Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Jiu Jitsu (And How to Avoid Them)

Ryan V. — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 06:37:07 +0000

Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Jiu Jitsu (And How to Avoid Them)

Starting Jiu Jitsu can be a rewarding experience, but like any new endeavor, it comes with its challenges. As a beginner, making mistakes is a part of the learning process. However, being aware of some common pitfalls can help you progress faster and avoid unnecessary frustration. Here’s a list of the most common mistakes beginners make in Jiu Jitsu, along with tips on how to avoid them.

1. Holding Your Breath

The Mistake:
It’s natural to tense up and hold your breath when you’re in a challenging position or trying to execute a technique. However, this can quickly lead to fatigue and clouded judgment.

How to Avoid It:
Focus on maintaining steady, deep breaths throughout your training. Breathing properly helps you stay calm, conserve energy, and think more clearly during rolls. Make a conscious effort to check in with your breath during training.

2. Using Too Much Strength

The Mistake:
Relying on strength rather than technique is a common habit among beginners, especially those with a physical advantage. While strength can be useful, it often leads to inefficient movements and quick exhaustion.

How to Avoid It:
Concentrate on learning and refining techniques rather than overpowering your opponent. Jiu Jitsu is about leverage, timing, and strategy. Just using strength will slow your progress.

3. Neglecting Defense

The Mistake:
Many beginners focus solely on offensive moves like submissions and sweeps, neglecting the importance of defense.

How to Avoid It:
Spend time developing your defensive skills and focus on control rather than submissions. A strong defense will make you a more well-rounded practitioner and harder to submit.

4. Not Tapping Early Enough

The Mistake:
Pride or inexperience can lead some beginners to resist tapping out when caught in a submission, hoping to escape at the last second. This can result in injury or unnecessary pain.

How to Avoid It:
Tap early and often. Tapping out is not a sign of weakness; it’s a smart way to avoid injury and continue training. Remember, Jiu Jitsu is a marathon, not a sprint. Staying healthy and injury-free is key to long-term progress.

5. Overtraining

The Mistake:
The excitement of learning a new art can lead beginners to train excessively without giving their bodies enough time to recover. This can result in burnout, injury, or diminished performance.

How to Avoid It:
Listen to your body and incorporate rest days into your training routine. Recovery is just as important as the time you spend on the mats. Make sure to stretch, hydrate, and get enough sleep to allow your body to heal.

6. Skipping the Fundamentals

The Mistake:
Some beginners want to jump straight into advanced techniques without mastering the basics first. This can lead to gaps in their skillset and a lack of understanding of how techniques work together.

How to Avoid It:
Focus on the fundamentals, such as basic guard passes, escapes, and positional control. These foundational techniques are the building blocks of everything you’ll learn in Jiu Jitsu. The better you understand the basics, the more effective your overall game will be.

7. Ignoring the Mental Aspect

The Mistake:
Many beginners focus solely on the physical techniques and neglect the mental side of Jiu Jitsu, such as strategy, mindset, and problem-solving.

How to Avoid It:
Approach Jiu Jitsu like a chess game. Think several steps ahead and consider the consequences of each move. Embrace the learning process, and don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Remember, Jiu Jitsu is as much about mental resilience as it is about physical ability.

8. Being Impatient with Progress

The Mistake:
It’s easy to get frustrated when you don’t see immediate results. Jiu Jitsu is a complex art that takes time to master, and progress can sometimes feel slow.

How to Avoid It:
Be patient and consistent. Progress in Jiu Jitsu is often measured in months and years, not days or weeks. Celebrate small victories and understand that every mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve. Keep showing up and stay consistent.

9. Tunnel Vision

The Mistake:
Chasing submissions and rushing transitions is not efficient. This slows progress, burns energy, and compromises position.

How to Avoid It:
Slow things down, control the basic positions and understand the importance of inside position.

