Bulletproof For BJJ Podcast
Discussions on improving your BJJ, navigating mat-politics and all aspects of the jiu jitsu lifestyle. Multiple weekly episodes for grapplers of any level. Hosted by JT and Joey - Australian jiu jitsu black belts, strength coaches, and creators of Bulletproof For BJJ App. Based out of Sydney, Australia
Bulletproof For BJJ Podcast
QNA: Why Do People Train Ineffective Techniques, How Long To Study Different Games, & How To Perform Standards Testing
Can so-called "ineffective" jiu-jitsu techniques hold the key to unlocking your unique fighting style? How long do you need to study a particular technique or game in order to become proficient? How do you perform strength testing or more specifically our standards testing. Find out all of the answers in the weeks QNA episode.
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A good martial artist does not become tense but ready.
Speaker 3:Essentially, at this point the fight is over.
Speaker 4:So you pretty much flow with the goal.
Speaker 1:Who is worthy to be trusted with the secret to limitless power.
Speaker 3:I'm ready featured on the next Q&A episode. Go to the website bulletproofforbjjcom, hit the podcast tab and hit the record button to leave us a voicemail. A lot of people send us questions. We get quite a few of these voicemails, but we get quite a few people messaging through Facebook, instagram, and that's great. But the beauty of you recording the voicemail is that we can share your question and our response with the world, and there's always more people than just you wondering that same thing. So please go record that shit. We'll get you on the next show.
Speaker 3:One of the things about this time of information abundance that we live in podcasts, social media et cetera is that we've just got access to so much information, and it's excellent. We're big supporters of that. We put out information regularly. But one of the downsides of this is that it can make things really confusing about which information is correct or is right for you, and so some jt and I see ourselves as uh, as aggregators of information when it comes to strength and flexibility and building a durable body for jiu-jitsu, and this is why we designed our app. It's to help people like you cut through the bullshit and follow simple, easy to use programs that are going to make you as strong as possible and as flexible as possible in the shortest amount of time each week.
Speaker 3:If you jump onto the app, you can access various programs that are suited to whatever training situation you're in. So if you're a total beginner or if you've got plenty of strength experience, you'll find it suited to you, and if you don't have any equipment or you've got access to a full gym, you will find a program to match your needs. You can take a two-week free trial right away. All you got to do is go to the app store, search Bulletproof for BJJ, download the app and sign up today for your free trial. And the best part about it is JT and I are going to coach you there. And you know what? If you don't love it, we offer a 100% money back guarantee. Send us an email Say I don't like the app and we'll flick your money back. So jump on the app store, get the app. Let's train, let's get strong for BJJ. First one coming up from Gage, johnny Gage.
Speaker 5:Yep, hey y'all. I just got a quick question, um and this is a really dumb question just specifically for jujitsu we'll see why do people study ineffective techniques over like proven effective techniques? And I can't seem to find a good answer. It just seems weird to me to study wrist locks instead of, like you know, kimura's, americanos or any other variation of an arm lock versus, like you know, wrist locks are cool but at the end of the day, it's, you know, a wrist lock. Thanks.
Speaker 2:Fair question. No, I don't agree. No, I'm going to, I'm going to push back on you, gauge.
Speaker 3:It's still a fair question.
Speaker 2:No, you can ask the question, but I just don't agree with the framing, because the effectiveness of a technique is down to the individual. You can study wrist locks all day, but you've got to organize the situation to be able to perform them. If that makes sense. No technique is more effective than another technique except for the person's ability to execute it. Another technique except for the person's ability to execute it. So if someone is a master wrist locker, then if the outcome you're trying to get is a submission, then it's effective if that makes sense. That's what I'm saying. Like I understand that.
Speaker 2:Uh, I I feel like the frame with which our man gauges approaching it is it is the smaller percentage of um yeah, it's not a high percentage submission yeah, but I I think even that is like a poor framing too, because there's been some pretty famous people, really fucking good at wrist locks, who just hit everyone with it right. And you know, to say a kimura is more effective is questionable. Application is different. If there's more opportunity to get Kimuras, okay. There's plenty of people out there Kimura is flying past their faces all day and they're not effectively doing it right. So I would say that if you can take something and incorporate it into your game and it works for you, that's cool. But to say Rissok's are less effective than other submissions, I think is actually incorrect.
Speaker 3:I reckon I'm assuming that Gage is like an evidence-based guy and he's like and we've spoken about like what are the highest performing subs in competition, you know? So rear naked, fucking, armbar, whatever.
Speaker 3:And obviously I'm up on this shit inside heel hook, outside heel hook yes and so, and so, yeah, if you're looking at it from that lens and you're being very systematic about it, I can see where you'd be like, well, that's the shit to work on, because that's the shit that is most commonly used, um, but and I don't think there's anything wrong with that, like, yeah, I get it if it, if you're that way inclined. But I think what that discounts is one's ability to express their own creativity through jiu-jitsu. Sure, and if you've ever trained in Japan, you become very aware of the creativity that exists within jiu-jitsu. You just meet these fucking. It's such a, it's almost like a kung fu thing.
