dojo grows as one. Students will naturally progress together so that as techniques are introduced, the defense, escapes and overall understanding of those techniques tend to follow. Individuals learn simply by being exposed to properly taught techniques with an open mind. Thus, if the Judoka is being attacked on a regular basis by a triangle, naturally his/her technique to defend it improves as well.

What should also be noted, that as far as technique goes on the ground, besides pins, Jiu-Jitsu has more to offer than Judo. This is in part because a very important aspect of becoming more technical on the ground lies in how Jiu-Jitsu is practiced. It is generally practiced in a controlled and a far slower manner than Judo. The main reason for its slower pace lies in its technical approach. And if Jiu-Jitsu is not experienced at a slow tempo than the student will lose the details and small technical elements of the art, and techniques, and in turn will lose the likelihood of gaining all that it has to offer. Accepting these concepts is a first step in allowing the student to progress.

Now when the student has a decent understanding of both Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, the next step is to combine what they have learned. The best way to do this is to mix the strategies and goals of both arts while practicing one. Although, the Judo and Jiu-Jitsu practitioners should be open-minded to each perspective art, the basic learning of an art in its natural state should still continue, meaning when you are at Judo practice you still need to combine your Jiu-Jitsu techniques in the context of a Judo match. The best way to do this is to practice randori with the option of ne-waza when the battle hits the ground. The speed from Judo will mix with the technique of Jiu-Jitsu and you will find yourself attacking your opponent quickly and proficiently. Since Judo has limited time on the ground (some more limited than others depending on the referee) you must learn to see windows of opportunity and capitalize on them.
Likewise, in Jiu-Jitsu, you must utilize your Judo throws in the context of a Jiu-Jitsu match. This is with the understanding that your opponent can jump to guard, therefore your throws have to be well placed and you too must use those windows of opportunity as they present themselves. You will also use the base that Judo has given you with your Jiu-Jitsu technique to keep good posture and to place yourself in a good position to pass the guard. Gripping is also a major plus gained by extensive Judo training. This is widely used in the tireless breaking and gaining of grips and gripping patterns for many different situations but primarily to gain the initiative.

When it comes to my Martial Arts career, I must admit that, my overall grappling game is a combination of two separate and very different arts. That understanding alone has allowed me to reach my full technical potential. With Judo being my background it was easy to pick up on the movements and theory behind Jiu-Jitsu so long as I did not apply the rules of one to the other. This transition to Jiu-Jitsu, and the eventual mixture of both, allowed me to excel in both arts at world level and gave me the ability to convey that type understanding to others. If not for my training methods, which consisted of learning Judo first, then Jiu-Jitsu as a separate art, I would not have been able to reach my full potential. If someone wants to reach their throwing potential they must practice Judo.

If someone wants to reach their ground game potential they must train in Jiu-Jitsu. Major issues with reaching your full potential arise when you choose to do a “little” of this or a “little” of that. If certain techniques are never introduced, they will never be experienced nor will there be a base of knowledge and understanding of those techniques. In the end, the chance to create your own game is limited only by the rules you self-impose on your training because these will ultimately dictate behavior.