Posted on January 9, 2012 by Jason Claunch
Is technique all that matters? Jiu-jitsu students should focus on learning jiu-jitsu technique not considering their size, athleticism and physical strength. If you are very strong and weigh 220 lbs., learn jiu-jitsu as if you were not strong at all (and only weighed 110 lbs). The lighter jiu-jitsu fighters are usually more technical than the heavier ones, mainly because they do not have the size advantage and the physical strength of the heavier fighters. Still today, despite the “revolution” that has taken place in sport jiu-jitsu in the last fifteen years –not to mention the continuous evolution of the physical training–, in jiu-jitsu it is still possible that the smaller guy beats the bigger guy; that the weaker beats the stronger (this is unthinkable of in other martial arts, but still achievable in jiu-jitsu). Advice: Is technique all that matters in jiu-jitsu? No, but technique is what matters the most without any doubt. Therefore, you should focus on learning, improving and mastering the different set of techniques existing in jiu-jitsu. Technique itself may not completely overcome size, athleticism and physical strength, but –for sure– technique is the essence of jiu-jitsu. Neither athleticism nor physical strength is worth much in jiu-jitsu unless they are combined with the power of the technique. And a last word of advice here: training while being exhausted can help us develop our technique and progress in jiu-jitsu.