Speaker 2:They build their whole style.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's like oh, that guy Like I've spoken about, but there was a guy that just did cross-collar chokes from inside closed guard. That was all he did, and you can't fucking stop him. You put him in closed guard, he chokes you and you talk to people and they're like, no, no, that's all he does.
Speaker 4:Right.
Speaker 3:But so obviously he really likes it and that's kind of his thing, it's his character or whatever. But yeah, so I think that, like, some people really like exploring a particular sub and maybe the novelty factor of it if you could apply that label is appealing to them. It's not about, like, statistically, what is shown to be the most effective.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but that rationale 20 years ago was the same about foot locks and leg locks right? Yeah, like that rationale 20 years ago was the same about foot locks and leg locks right, yeah, like that rationale 20 years ago was like, why would you do that? It's only, like you know, it's very low percentage. It's like well, now it's the most high percentage. Finish.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you work the fuck out of something, you can get it. And I think the reason why I would say like, just because you've studied something doesn't make it effective. It's like your ability to spend time doing the thing. You can get fucking wrist locks from anywhere. There's some pretty famous highlights of people doing like the judo standing wrist lock. Jacare used to do that and he tapped high-level black belt world champions by just like grab his lapel, he's like, and it's over. Like, is that not effective? Yeah, it's fucking effective. Will you get it all the time Fucking 30 years ago? Maybe not, no, but I'm saying, obviously, certain things like wrist locks are probably harder to get in Nogi because they're not committing their hand to you, right, big fucking pipes. Yeah, it's different Slippery, but I think definitely there are some submissions which you're going to have more opportunity to get. So, yeah, study the fuck out of them.
Speaker 3:What I would add to Gage's point is that, yeah, I think like whatever someone wants to path, they want to go down it. Where I might question it in the way that you have, gage, is if a coach was teaching this as a thing like hey, for the next three months we're doing wrist locks, you know like we're going deep.
Speaker 2:That is my fariest coach.
Speaker 3:Okay, that seems because the coach is like I fucking love these things and we're going deep. I'd be like all right, that seems a little bit silly.
Speaker 2:I don't know how many coaches are like how standard syllabus, Maybe you?
Speaker 3:should go. Japanese coach Wrist locks, a wrist, a rocket. No, no, no.
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Speaker 3:Question number two, coming in from Terrace hey guys, this is Terrace from Atlanta.
Speaker 4:My question is how long should I work with the collar sleeve system? I am a one-year white belt getting promoted for blue belt this weekend actually Congratulations. But my main thoughts on what I'm focusing on in jujitsu is how long I should focus on collar sleeve and really learn the details. Like you know, angle in my body, different ways that I would like to separate the knee and elbow, timing with the omoplata and all the different ways somebody can respond, whether they're standing or on both knees, or combat base or left leg forward, right leg forward, and I really just want to get really good on that game. Or Lasso Guard or you know, looking at Mikey Muzi, mechi or Tommy Langerker and their styles of it and I really kind of want to make it my own thing. But I don't know when I should stop and focus on something else or if I should continue to build the details and get better at those positions and understanding the timing and responses of people. So when should I move on to work on other things? My top game's good, okay.
Speaker 3:Terrence. How are your wrist locks? Good question.
Speaker 2:No well, first of all, I want to say you also need to check out Homolo Bahal and you need to check out Legato, not Levato. Legato, who was, like one of the guys, very good 15 years ago, had a great collar sleeve guard. Braulio Estima too great collar sleeve guard. This is kind of like how long is a piece of rope right, like how long you work on something is really based on how well are you doing at the thing, because you're about to go to blue belt. I actually don't know. A lot of white belts were like yo, I'm really working on my collar sleeve transition in a del, like no he sounds like you, sound like you're really ahead of the curve, you're ready for blue.
Speaker 3:I'm like, oh bro, that's way more. You know way more about collar sleeve than I do I.
Speaker 2:I spent a bit of time on it because, like Cabrinha was really good with it, as well as Spider Garden, so I learned some good things about it. I guess the thing is you want to work out am I good enough at this thing to sweep and submit from here consistently across people my size, bigger than me, smaller than me, et cetera, and that's usually what I do. I'm like can I be effective with this against someone who's really good as well as you know, someone who's not very experienced? And then it's also like do you get bored with it? Because I think that's the thing.
Speaker 3:Sounds like Terrace is into it, yeah he's into it, I'm like bro just keep going, go deep.
