Those who master the fundamentals of an art know exactly what to do, when to do it, and why to do it, all automatically, without hesitation.
This mastery can take a lifetime, and when we talk about martial arts, the complexity can be much greater than one imagines.
When a martial artist is dedicated and understands this, they prefer to sacrifice part of an advanced training to refine and keep the fundamentals sharp.
Discover the 4 Priority Fundamentals of Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is considered a very complex martial art because there is a huge range of attack and defense possibilities.
If there is a martial art that can be analogously compared to a chess game, it is Jiu-Jitsu.
But, how do you fight Jiu-Jitsu well? Or rather, how do you progress in Jiu-Jitsu?
Below, we will see 4 fundamentals of Jiu-Jitsu that we can consider as priorities.
If you master them, you will win many fights.
Fundamental #1: Starting the Fight Successfully
The start of a Jiu-Jitsu fight, if well conducted, can be a window of opportunity for a quick victory. It doesn't always happen, but the possibility is there, it exists.
There are basically two ways to start a fight successfully:
(1) applying a takedown on the opponent and landing in an advantageous position immediately
(2) pulling the opponent into your closed guard, in a good position for you
Thorough training of this fundamental will give you a huge advantage right from the start. So, practice a lot, really a lot, until you become skilled enough to do well in most fight starts. When you reach that level, train even more!
Fundamental #2: Maintaining Base, Posture, and Control
If the opponent is on their back, and you're in their guard, you'll have a good advantage if you can remain stable on your knees (good base), with an upright spine (good posture), and control the opponent's movements (good control).
Keep one hand controlling the opponent's chest region, and the other hand controlling their hip, preventing their initiatives. This way, you can wait for them to make a wrong move, opening up an opportunity to land an effective counter.
The same fundamental — base + posture + control — can be applied in other positions on the ground or standing.
In executing control, the idea is to neutralize the opponent's movements, using hands, feet, and other parts of your body against their body parts, without destabilizing your base and posture.
Another important point in executing control is to avoid using brute force. Control is done smoothly, using technique. This way, you don't waste energy and breath, resisting better until the end of the fight.
Fundamental #3: Staying Calm in Suffocating Positions
According to Carlos Gracie, trusting your technique is what brings emotional control and tranquility when in an unfavorable position.
This way, you expend little energy and focus on finding the right moment to make the appropriate move and get out of the vulnerable position.
The window of opportunity opens at the exact moment the opponent makes a mistake. In fact, if you're smart, you'll know how to induce the opponent to make that mistake.
Rickson Gracie recounts that when he was young, he had a fight in which his opponent put him in a desperate position for a long time. After losing the fight, he went home upset but decided to nip the problem in the bud.
He asked his brother to wrap him in several thick towels, from head to toe, on a hot and humid day in Rio de Janeiro, until he got used to it and calmed down even in that agonizing situation, and there he stayed for a long time.
Fundamental #4: Prioritizing Actions and Fighting Objectively
Fighting to win requires caution, strategy, and patience, and because Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling fight, it's normal for there to be moments when the fight remains locked.
Fights with a gi tend to be slower, leaving more time for fighters to think before acting effectively.
However, there must be objectivity in applying strikes, aiming to end the fight as soon as possible. Thinking about this, the great masters identified a fundamental that, if taken and practiced seriously, culminates in finishing the opponent.
To apply this fundamental, we can start from two situations:
Situation A:
You in the opponent's closed guard and on top of them
Action 1: position yourself to break the guard
Action 2: break the guard
Action 3: pass
Action 4: immobilize
Action 5: finish
Situation B:
You with the closed guard and underneath the opponent;
Action 1: try to finish in the current position without opening the guard
Action 2: try to take the opponent's back, immobilize, and finish
Action 3: try to sweep the opponent to get on top and take actions from Situation A
Conclusion
By spending a lifetime training these 4 fundamentals exhaustively, improving your ability to act and react in these situations, your Jiu-Jitsu will evolve incredibly.
Alongside this fundamental training, which should be the largest portion of your training, also practice important techniques that fit perfectly within these fundamentals.
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