TFS#111: Just Build Up, Feet Safety, & BJJ Culture Sucks

I hate to say this but I will.

Jiu-Jitsu is evolving and evolving fast.

You need to diversify your training, and unfortunately, most gyms don’t offer a wide range.

Don’t be surprised if you drop into a new gym, or a new guy drops into your gym and your game feels like it can’t keep up.

If you care about maintaining your Jiu-Jitsu at a high level (even as a hobbyist), you have to make sure what you’re learning is still relevant.

Luckily, I share it all in this newsletter.

Now on to today’s topics…

TECHNIQUE OF THE WEEK

Just Build Up

This week’s technique is actually much simpler than you think.

When someone takes your back but doesn’t control your hips, just build up.

Most Jiu-Jitsu guys will jump on your back and try to hang on like a backpack.

After spending over 100 hours training wrestling, I have to say, you don’t need 100 hours to understand that’s not a good idea.

🔑 Key detail: Especially if they jump on your back with a Seatbelt. They’ll slide right off.

If you watched WNO 24 Tainan vs Rodriguez, Tainan slides right off when jumping on the back of Rodriguez.

Tainan ultimately wins the match but Rodriguez did the right thing by getting up in a quadpod and having Tainan slide right off his back.

Nothing against Tainan, I love him. I’ve trained under him at AOJ. But there’s a hole in his game.

There’s also additional material in the More Resources Section.

JIU-JITSU LONGEVITY

Feet Safety

Working out your feet might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about strengthening your body for Jiu-Jitsu.

But there are plenty of injuries that occur to the foot—even outside of foot submissions.

Here’s a workout for your feet.

MORE RESOURCES

Resources you’ll love

🥋 Develop your Turtle game and it’ll be impossible for someone to take your back. (link)

🥋 Use the Ghost Escape to add to your aresenal of escaping Side Control. (link)

🥋 Mini-10 minute podcast to improve your base. (link)

🥋 No matter how you carve it, you’ll need strength. Understand how. (link)

🥋 Just Kimura them back. (link)

CLOSING THOUGHT

BJJ Culture Sucks

It’s one of the many reasons why people quit but no one talks about it.

However, it is constantly getting better.

Some will cling on to their "traditional ways.”

And I’m all for tradition…only if there’s a purpose behind it.

If you can’t justify why we do things a certain way and we simply do it because we were told to, sorry, it doesn’t make sense to do it then.

Because I always ask myself with anything I do in my day-to-day life, “Why am I doing this? Is out of habit or because it benefits someone in the process.”

No wasted motion.

Be sure your actions have meaning, value, and purpose.

See you on the mats,

Wayne