How to Win More

Key lasting principles for BJJ improvement.

Photo via Summy Squeeze Photography

Until last year, I did nearly all of my Jiu-Jitsu training with hobbyists.

“Despite” this, I was still able to:

• win an IBJJF no-gi world title (purple belt)

• submit world-class grapplers in competition

• place in 2 ADCC Trials

• and more

But this wasn’t because I was an incredibly naturally gifted grappler or even because I “outworked” everyone. Over the last few years, I developed a process that has allowed me to continuously improve no matter where I am training.

Ever since moving to Austin to train this year, I’ve seen how hard everyone at the highest levels works. It is without a doubt physically harder than what I did for years.

The training is a lot tougher than what I was used to. There was an adjustment period (maybe a long post for a different day).

This article, however, is about training with whoever, wherever, and still getting better. It is possible — and also a necessary skill for pretty much everyone in the world who doesn’t have access to professional training partners and a high-level coach every single day.

If there’s anything that I proved to myself at the lower belts, it’s that you can progress to an extremely high level (and even a professional level) without training with professionals. It’s not really about who you train with or where you train (within reason), it’s about how you train.

Instead of just “out-working everybody” (something I’m realizing now that I’ve never really done), there are 5 things I use to maximize my progress when training with people who have had different goals than me.

Let’s dive in. I guarantee you will be a smarter grappler by the end of this article.