Brazillian Jiu Jitsu Basics

Thursday, 10 December 2009

I have been meaning to write up an article on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu basics for my students for some time now. I often go on and on about the basics in my classes every week
and i'm sure sometimes the students wonder what im talking about half the time. So I am going to attempt to put this down in words with some examples and analogies.

I always use the examples of the great Roger Gracie when watching him compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournaments and more recently in the MMA arena, his execution of what people would class as "basics Brazilian Jiu Jitsu" are flawless he uses the basics so well and 95% of the time submits his opponent, I met his Dad again the awesome Mauricio Gomes coming back on the flight from Rio de Janiro as I returned from my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training trip and commented on this.

When I teach some technique in class, a common mistake that most people will make is they focus on the complicated part or the "fancy" part which 9 times out of 10 is the submission. For example, if I taught a guard pass to side control to mount to an arm bar, I could almost guarantee that when I look round most people are doing the arm bar part!! Now if you get amazingly good at the arm bar but cant ever get the basics i.e. the guard pass to the side control to the mount (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu basics) then you will never get the chance to put the arm bar on and your skill at the arm bar will never be realised because you will never get ther!! Another example I use that I picked up from one of my BJJ instructors is if using the same analogy as before, if the armbar was the cherry on the cake but your basics like your mount control was rubbish you might get one shot at the cherry, but if your basic mount control is substantial you could have many go's at the cherry! maybe miss it but you have not lost position and can set this up again, another use of the basics.

Again I know a lot of people whom are using DVD clips as a learning/teaching method but not understanding the basics or actually getting down and dirty and training it either on the matt or just in the form of drilling. These people are only getting a small percentage of what's being taught even if they think they are getting more (they're NOT). DVD's are an excellent way of learning and finding solutions if used correctly. Ok bringing this back to specifically Brazilian Jiu Jitsu basics I see some of the students watching and learning some techniques from the latest grappling stars on the mats pulling off some spectacular submissions and positional movements that are truely awesome BUT I can 100% guarantee that these super stars on the mats and ring/cage etc have a 100% grasp of the basics and in between the flash signature moves you see are Brazilian Jiu Jitsu basics.

Another point I want to briefly touch on is something I am studying in more detail and that's the use of Invisible Jiu Jitsu!! No this isn't some form of magical martial arts power hahaha although it may be seen as this if you are that way inclined, but one of the greatest parts of invisible Jiu Jitsu is the use of your weight, I have trained and rolled with many many black belts now and I can tell you they all have this no matter if they are 60kg or 100kg they ALL feel about 1000kg, this is so important in your BJJ and is of course Brazilian Jiu Jitsu basics.

I will conclude this article now with some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu basics in the form of a list, please read and use/practice drill I have my Blue Belt and Purple Belt requirements under me documents that anyone can ask for regardless if you have just started or a seasoned grappler in the club they are there for your reference.

1. Vertical hip movement (bridge and roll techniques)
2. Horizontal hip movement (elbow/knee and shrimp movements)
3. Going to your knees (bridge over left shoulder, drive with right leg)
4. Going to your knees (bridge over left shoulder, pull left leg under)
5. Sit up
6. Stand up
7. Roll over shoulder
8. Basic fall (on back)
9. Basic fall (on side)
10. Basic fall (on chest)
11. Upa (hands on mats)
12. Upa (forearm under neck)
13. Elbow/knee (basic)
14. Elbow/knee (foot lift)
15. Elbow/knee (foot drag)
16. Place in guard (from side mount)
17. Go to knees (from side mount)
18. Pass under the legs (from guard)
19. Pass over the legs (from guard)
20. Frame the arms (head lock escape)
21. Hook the leg (head lock escape)
22. Bridge and roll (head lock escape)
23. Bridge and roll (kesa gatame escape)
24. Go to your knees (knee on stomach escape)
25. Go to your knees (both and south escape)
26. Replace guard (wrestler's cradle escape)
27. Mechanics of scissor sweep (from guard)
28. Mechanics of elevator sweep (from guard)
29. Mechanics of straight arm lock
30. Mechanics of bent arm lock (kimura)
31. Mechanics of rear choke
32. Mechanics of guillotine choke
33. Mechanics of triangle choke with legs
34. Mechanics of triangle choke with arms
35. Mechanics of foot lock
36. Two entries into each submission or sweep from the guard
37. Mechanics of the paintbrush technique (from mount or side)
38. Arm drag (go to the back from guard)
39. Single leg takedown
40. Double leg takedown
41. Hold down one from side mount
42. Hold down two from side mount
43. Hold down one from mount
44. Hold down two from mount
45. Open guard control (using soles of the feet, insteps, knees, hands, elbows)

Thanks for reading
See you at class

Peter Richardson