Fragmentation Problem

One of the most common questions asked by new white belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is, "How do I keep track and remember all the techniques?" The short answer is, you don't. A typical BJJ class consists of a warm-up, a few techniques, and then live drills or sparring. Most beginners do their best to learn these techniques while struggling with movements and positions they are completely unfamiliar with.

This leads to a collection of disconnected and fragmented techniques that rarely work in a live rolling situation, which is known as the fragmentation problem. It's common and can be discouraging for white belts who feel like nothing they have learned is working and they are not improving. This is one of the reasons why many white belts quit the art.

So, what can you do about it? The simple solution is to show up to class and train every day. If you are able to do this, you will be able to work on and learn a specific position for a longer period of time, which makes it easier to start connecting the dots and understanding BJJ as a whole. However, training every day is not always possible. On average, a BJJ hobbyist trains about three times a week.

At Way of BJJ, we have a more nuanced answer. You start by creating your "escape" plan, specifically from side control and mount. As a white belt, you will often end up in these positions. To start, learn how to survive bottom side control and bottom mount. These techniques are usually taught in regular class, but you can also ask higher belts for help during open mat. Higher belts will be able to show you simple framing and positioning concepts that can help you survive these challenging positions.

Once you can survive these positions by making it difficult for your opponent to submit you, the next step is to identify one or two positions as your "home base" – places where you feel strong and in control. For beginners, Way of BJJ recommends the closed guard or half guard as your home base. Put in some effort to learn how to maintain and attack from these positions. There are many resources available that can give you ideas on what to add to your arsenal.

Now we have two separate skill sets: surviving a bad spot and attacking from a position of strength. To solve the fragmentation problem, we must link them. The missing piece is escaping from bad positions and transitioning back to your home base. This should be your next focus.

Once you are able to create this mini-system – survive, escape from bad position, and return to your home base to initiate an attack – you have created the foundation of your game, which is linked and not fragmented. From here, building out your game becomes more logical. Simply add more relevant moves and techniques that can take you from your home base to other dominant positions. This is what BJJ is all about – navigating through a ladder of increasingly dominant positions until you can secure a finishing submission.

At Way of BJJ, we have a revolutionary way to easily solve the fragmentation problem – the Way of BJJ app. It's the best BJJ training app ever and we can't wait to show it to you!

Interested in trying this awesome APP for yourself?  Click here for a Free Trial