BJJ - Specialist Vs Generalist

[Iknowarmbarlolz]

Hi all,

Is it a good idea to specialise in a few techniques at purple belt and drill the living fudge out of them till black belt or to be a generalist right through to black belt level?

What are your thoughts?

Many thanks

 

[ArtemV]

I think it is good to specialize. Of course your game must be solid everywhere in order to be successful, but you will always have a preference in how you play your game. I think you find what you like around blue belt (or at least have gameplans after your first few competitions). I would suggest specializing earlier on, before black belt.

 

[Dirty Holt]

In my experience, most high level elite competitors are generally good in all areas and are highly specialized in a few.

Most hobbyist or lower tiered black belts are generally good in most areas but rarely specialize in any positions. They do some things better than others, but dont have specialized positions that can work against anyone in the world.

The reason I think this is, is because most elite competitors structure their training to drill and work on what they want, rather than showing up to class and going through the techniques of the day, which is different every single day.

 

[cakemuncher]

I hate leglock specialists

 

[SidRon]

I think that you have to have technical answers for all of the situations that may arise while you are grappling. What those technical answers are is up to you. For example you need to have technical answers for addressing an opponent standing in your guard. There are many options to choose from but you have to be proficient in at least one. Same for other positions.

 

[nefti]

You need to funnel your opponent into your game.

 

[ijustwannasurf]

In my experience, most high level elite competitors are generally good in all areas and are highly specialized in a few.

Most hobbyist or lower tiered black belts are generally good in most areas but rarely specialize in any positions. They do some things better than others, but dont have specialized positions that can work against anyone in the world.

The reason I think this is, is because most elite competitors structure their training to drill and work on what they want, rather than showing up to class and going through the techniques of the day, which is different every single day.

Do you have any thoughts on how to structure a practice to avoid this, given your background?

 

[Dirty Holt]

Do you have any thoughts on how to structure a practice to avoid this, given your background?

You have to be a coach who is comfortable enough letting higher level guys grab someone and train how they see fit, and force them to put in a ton of reps on their strengths.

Everybody always says to improve your weaknesses first, spend most of your time strengthening your flaws, but this is not the optimal way to train. Improve your strengths first, then spend 20% of your time on your weaknesses. If it is something that is getting exploited and causing you to lose, yes, fix that first, but just learning new things all the time is a great way to be mediocre.

 

[EGDM]

Do you have any thoughts on how to structure a practice to avoid this, given your background?

I don't think Holt's description is necessarily a bad thing unless you're trying to be an elite competitor yourself. I'm strictly a hobbyist (brown belt) but have been around top competitors my whole BJJ career so I know what it takes to get and maintain that level of specialization. I have no interest in drilling anything that much - it would make me so bored I'd probably quit the whole art in disgust. I'm definitely a "jack of all trades, preferrer of a few, master of none" and I'm totally comfortable with the performance compromises that entails. I have a lot more fun coming in to work on some cool idea I got from watching YouTube.

 

[Dirty Holt]

I don't think Holt's description is necessarily a bad thing unless you're trying to be an elite competitor yourself. I'm strictly a hobbyist (brown belt) but have been around top competitors my whole BJJ career so I know what it takes to get and maintain that level of specialization. I have no interest in drilling anything that much - it would make me so bored I'd probably quit the whole art in disgust. I'm definitely a "jack of all trades, preferrer of a few, master of none" and I'm totally comfortable with the performance compromises that entails. I have a lot more fun coming in to work on some cool idea I got from watching YouTube.

The way I described is the most efficient way to win. What you are describing is how most people train, which IMO is the best way for most because it has a way better chance at keeping a person in the sport and interested.

 

[EGDM]

The way I described is the most efficient way to win. What you are describing is how most people train, which IMO is the best way for most because it has a way better chance at keeping a person in the sport and interested.

Absolutely. I think we're in complete agreement. I was just pointing out to ijustwannasurf that NOT training like an elite competitor can be an intentional, positive choice. Many of us wouldn't want the reality of that life if we found ourselves there. If that's what he wants, then more power to him.

 

[yetanother]

You have to be a coach who is comfortable enough letting higher level guys grab someone and train how they see fit, and force them to put in a ton of reps on their strengths.
mprove your strengths first, then spend 20% of your time on your weaknesses. .

How do you balance time spend on developing new stuff that will potentially reap huge benefits vs adding extra polish on stuff that I have already super high percentage.
Obviously adding an extra detail to add extra improvement to my A sweeps takes precedence but what about say that cool straight footlock/estima lock from waiter sweep (a position that I already play) that Caio added last week.

 

[Dirty Holt]

How do you balance time spend on developing new stuff that will potentially reap huge benefits vs adding extra polish on stuff that I have already super high percentage.
Obviously adding an extra detail to add extra improvement to my A sweeps takes precedence but what about say that cool straight footlock/estima lock from waiter sweep (a position that I already play) that Caio added last week.

This is what separates great development coaches from bad ones. Great ones allow the athletes to figure it out on their own while also knowing them so well that they can predict what will work for them. IMO, the bad ones just show everyone the same thing at the same time because its easier and requires less work.

 

[mataleaos]

Absolutely. I think we're in complete agreement. I was just pointing out to ijustwannasurf that NOT training like an elite competitor can be an intentional, positive choice. Many of us wouldn't want the reality of that life if we found ourselves there. If that's what he wants, then more power to him.

Yeah I made that as an intentional and positive choice.

I used to want to be a very serious competitor. Went to a school just for that. It didn't make me happy and so I stopped.

The way I train now is less conducive to competitive success but like you said, it makes me happier. But more power to anyone that wants to train as a serious grappling athlete.

 

[Forceof1]

As always- your training should match your goals. Training as a competitor is good- if you want to be a competitor. It's probably bad if you want to be a long term hobbyist. Likewise, training as a hobbyist is great - if you want to be a hobbyist. It is not conducive to winning competitions at the higher level however.

I am the BJJ encyclopedia at my gym. I love studying new positions, moves and sweeps. I cannot make everything work vs all opponents (I do keep an A game in case) but I know the moves and have success with white and blue belts on just about everything. My serious competition days are done. I'm all about learning as much bjj as I can, and getting decent at most of it.