Speaker 3:Yeah, become the guy. I mean, if you've got a glaring weakness, like if, terrence, you find that someone manages to shut down your collar sleeve and just pass, and then you've got nothing, yeah, like you, shit from side control, you shit from like, okay, I think you should maybe work on that stuff a little bit, yeah, yeah. But you know, if you're like, yeah, like, join the collar sleeve and your game is, I mean, you're a white belt, right, so there's going to be gaps Of course there's always gaps but yeah, like, keep doing it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do it to death, because I think this is the thing. You will naturally get to a point where you're like, okay, I'm going to do something else, I'm going to play spider guard or I'm going to do worm guard, or I'm just going to fucking branch out, because people are going to start shutting down your collar sleeve which is going to force you to have to then adapt to a new thing and then go down on that path.
Speaker 3:But that, you could argue, is a is an is an evolution of your collar sleeve, isn't it? Yeah, it is for sure.
Speaker 2:Dealing with the counter and I think you have to spend a lot of time doing something like years to really know it back to front the, the weaknesses of it, the pros of it and also what fits together with it, like the other subsequent pieces, whether it's De La Riva Guard or Spider Guard, whatever else.
Speaker 3:I mean, we both said that the game that we established at kind of white belt took us through. I know mine took me through at a purple belt kind of.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, blue, yeah, white to blue really informs Cosguard and armbars basically yeah, yeah, blue, yeah, white to blue really informs Close guard. And armbars, basically yeah, for sure, but I definitely it will naturally change Like it. Will you get to a point where you're like, okay, I've had enough of this? Yeah, and if you're not sure right now, probably you haven't taken it to its end degree, so there's probably a little bit of time there for you. But, man, thank you. Thank you, that's a cool message, but definitely go a bit deeper on some of those more old school gee guys.
Speaker 3:No shortage of BJJ information out there Tutorials, videos, you can download YouTube content, et cetera. One of the hardest things about all this is knowing where to start, and it doesn't really matter if you're brand new to the thing or you've got experience. It's just a bit of a minefield and it's confusing. Submeta is the most comprehensive online platform for jiu-jitsu hands down. I've used it myself and believe me when I say that I really don't enjoy absorbing jiu-jitsu information on the internet, but I found Submeta to be incredibly effective at actually learning and retaining techniques. The beauty of it is that it steps you through. You can start where you're at, so you can choose beginner, intermediate or advanced variations. You've also got your choice of coaches that you want to learn from.
Speaker 3:I personally followed Lachlan Giles' content because I absolutely love his stuff and it really benefited my jiu-jitsu. As a Bulletproof listener, you can get some money off when you subscribe to Submeta today. If you use the code Bulletproof16, you'll get $16 off your first month, and that code is valid for first-time subscribers. Go to submetaio and when you check out, make sure to use the code Bulletproof16 and start learning online in a way that is effective for your jiu-jitsu today. Speak of the devil. Question three coming in from Ben Hanawal.
Speaker 2:Oh, what up? Ben, let's go boy.
Speaker 1:What's up, bulletproof Brothers? This is Ben from the Facebook group, second time calling in. Hey, listen, I want to test out my standards on a regular basis this coming year, and maybe once a quarter, say, and I was wondering how I should do that. So you know, I'm thinking about max effort, like what is my belt level at my max effort, you know should. So what should I do? Should I? Should I test all the standards on one day? Should I test one standard, you know, you know, per day when I'm doing my grading? Or or should I test the standards?
Speaker 1:like you know, we do the standards workouts during the week, you know the standards one, standards two, standards three you know the hip and press and you know whatever the fuck. Anyways, fellas, happy new year again and thanks again for everything you do. Have a good one the fucking.
Speaker 3:Let that voice, bro. It's like a it's so cinematic yeah, yeah, fucking.
Speaker 2:It's a real grown man voice, right, if you're a criminal and you got a phone call and that voice came down the phone. You're probably getting assassinated by a guy in a trucker hat. That guy's gonna come through with a shotgun and destroy your whole crew. Um, shout out. Ben, yeah, and he is a very dedicated standards practitioner and he said oh, you know previously, standards is one of our programs.
Speaker 2:It's kind of just to clarify it's got 12 movement standards and the great thing about it is you can progress it. Yeah, ben has progressed to a very high level through most of the standards. But the six mobility movements that we feel you need to be really good at and six strength movements We've talked about them before me. Me personally, with the mobility and flexibility, I feel like you could probably test them all in one day. That's my take on that, because once you're kind of warm and good to go, you kind of find out pretty quickly where you're at, whereas with the strength standards I would maybe do that across two days or like break it up a little bit so you can kind of warm up and give your best effort to a movement.
Speaker 2:You shouldn't think of it as a workout. You should be like right, today is Turkish get up day, so I'm going to just I'm going to test out both sides, warm up and then work that up to a max and then that's it. Yeah, that's me. But also like it would be very tough to max out your weighted pull-up and then back that up and do max like bottoms up press or like it's not gonna play well. It's not going to be a good reflection of your pressing strength if you're already fatigued from pull-ups yeah, I agree, I would probably.
