The Repository

Welcome to the repository. This is the place to learn all about the concepts underlying the most important aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Use the index above to navigate around the repository. I recommend going through the repository in the order presented in the index. After you've gone through it once in order, feel free to jump around to the areas you need to revisit.

Balance, Pressure, and Leverage (BPL) really are your keys to victory and defeat in grappling. Failure in any one aspect can sink your best efforts. But, effectively using all three in combination is the best way to maximize your chances of success.

New BJJ practitioners often make the mistake of just trying to copy the “playbook” of their instructor. This is a bad idea most of the time. Your instructor didn’t just copy his instructor, and neither should you. In fact, you shouldn’t copy any single person’s playbook. What works for them may not work at all for you. And what you excel at, they may struggle with.

 So, what should you do?

In an ideal world, we're always winning and always on top - but this isn't an ideal world. Everyone that trains Jiu Jitsu faces adversity. We all need to learn how to deal with it and overcome it. That's where the "BJJ Hierarchy of Needs" comes in. The model is simple - make sure your lower needs are met prior to advancing up the ladder!

Jiu Jitsu is more than a collection of submissions. It was designed to be a comprehensive fighting art. People new to the art often get confused with what they see as endless options. They don't know if they should learn takedowns, wait to get taken down themselves, or just flop on their back and pull guard. This is unfortunate because there is absolutely a preferred strategy and ideal path for BJJ practitioners. 

There are four phases in the ideal path of a Jiu Jitsu fight - this is true in a sport BJJ, self-defense, or MMA context.

Understanding these four phases and how to drive the fight from phase 1 to 4 critical.