me to know what to look for and understand why the technique works or doesn’t work. No one says just watch instructionals and don’t roll, so it is inherently an additional project, not a substitute for anything. Just as listening to music and practicing guitar isn’t mutually exclusive. I have found instructionals to be hugely beneficial, and I believe my growth is happening faster than my peers’ because of them.
I think to build off you don’t need to be excellent offensively at every position, but you need to be defensively sound against everything to be elite. You need to what’s out there.
Don't let this distract you from the fact Robert Drysdale wrote an entire book on opening closed guard when it's like bro just push on their biceps and stand up
Great podcast! Kind of a thing I'm thinking about recently. I've learned alot and try to implement in class, spars, I can see things and do them decently/implement them fairly well, but of course everything needs practice and sparing to pressure test. It seems the things that really stick is when I'm learning on my own solutions to problems I have, or to help my game as a small person. Then concentrate on basics and whatever's on class. Like extra curricular. My professor seems to be surprised at how I fast I learn and what I bring to the gym, its even given some higher belts some excitement. Idk what's the right way? I suppose that depends on the person, their body, size, game, mind set, goals etc. I know one thing tho, despite wanting to learn shiney solutions, the basics should always take priority. Alot of times these end up with general concepts of weight distribution , grips and teqnuiqe. and that understanding seems to transfer and build to others.
You can only roll so many hours a day. So many days a week. Especially if you're a working adult. I'd say I can average about 7 hours a week consistently. Sometimes a lot more, sometimes only 2 hours a week. But I might have an hour at work where I can sit and watch a Matt Arroyo or Jordan Teaches Jiu Jitsu video. Videos should supplement your training, not replace it.
As a beginner I found some instructionals to be very helpful. Adam Bradleys escape artist being the one I repeatedly review. BUT, I definitely became a hoarder with instructionals and ig posts. Some helped, some were out of my league and unneccessary to study. Final word, I love the knowledge but appreciate what yall are saying. Gotta learn with your body and not just your mind.
I like instructionals about understandable moves that are explained with problem solving, different scenarios and good key points. In my gym there are no explanations of how to set it up, apply it if ur opponent does this or that, how to counter it. So in the end of the class ive learned almost nothing and get frustrated that I can't get it in rolls
All great points but I wish you would have discussed the merits of learning material outside the gym. There’s a famous quib from the chemist Frank Westheimer that goes, “a month in the laboratory can often save an hour in the library.” Which, for example, means that you could spent a lot of time in the gym and you could genuinely be getting better and learning. And it could FEEL like productive, innovative work. However, you run the risk of reinventing the wheel, or worse, picking up some bad habits because they worked in YOUR gym. In other words, research papers/ instructionals are intended to give you the ANSWERS to often very difficult questions. It is thus a big risk to dismiss their value. The notion that there is a issue with how you take them in and make it part of what you are working on, as discussed in the episode, is a personal concern and does not directly reflect on the efficacy of the content you found on a paper or a video.
Great episode! Spot on about consuming too much information. “People confuse having access to information for having real knowledge about some topic.” ~Cognitive Scientist, John Vervaeke
As a coach, I get a ton out of instructionals. That's because I'm in control of the environment, curriculum, training methodology, have 20 years of experience and can get willing people to practice specific skills on the daily. The people that have home mats and a brother / friend / girlfriend that wants to learn the same skills, without a doubt, benefit more than the person that watches a move, then makes a mental note to try it at class later.
Idk my confidence and my visualization skills have improved since starting BJJ for some moves I can watch it spend like 5 mins thinking about myself doing it then later on I'll think more and more untill I'm using it in practice some how like even if it's like 1/5th of the move I'll just spam it to get it in my brain
Depends how you consume it. I ask higher belts about the things I need to work on. Watch a Bjj RUclipsr on that exact technique. Then in rolls it pops into your head. But if u are just scrolling on reels and saving them without drilling it, it’s pointless.
I watch instructionals then the same day backyard roll/drill with my brother on one thing. Recent instructional was on RDLR, I dont try flashy(invert, etc) just fundamentals(entries,sweeps,position) and its improving my game so much. Another plus is being able to get the instructionals for free ;p
Instructionals work if you take the time to study it in bits , and drill it in bits over the course of a few months . If you think your gonna binge watch them and be able to use it live after watching it once , that won't work .
