How to learn watching BJJ videos

How to learn watching BJJ videos is an age old question. Here is my opinion on learning from videos. Often I am asked what is the best way to watch and learn from watching BJJ instructional videos. Instructional videos have been around from the earliest days of the arrival of Jiu-Jitsu in the US. They all followed a similar pattern. They were a collection of an outstanding athletes favorite moves, usually within a given general topic domain, say, guard passing. Despite being present for decades, they had only a sporadic effect on the development of most students. It was like a kind of “flavor of the month†effect where a popular current move was offered in an introductory and rather random fashion and you tried to copy it as best you could. The newer models of instructional videos are much better and have completely split away from the traditional model and instead, capture what is doubtless one of the major themes of the person’s teaching. The new models follow a deep and complete exploration of a few techniques that will garner far greater results for a student than a bunch of random techniques, especially John Danaher’s videos. They are taught in terms where one particular technique is taught within a framework of supporting skills that massively increase the chance of the technique working against a skilled opponent with resistance.  Today’s videos are radically different from the norm of the first days of BJJ. Instead of being a forty five minute sampling of moves they were up to ten hours of highly detailed analysis of every skill required to get a few winning moves to work against the best athletes in the world. The idea was to move away from sampling videos and offer genuine coaching videos that could have a real impact not only on your game, but even how you THINK about your Jiu-Jitsu. Because the videos are so different in format and style, here at Savarese BJJ (www.njbjj.com) we recommend watching them differently. Watch them sections at a time. Only the most zealous students can watch for hours and stay focused. I generally recommend watching a section or two and trying to work those lessons into your next session on the mats. Use it as you would a series of private lessons that you can repeat at will over months and years to get to the level you want. Just as you never learn by reading a book, but only by RE-READING IT, so too with these videos. Use them as a reference guide that you can access 24/7 in small or large doses to get an insight here or there as you progress over time. Many schools, including ours, if they are successful have online training programs as well. We use a private Facebook group to watch and study from. It’s an incredible resource that is so underused. Bear in mind that we may learn a staggering amount of information over the years in Jiu-Jitsu. BUT ALMOST AS STAGGERING AS HOW MUCH WE LEARN IS HOW MUCH WE FORGET! The videos can remind you constantly of the many details and concepts that are so easy to pass over until the magic of time and repetition makes them permanent and the knowledge becomes fixed inside of you. Only then is the work done. I hope this blog can help you get closer to your goals! See you on the mat.