Training vs fighting in Jiu-Jitsu

Training vs fighting In Jiu-Jitsu is a subject debated often. When I used to train with my friend John Danaher, I was lucky enough to witness many training camps of UFC champions Georges St-Pierre and Chris Weidman. One of my favorite aspects of watching them train in his classes they always used to pull guard at the onset of sparring and work bottom position, this despite the fact they they could easily take down everyone in the room if they chose to. They recognized that the value of training their weakest areas in submission grappling, so they expose themselves to that as much as possible in the time they have. They work on their submission grappling skills, even though that will make their work much harder, they will work their takedown training with specialists in that area at another location better suited to that skill. This willingness to come into a room and trade skills with specialists is what keeps them learning and improving over time. And yes, both of them were able to hang and improve in one of the toughest training rooms in the USA against guys that specialize in submission skills. They recognized the need for an MMA athlete to see the big picture of skill enhancement for their sport overall as far more important than winning anonymous battles in training rooms by avoiding the skills utilized there and stalling away the training time. They come to gain skills rather than to learn to avoid them. Here at Savarese BJJ Academy (www.njbjj.com), we encourage everyone to focus on DEVELOPMENT, not trying to “win rounds”. This mindset ill help you go further in your BJJ journey.