I don’t think there is a problem with instructionals the problem is in the way in which people go about studying them. … Most people will by a Danaher instructional watch an hr of the 10hr run time and then never go back to it. I get it they can be boring but imagine if you had to take a test on that instructional in a month and you had to get an A in order to pass the class. Would just skim through it a couple times and expect to ace the exam? Of course not, you would have to put hrs of time into study every week until the final. Thats the approach I’ve taken to instructionals and it had been extremely helpful for my game. Of course you can’t just watch and expect to know how to perform on the Mat. You need to be working on the concepts/techniques in your classes as well but with some time and concentrated effort you will gain skill much faster than someone who is just going to class and trying to pick up whatever they’re teaching . I think the best way to go about using instructionals is to sort of give your self a curriculum and for me this was the order: 1. John danaher pin escapes 2. John Danaher Guard retention 3. John Danaher guard passing 4. Roger Gracie closed guard 5. Roger Gracie mount/side mount 6. John Danaher Back attack system 7. John Danger triangle system You can keep adding to this but have some kind of direction to your training. Btw each instructional takes me months to fully get the most out of. With a lot of rewatching, trial and error.
There is a tantamount of excellent free shit on RUclips. Just get a buddy, or you kid sister and practice what the preach. I never understood buying an instructional. I also don’t compete a lot because I’m a cheapskate and hate paying the registration fee. I mean shit bjj is expensive enough. I’m think about quitting all the time not because I don’t enjoy it but I feel like I’m pissing away money that could go into an index fund or retirement account. Anyhow
I’m much better at guitar than I am at jiu jitsu, so by analogy:
When you listen to music and watch the best guitar players, it doesn’t make you able to play the things they play, BUT you have to know of those things to hone your intuition about guitar playing. You can practice scales and work on fundamentals, but in order to get really good you have to be able to HEAR the parts you want to play. For guitar that’s not too hard, because listening to music is a passive effort and usually happens naturally.
But in jiu jitsu, that is a very active and analytical process. Watching matches and instructionals hones your jiu jitsu intuition so much faster than just rolling and attending class. Hearing Gordon Ryan talk about crashing the far shoulder when passing half guard doesn’t give me the skills to do it right away, but it allows me to know what to look for and understand why the technique works or doesn’t work. No one says just watch instructionals and don’t roll, so it is inherently an additional project, not a substitute for anything. Just as listening to music and practicing guitar isn’t mutually exclusive.
I have found instructionals to be hugely beneficial, and I believe my growth is happening faster than my peers’ because of them.
You need the perfect blend of conceptually understanding what and why things work, and showing an effective technique that marks all the boxes
@@ZaMahx 100%
I think to build off you don’t need to be excellent offensively at every position, but you need to be defensively sound against everything to be elite. You need to what’s out there.
Don't let this distract you from the fact Robert Drysdale wrote an entire book on opening closed guard when it's like bro just push on their biceps and stand up
no way 🤣
We've transcended into Bulletproof for Life boys
Great podcast! Kind of a thing I'm thinking about recently. I've learned alot and try to implement in class, spars, I can see things and do them decently/implement them fairly well, but of course everything needs practice and sparing to pressure test. It seems the things that really stick is when I'm learning on my own solutions to problems I have, or to help my game as a small person.
Then concentrate on basics and whatever's on class. Like extra curricular. My professor seems to be surprised at how I fast I learn and what I bring to the gym, its even given some higher belts some excitement. Idk what's the right way? I suppose that depends on the person, their body, size, game, mind set, goals etc. I know one thing tho, despite wanting to learn shiney solutions, the basics should always take priority. Alot of times these end up with general concepts of weight distribution , grips and teqnuiqe. and that understanding seems to transfer and build to others.
great topic and discussion. thank you
You guys are the best! Love your content.
You can only roll so many hours a day. So many days a week. Especially if you're a working adult. I'd say I can average about 7 hours a week consistently. Sometimes a lot more, sometimes only 2 hours a week. But I might have an hour at work where I can sit and watch a Matt Arroyo or Jordan Teaches Jiu Jitsu video. Videos should supplement your training, not replace it.
As a beginner I found some instructionals to be very helpful. Adam Bradleys escape artist being the one I repeatedly review. BUT, I definitely became a hoarder with instructionals and ig posts. Some helped, some were out of my league and unneccessary to study. Final word, I love the knowledge but appreciate what yall are saying. Gotta learn with your body and not just your mind.
I like instructionals about understandable moves that are explained with problem solving, different scenarios and good key points.
In my gym there are no explanations of how to set it up, apply it if ur opponent does this or that, how to counter it. So in the end of the class ive learned almost nothing and get frustrated that I can't get it in rolls
All great points but I wish you would have discussed the merits of learning material outside the gym. There’s a famous quib from the chemist Frank Westheimer that goes, “a month in the laboratory can often save an hour in the library.” Which, for example, means that you could spent a lot of time in the gym and you could genuinely be getting better and learning. And it could FEEL like productive, innovative work. However, you run the risk of reinventing the wheel, or worse, picking up some bad habits because they worked in YOUR gym.
In other words, research papers/ instructionals are intended to give you the ANSWERS to often very difficult questions. It is thus a big risk to dismiss their value. The notion that there is a issue with how you take them in and make it part of what you are working on, as discussed in the episode, is a personal concern and does not directly reflect on the efficacy of the content you found on a paper or a video.
Great episode! Spot on about consuming too much information.
“People confuse having access to information for having real knowledge about some topic.”
~Cognitive Scientist, John Vervaeke
As a coach, I get a ton out of instructionals.
That's because I'm in control of the environment, curriculum, training methodology, have 20 years of experience and can get willing people to practice specific skills on the daily.
The people that have home mats and a brother / friend / girlfriend that wants to learn the same skills, without a doubt, benefit more than the person that watches a move, then makes a mental note to try it at class later.
Idk my confidence and my visualization skills have improved since starting BJJ for some moves I can watch it spend like 5 mins thinking about myself doing it then later on I'll think more and more untill I'm using it in practice some how like even if it's like 1/5th of the move I'll just spam it to get it in my brain
great pod gents
i hyper focus on one technique for a few weeks at a time, revisiting the instructional for troubleshooting and repeating that process
Depends how you consume it. I ask higher belts about the things I need to work on. Watch a Bjj RUclipsr on that exact technique. Then in rolls it pops into your head.
But if u are just scrolling on reels and saving them without drilling it, it’s pointless.
I watch instructionals then the same day backyard roll/drill with my brother on one thing. Recent instructional was on RDLR, I dont try flashy(invert, etc) just fundamentals(entries,sweeps,position) and its improving my game so much. Another plus is being able to get the instructionals for free ;p
Who is to say that inverting isn't as fundamental as tripod sweeps?
Instructionals work if you take the time to study it in bits , and drill it in bits over the course of a few months .
If you think your gonna binge watch them and be able to use it live after watching it once , that won't work .
That’s why they’re such a good value. At the price of a month of jiujitsu, you can get years worth of information.
Knowledge of vs knowledge about.
I add shit to a playlist and every class ill try to remember 1 or 2 new things to try out
So, should I stop listening to BJJ podcasts and go practice as well? :P
Dumb question, this isn’t technique that you’re trying to jam in your head, podcasts are for entertainment
@@purpletylerkid okay, gramps
I don’t think there is a problem with instructionals the problem is in the way in which people go about studying them. …
Most people will by a Danaher instructional watch an hr of the 10hr run time and then never go back to it. I get it they can be boring but imagine if you had to take a test on that instructional in a month and you had to get an A in order to pass the class. Would just skim through it a couple times and expect to ace the exam? Of course not, you would have to put hrs of time into study every week until the final.
Thats the approach I’ve taken to instructionals and it had been extremely helpful for my game. Of course you can’t just watch and expect to know how to perform on the Mat. You need to be working on the concepts/techniques in your classes as well but with some time and concentrated effort you will gain skill much faster than someone who is just going to class and trying to pick up whatever they’re teaching .
I think the best way to go about using instructionals is to sort of give your self a curriculum and for me this was the order:
1. John danaher pin escapes
2. John Danaher Guard retention
3. John Danaher guard passing
4. Roger Gracie closed guard
5. Roger Gracie mount/side mount
6. John Danaher Back attack system
7. John Danger triangle system
You can keep adding to this but have some kind of direction to your training. Btw each instructional takes me months to fully get the most out of. With a lot of rewatching, trial and error.
I think instructionals are a lot like seminars, good for systems and philosophies, unnecessary for individual techniquew.
But I just bought yours? 😂
Go train
There is a tantamount of excellent free shit on RUclips. Just get a buddy, or you kid sister and practice what the preach. I never understood buying an instructional. I also don’t compete a lot because I’m a cheapskate and hate paying the registration fee. I mean shit bjj is expensive enough. I’m think about quitting all the time not because I don’t enjoy it but I feel like I’m pissing away money that could go into an index fund or retirement account. Anyhow
When you're old hopefully you remember all the fun you had at BJJ and not regret that you never invested 👍