What Most Intermediate Grapplers Do Wrong

Tips for the competitive hobbyist.

Photo by Carl Sugihara

I train with a lot of professional grapplers.

People who train, teach, and compete for a living. People who are good at Jiu-Jitsu because being good at Jiu-Jitsu is their job.

These people, obviously, are good at Jiu-Jitsu, and they know how to improve at Jiu-Jitsu. This article is not for them.

However, there’s a certain type of grappler that I train with sometimes who concerns me.

Not in the sense of safety or ability. No — these grapplers are usually very safe, able, and tons of fun to train with.

What concerns me is the happiness, longevity, and progress of the intermediate grappler.

Someone who does well in their gym, but not so well in competition. Someone who may win locally, but when they compete in important matches, they come up short. Someone who trains and is considered “good”, but knows deep down that they’re at a fraction of their potential.

This article is focused on grapplers who are experienced, but not high level, and how they can get to the next level of BJJ simply, efficiently, safely, and without even becoming “professionals”.

Let’s begin: