The Importance of Technique Repetition in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Repetition is the key to success in Jiu-Jitsu. Unfortunately, it is one of the critical areas that many practitioners neglect.

Continual occurrence of fluent technique in any sport will eventually engrain a thoughtless reaction of application for a specific sport. Basketball players know to keep their shoulders square when they shoot the ball, soccer players know to keep their knee over the ball when they rip a shot and Jiu-Jitsu fighters, well, they’re still learning the benefits of repeated exercises.

If you enter any Judo class, instructors will harp on breakfalls, basic throws and rolls prior to learning the actual technique of the art. Boxers will also spend large doses of their training shadow boxing prior to starting an actual, technical session.

So where exactly is the repetition in Jiu-Jitsu?

At my academy, the first portion of class is always dedicated to the essence of Jiu-Jitsu, which entails guard passes, armbars, triangles and sweeps to name a few. These techniques are constantly a foundation of our training and are the first thing we do before moving on to advanced steps.

If students have trouble learning the subtleties of these techniques, we thoroughly go over them to ensure knowledge of the basics before advancing.

Repetition has various benefits and long term gain for an individual, but I’ll cite two reasons why you should concentrate on repetition. For starters, it cements the techniques into your route memory. So, when you’re in the heat of the battle, technique isn’t something you need to worry about. You’ll already have the brain memorization of your movement and your reaction will be swift.

Second, once you constantly perform technique, it allows the practitioner to critique your performance more closely.

Before Carlson Gracie Sr. passed away, I attended a seminar of his. In the beginning of the seminar, he stated that he doesn’t distinguish between beginning and advanced techniques between belts. All techniques need to be mastered through repetition. The only advantage older students had over their younger peers, was that they’ve performed their techniques more often than their counterparts.

Andre Pederneiras also mentioned that before he starts his workout, he’ll go through hundreds of armbars and triangle chokes as his warm-up routine.

So, based upon what we’ve gone over through this message, repetition is the key to technique success. Before you start working on a new move that your instructor has enthrusted upon you, go back and work on the basics. Mastering the skill set you already encompass will be more beneficial to you, rather than adding another piece of arsenal to an already demanding fighting base. The benefits of your repetitive endeavors will repeatedly pay more dividends towards your future success as a Jiu-Jitsu fighter.

Jon Garfield

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Jon Garfield is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. He owns and operates a successful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts school in Annapolis, MD. He has traveled the world and trained with some of the best BJJ and MMA practitioners the sport has to offer. To learn more and get on his worldwide newsletter, visit his website at http://www.GarfieldBJJ.com .

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