Make Jiu Jitsu Your Own

Keenan Cornelius debuts the "worm" guard
 against "Buchecha" @ IBJJF Worlds 2014
picture by Grapple TV

Jiu Jitsu practitioners are always looking to find and study the next "new" technique that high-level competitors are doing. They go on YouTube and try to imitate other people's game. Meanwhile, the innovative "new" move was "invented" because that person through trial, error, and experimentation, developed it over time.


Jiu Jitsu is absolutely unique to EVERY person. The techniques adapt to your body style and athleticism without you changing anything.

Budovideos "This Week in BJJ" with
the Miayo Brothers showing the "Berimbolo"

That is the beauty of Jiu Jitsu. It is constantly evolving and just when you think it is complete and you "learned" everything, there is an innovation that changes the competition scene. And yet even though Jiu Jitsu is always changing, the core basics never do. 

Until you learn the core basic techniques and strategy, you shouldn't be searching out techniques way above your skill level.

Mendes Brothers showing the "leg-drag"
Picture by submissioncontrol.com

You can study other people's games and let it evolve your own game, but ultimately you don't want to just be a carbon copy of other high-level competitors. Use it as a learning experience and a way to be knowledgable of all possible movements. Try to understand how that competitor came to the discovery of that "new" technique over the course of their Jiu Jitsu journey.

Once you have a solid base of technique and understanding and you start developing your own game, which is monitored by a qualified instructor, then it is ok to experiment and learn from watching other matches/techniques on YouTube and instructional videos.

Keenan Cornelius X Leandro Lo @ IBJJF Worlds 2014
Picture by Grapple TV

The best teaching formula for success in Jiu Jitsu is to have new students learn a core of "basic" techniques and from there, based on body type, athleticism, and experimentation, assist them in developing their own style. Then one day they just might be the one who has YouTube videos that people will be searching out, and in your head you will know that your "new" technique was developed because you made 


Jiu Jitsu... Your Own.

Tips for developing your own game:

• Learn the basics FIRST
• Adjust & adapt for your body type & athleticism
• Keep an eye out on the top level competitors and what is trending
• See if the "new" techniques can be adapted in your game
• If a "trending" move doesn't work for you, drill it anyway to learn how to prevent & counter
• Never quit and keep evolving! The process doesn't stop!