Speaker 3:um, I'd probably just test it based on how they fall on the programming, on the workout yeah. Yeah, because we've matched them in that way where you're maximizing the juice that your body has for each of the movements that day right Complementary yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I would probably just hit them like that. Or, you know, it also depends what's holding you back right. Like, say, with the squat standard it's a pistol squat like a weighted pistol, and so it's like that might not be a huge strength effort for you. It might be more of a mobility thing that's holding you back. So if you test that, it's not going to be hugely like neurologically fatiguing, no. But if the if your pistol squat range is like, like if you're, if your movement pattern's fine and it is a strength thing, you might be fried if you go for that as a test. True, so it's kind of. You know, it's about that. Some of the tests are more simple, aren't? They Like weighted pull-ups?
Speaker 2:Sure, you know weighted dips et cetera, but then you get something like a backbend or arms overhead, Like that can be very tough. So I mean, ultimately, ultimately, if you're trying to find out where you're at, it would be good for you to pick like a testing week. I think that's something that Joe and I both agree on, and for me I at least try to space it out over a couple of days. I find doing too much on one day doesn't give you. You always start better and by the end of it you're fucking toast. You always start better and by the end of it you're fucking toast. So if you can space it out over a couple of days and maybe leave out the accessories and and follow the standards program yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3:If you're going to do 12 tests that week, yeah, don't do the rest of the workout.
Speaker 2:A no, I think that's that's it, and yeah, and, and that's the good thing about it, when you reach that top end it's going to tell you where you're at, so you might be really good. I know ben is like a strong guy and he's pushing cossacks and he's pushing different things.
Speaker 2:Often, the thing we're good at, you know, blinds us to stuff, or the stuff we we don't want to pay attention to, like fuck, I can't even do a backbend yeah you know I'm a total white belt at that movement, but I'm like black belt standard on pull-ups or something you know, and so I think what's great about that is that will then inform what you do next.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I like that. You know it made me think I should do a test. I'd like to test those. I haven't fucked with a lot of those movements for a while now. It'd be good to do a little test myself and then maybe use that, as we could make a video that's like here's a format you could follow.
Speaker 2:I'll be real honest. I have given up probably a good portion of mobility in the last six months in the name of maximizing strength. That's actually been a conscious choice. So I would say I'm not the poster boy for mobility right now. It's not bad, but it's definitely not black belt standard across all movements, because I have willingly stiffened myself to take more load, because that is the quest I am on, but that's not going to be forever. That's just for now and I think this is the difficulty and some people torture themselves with. This is trying to be good at everything. It's all it's. It's not impossible, but it can be hard.
Speaker 3:It's very hard it's very hard to be like. Seasonality works well for such things.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you push, you might push strength for a period of time. Then you're like I'll back that off and then I'm gonna go more in the mobility direction. What have you?
Speaker 3:definitely like it's. I think being good at all things is definitely appropriate and very achievable when you're at that sort of beginner to intermediate stage, isn't it in training? But once you go and Stans is a great example of this once you cross that threshold to the brown and black belt progressions, a lot of those things will take more concerted effort to progress at. And that's when, yeah, seasonality, I think, really comes into it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and they're bigger projects, right, I think if you can think of getting your TGU as heavy as possible, that is its own project and that takes time. Same thing weighted pull-ups like just really dialing that in and getting as strong as possible, there is its own individual project. So trying to do multiple projects at once is very difficult. So provided you know what you're really focused on, whatever it might be squatting, pressing, pulling backbends, whatever it might be you can give yourself like a little bit of a pass to not be the best at everything else.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but still good to check in on it. Would love to see some footage of, like how your tests come up actually.
Speaker 2:Bro, please post some vids in the in the uh group chat. They'll be mad. Do it, bruh?
Speaker 3:shut up hey, um, epic questions today, that's, that's three from three from the usa oh yeah, where's the rest of our?
Speaker 2:where's the uk at?
Speaker 3:I mean what? That's basically all the countries right. Where's our canadians? Yeah, I want, I want to hear some.
Speaker 2:I want to hear some out and about type chat Scotland, Ireland.
Speaker 3:What do they say? Canadians always call you buddy.
Speaker 2:Hey buddy, hey buddy, yeah Minty boys, fam.
Speaker 3:Thanks for the question today. That was epic. It was good to get back on the Q&As. If you have a question you'd like to leave for us, go to the website bulletproofforbjjcom. Hit the podcast tab, scroll down big red button. Record us a voicemail. It's great for the show, but it's also great to share your query with the rest of our community, because always, always people, other people, are going to have the same question. So do it now. Go to the website, record us one and we'll get you on the next Q&A. Thank you.
