Combinations a must in BJJ

Combinations a must in BJJ

Combinations are a must in BJJ once you start training live. It may take a good 6 months plus to effectively work combinations but you can still train your mind to believe so. You must always think: What’s next? Because here is an unpleasant truth. The vast majority of moves you attempt in Jiu-Jitsu will fail. This is true regardless of your skill level. The better you get, the better the opponents you will face. You both know the major moves of the art. In addition, you both know the most reliable counters. Therefore, the vast majority of the moves you attempt against someone your own size and skill level will fail. Once you realize this, you realize that the most important question is not “what move should I use?†But rather, “what moves will I follow up with after my initial move.†Your whole way of thinking in Jiu-Jitsu must reflect the simple reality that most moves against a well matched opponent will fail and that you must always think in terms of what is next. This is not something you can reliably figure out in the moment, you can get away with that on occasion but it’s much better to map out the options in advance. I started with an unpleasant truth. Now let me offer a pleasant one. Against a well match opponent, most moves fail, however, well applied failed moves can create very predictable defensive reactions from your opponent. These will allow you to exploit them with second, third and forth attacks. THAT is where the fight is really won or lost. You know what your best attacks are. Now it’s time to learn the most common reactions you see to them and map out your responses. In the great majority of cases the match is not won on the first attack, but by the second third or fourth, make sure your training and thinking reflects that.