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Grappling Drills in Brazilian Jiu JitsuThis is one thing I notice very often in Jiu-jitsu. There are many practitioners out there that know lots of bjj techniques, but very few of them can execute those techniques while fighting, as a reaction. But there are those who are able to execute the techniques, knowing what they need to do. Not because they had time to stop and think about what their next movement is, analyze it and go for it. But because it's become so second nature to them, because they've drilled the movement so many times. And what's important about movements are that there may be several different variations of a technique, but typically the movement itself is what's going to make the technique work. So if I go with a smaller guy and I want to set up an omo plata, for example, then I'll perform the technique a certain way. And if I go with a bigger guy and I want to set up an omoplata I might have to grab that person different, or I might have to put my foot a different way or make little adjustments to make it work on someone like that. But my movement is very similar, as far as what I do to get my hips in that right position. Now, it's not always the same. I'm not saying that every movement for the omoplata is exactly the same. You can do omoplatas from all over the place, just like you do a lot of other techniques. But I will say that I think movements are more important than just the moves by themselves. A lot of times you have to work out the kinks and the details, and you certainly need a good coach to help you there. But you do so much on your own, training with different people and by feeling out different body styles. You train movements, you train drills, it makes you reactionary. And you can react in a moment's notice. I think a good comparison is a musician who plays the guitar. They don't think about exactly what note they're hitting next. They've practiced the song a thousand times, and they just play it. Sometimes when they're playing, they'll play stuff they haven't played before without even thinking about it. Because they've played those notes and scales so many times that they can just flow with the music. And that applies to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. You train the movements so often you learn how to combine them, how to react from an opponents defense, how to combine it with of a number of different situations without even thinking about it. I think that's what makes grappling drills and movements so important. It makes your Jiu Jitsu just happen, sometimes without you even being aware of exactly what you are doing. Your upper body tends to react a certain way while your legs are doing something else, all the while your mind is focusing on the goal at hand. This concept applies to all aspects of the game. In Judo they emphasize a lot of movement. You do endless drills so that when you start moving around, there's not much stopping. And Judo is a little faster paced that Jiu Jitsu. Because you're moving in circles, and you're moving around so much, you have to be able to react. You have to work those drills and movements so that you will be able to execute them when the opportunity presents itself. I believe that often times in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu matches, or any martial art, you'll have a window of opportunity that may last a split second. And you may not see it because you haven't trained it enough. Or you may see it, but you haven't drilled movements enough to react to it. But if you've drilled enough movements so that as soon as an opportunity presents itself you're always on top if it, you can grab it right away. Even when you're tired. You feel it there, and you're ready to execute it at any given time. Grappling drills are essential in developing a strong mind-body connection. Drills should be part of any martial arts training program. Whether practicing, competing, or defending yourself, reaction is key. So you must not only learn a technique, but make it part of you by drilling it, over and over and over again. That's the only way it will become a true reaction and a technique that really belongs to you.
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