By being mindful of these common mistakes and taking steps to avoid them, you’ll set yourself up for a more enjoyable and successful Jiu Jitsu journey. Remember, everyone starts as a beginner, and making mistakes is part of the process. The key is to learn from them, stay committed, and keep improving every day.

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Basic Jiu Jitsu Terminology Every Beginner Should Know

Starting Jiu Jitsu can be both exciting and overwhelming. One of the first challenges you might encounter is the language used on the mats. Jiu Jitsu, like any specialized practice, has its own terminology that may seem like a foreign language at first. To help you get comfortable and confident, here’s a glossary of essential terms and phrases every beginner should know.

1. Gi

The traditional uniform worn in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), consisting of a jacket, pants, and a belt. The Gi is also used during training and competition for various grips and techniques.

2. No-Gi

A style of Jiu Jitsu that is practiced without the traditional Gi. In No-Gi, practitioners typically wear rash guards and shorts. The techniques in No-Gi rely more on controlling the opponent’s body rather than using the fabric of the Gi.

3. Tap/Tapping Out

This is how a practitioner signals submission, effectively ending the round or match. A tap can be made by physically tapping the opponent or the mat, or verbally saying “tap.” It’s an important safety measure to prevent injury.

4. Guard

A fundamental position in Jiu Jitsu where one practitioner is on their back while their opponent is between their legs. The guard is a versatile position that allows for both defensive and offensive techniques.

5. Mount

A dominant position where one practitioner sits on top of their opponent’s torso. From the mount, the top practitioner can apply various submissions or maintain control.

6. Side Control

A position where the practitioner is beside their opponent, controlling them with their bodyweight. Side control is a dominant position that allows for transitions to other positions or submission attempts.

7. Sweeps

Techniques used from the guard to reverse positions, moving the practitioner from the bottom to the top. Sweeps are an essential part of guard work.

8. Submission

A technique designed to force the opponent to submit or “tap out,” often by applying joint locks or chokeholds. Common submissions include the armbar, triangle choke, and rear-naked choke.

9. Choke

A submission technique that restricts the opponent’s airflow (air choke) or blood flow (blood choke) to induce unconsciousness or tap out. Examples include the rear-naked choke and guillotine.

10. Joint Lock

A submission that targets the opponent’s joints, such as the elbow or knee, by applying pressure in a way that causes pain or damage. Armbar and kimura are common joint locks.

11. Kimura

A specific shoulder lock submission that is applied by controlling the opponent’s wrist with both hands and using the practitioner’s body to rotate the opponent’s arm behind their back.

12. Armbar

A submission technique that hyperextends the opponent’s elbow by trapping their arm between the legs and using the hips to apply pressure.

13. Inside Position

This is the space between the hip and armpit. Occupying or denying the inside position can dictate who is in control.

14. Shrimping

A fundamental movement where the practitioner uses their hips to create space and escape from inferior positions. It’s also known as the hip escape.

15. Passing the Guard

The act of maneuvering around an opponent’s legs (guard) to establish a more dominant position like side control or mount.

16. Rolling

Jiu Jitsu’s term for sparring. During a roll, practitioners engage in a live, free-flowing practice of techniques with a partner. It’s an essential part of training to apply what you’ve learned in a controlled environment.

17. Sprawl

A defensive movement used to counter an opponent’s takedown attempt. The practitioner pushes their hips to the ground and extends their legs back to prevent being taken down.

18. Reap

A movement or technique where the practitioner uses their leg to control or off-balance the opponent’s leg, often leading to a sweep or submission. In competition, certain types of reaping can be illegal, depending on the ruleset.

19. Bridge

A movement where the practitioner arches their back to create space or escape from a bad position, such as when trapped under the mount.

20. Base

A term used to describe the stability and balance of a practitioner. Having a good base means being able to resist sweeps and maintain control over your opponent.

Understanding these basic terms is a crucial step in becoming fluent in the “language” of Jiu Jitsu. As you continue to train, you’ll encounter more advanced terminology, but these foundational words will give you a strong start.

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Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Jiu Jitsu (And How to Avoid Them)