BJJ Breakthrough: How I Skyrocketed to the Top in Record Time

What I did to become a top 10 guy in my gym in less than a year of training.

Ever heard that the more you train BJJ, the better you get? Well, I went from nothing to a top-10 spot in my gym in under a year, training just once a day, 3-4 days a week. Insane? Nope, it's about smart training.

While it was 10 years ago, and I can't be absolutely certain about the major factors that spurred my initial BJJ growth, I firmly believe that applying these methods can enhance anyone's rate of improvement significantly beyond the average.

The Secret Sauce

I listened to Greg Souders on a podcast the other day, talking about getting someone to a high level in BJJ in just two years. He shared his strategy: pure full-resistance training. No drills, just full-on resistance games or tasks, and rolling.

So, while others were shrimping or drilling without resistance, his students were getting real BJJ experience against full resistance. Their mat time was way more effective and easy to integrate into their real game.

That struck a chord. When I started training 10 years ago, I was always 30 minutes early to class and insisted on warming up with rolling sessions of increasing intensity. This meant I was doubling up on rolling time compared to my peers.

My laid-back world champ coach also made a difference. He taught me my BJJ growth was my responsibility. I took charge, even if some gyms may not allow this.

I was also soaking up BJJ in my spare time, watching fights and obsessing about the sport. Here's the blueprint that I believe supercharged my improvement:

A Blueprint for Rapid Improvement

So, you're looking to amp up your game? Here's my cheat sheet:

1. Optimize Your Training Time: Make every minute count towards improving your BJJ skills. Find ways to warm up that directly enhance your BJJ skills instead of just stretching or running. Start with less intense games and gradually ramp up.
   

2. Concepts Rule: Always keep an eye on the big picture. Understand the underlying principles, not just specific moves. If you can apply a concept over a technique, it'll work in more than one case.
   

3. Rethink Drills: Ditch the routine of practicing against a non-resisting opponent. Engage with your partner using increasing resistance, focusing on achieving a desired result rather than just repeating moves.

   For example, if you're trying to pass half guard, don't just drill a specific pass against a non-resisting opponent. Start in a specific position (top half) and try to find ways to pass. Look for the principles that make techniques work and experiment to find your own style.
   

   If you don’t believe me, please watch the live rolling part of any of Gordon Ryan’s instructionals, where Gordon usually rolls with different opponents trying to show the techniques he showed in the instructional against full resistance. You’ll see how even the indisputable GOAT doesn’t follow the technique as he teaches it. You’ll notice that the principles that are the foundation of the techniques he is showing are always on display in the rolling footage, not necessarily the same steps and moves he showed.
   

   This doesn’t mean his instructionals are useless. On the contrary, if you learn how to embed what you learn in any instructional into your real game, you’ll see how your improvement rate will be much higher than your training partners. Most people focus on drilling what they learn and then trying to add it to the live rolling portion of Jiujitsu… but remember, real jiujitsu is ONLY the rolling part of your training 🤣
   

4. Think Outcome, Not Moves: Set a specific goal and let your body work out how to get there. Remember, don't just memorize what works, understand why it works, and how to adapt it to your game.
   

5. Master Something: Choose a position, a submission, anything, and become a pro. Early wins will boost your confidence and the learning process will spill over to other skills.
   

6. Find Your "Safehouse" Position: For me, it was half-guard. I wasn’t great at attacking from it, but I used it to slow the game and stay safe. Beginners often choose closed guard, but that's not always the best choice. Half guard is easy to reach from many positions, making it an ideal safe house.

There you have it, my approach to fast-track BJJ success. Remember, real BJJ is all about the rolling part of your training. So get out there and make it count!

80/20 BJJ Coach Update!

I have created an Instagram account to post summarized versions of the posts and other useful content. Make sure you follow the new account to get bite-sized 80/20 coaching. Check it out here:

I am designing and building the new website for 80/20 BJJ Coach, where I will host the blog and offer premium interactive ebook instructionals. Here's a sneak peek:

That’s it for this week! As always, thanks for reading, and please reach out with any questions or feedback. Oss! 🫱👊

PS.

Please share this with your friends and training partners. It helps me keep going. 😊