Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a very practical and functional style of martial arts. Heavy emphasis is placed upon a person's ability to perform on the mat. Regardless of what a student knows, most are judged by their performance on the mat.
What determines a student's overall effectiveness on the mat is a combination of technical knowledge, the development of physical and mental attributes, the employment of known techniques, the use of highly developed attributes (be they natural or nurtured), periodic experimentation with the unknown and the use of various strategies.
This article will focus on the development of physical attributes specific to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Physical attributes are those qualities that give substance to your techniques. Physical attributes such as speed, power, strength, explosiveness, body mechanics, timing, sensitivity, awareness, accuracy, footwork, distancing, agility, line familiarization, flexibility, balance, coordination and endurance are what bring life and vibrancy to your techniques. Without these qualities, your techniques are dead!
Those who say "technique is all you need" are not being honest with you, or, they simply don't know! Technique, or physical movement, is just the beginning of any athletic endeavor. Any athlete (of any sport) knows that physical movement by itself does not equal skill! Physical movement must be combined with physical attributes for the movements to have meaning. For example, imagine a boxing match where two fighters engage in hand to hand combat. During the entire forty minute match, neither fighter throws a fast combinations of punches. Neither fighter throws a single punch that lands with any precision or power. As a matter of fact, it seems like the fighters are just playing patty-cake with each other!) How would you rate this boxing match? If you had paid $2000 a seat to sit ringside (you and your girlfriend), you'd probably be asking for your money back by the end of the second round!
There are five physical attributes that play a major role in the development of your overall skill in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. These core attributes lay a solid foundation. They represent the fundamental qualities a person must have to progress through the various levels in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Here are the five:
Balance.
Coordination.
Distancing.
Timing.
Precision in movement.
There are many other physical attributes that play an important part in a person's development in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. However, these five lay a solid foundation for the others that follow. Allow me to explain each of the above in detail:
1. Balance
The ability to control and manipulate your equilibrium over an extended period of time.
To remain balanced, you must keep your head centered over your hips and/or knees most of the time. Additionally, you must keep your weight centered between your knees. Granted, there will be times when you purposely off-balance yourself. However, it is important that you understand the times you are off-balanced are times when you made a conscious choice to be off-balance. They were not times when your opponent off-balanced you and caught you off-guard.
Balance is often a neglected attribute. It is one of those attributes that many student take for granted. Many assume they have good balance when in fact they only have mediocre balance.
How can a person develop a good sense of balance? Simple, by focusing on it for an extended period of time. Balance is an attribute. Attributes take time to develop. (By "time" I mean a concerted efforts of time, like 26 weeks or more. If you want "catlike balance" then you must put in the time. Remember, there's a reason why wrestlers and judokas are hard to sweep onto their back.)
2. Coordination
The ability to perform movements, equally, on both sides of the body.
Everyone has a favorite technique. Everyone has a favorite side. When it comes to the employment of certain core movements or techniques, it is important that you develop the movement/technique on both sides of your body. For example, if your side mount escapes are strong on your left side, train them vigorously on your right side. You never know when you will meet an opponent who is very good at passing the guard on his left side, which would put him on your right side.
After 11 years of training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I still have weak areas within my game. For example, the triangle choke with my right leg is outstanding! When I set it up and am able to cross my ankles, hardly anyone escapes. However, when I perform it with my left leg, I suck! (I feel so uncoordinated I can hardly describe it in words!)
So, shouldn't I train this one area? Yes and no. Since it is a weak area, yes! Since I am no longer concerned with "getting the tap", no. Also, since my skill level is where it is, rarely do I need to use my left leg because I lead people into the triangle with my right leg by forcing them to always pass on my left side. Plus, if I end up having to put my left leg over top of my opponent's shoulder, I will usually let him pass my guard onto my left side and them immediately place him back in my guard. I can do so because my escapes from the side mount are really strong on the left side of my body.
Now, with regard to core techniques, I can perform them equally on each side! By core techniques I mean this: "Techniques I use 90% of the time."
Here is a brief list of the core techniques I use 90% of the time:
Mount Escapes
bridge and roll
elbow/knee (two variations)
Side Mount Escapes
place in the guard (two variations)
go to the knees
Pass the Guard
under the leg (two variations)
over the leg (two variations)
Submissions
bent
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