Drills or Rolling?

Discussion in 'Grappling Technique' started by The Man Monster, Oct 23, 2005.

  1. The Man Monster Orange Belt

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2005
    Messages:
    408
    Likes Received:
    0
    Which do you find help you more in your progression?
    Drilling moves over and over or learning it, repeating it a few times and then rolling?

    The reason for my question is in all the time I've been doing BJJ (about 1.8 years) I've always been good with armbars but like everyone I had trouble doing it all the time and in every match, however after learning a new armbar drill I found myself getting it twice as much against people I could never get it on in the first place.

    So drills or rolling?
     
  2. physicaltherapy Blue Belt

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2005
    Messages:
    938
    Likes Received:
    0
    Both but in general rolling > drills. I feel like drills are an addition to rolling (a very good addition). If you don't know the "fundamentals" of moving your body around and feeling different weights, sizes, and skill level during "live" sparring (where the guy is attacking you) then you really won't progress. In other words if you just drill all the time, you won't really know how to see the openings to apply the technique.

    Like....hitting a punching bag. Sure you parctice in front of a punching bag and develop perfect form. Replace the punching bag with a person and its a totally different game. You want to practice with a punching bag but you can't do just that instead of actual sparring.
     
  3. Darkslide632 Brown Belt

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2005
    Messages:
    2,564
    Likes Received:
    0
    This goes hand in hand with what I had posted in the thread about lowering intensity while training.

    When you drill, you are trying to engrain the movements into your head so that they become instinctive. When you put your hand on a hot stove, you don't stop and think "Boy, that hurts, I should take my hand off" and then do it. You just do it. That is what you're striving for in a fight. You shouldn't be thinking "Hey, this guys arm is right here, I should do this and this" and then put the armbar on. It should be a natural reaction to that arm being in that position.

    When you drill, that is exactly what you're trying to get your body to do. Drill and drill and drill and drill and drill until it becomes reactive. Then when you roll, you wont be thinking about it.

    Why do you think the best fighters in the world are so fast? Their brain and body has become reactice and can bypass a lot of the thought process involved with slapping a submission on, entering for a throw or countering a straight right with a left hook.
     
  4. ichimonji Blue Belt

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2004
    Messages:
    631
    Likes Received:
    0
    I enjoy both types of training, but where we train we do a hybrid of both. the tech is taught. you do it 5 times each. then the blues and up do the next 5 with 50 % resitance. the whites do it again no resitance. Lastly the blues and up do it with 90 % resitance and the whites try it with 50 % (read 110% for most white belts)

    It makes you think differently when you tell your oponent what you will be doing to them and then make it work.
     
  5. The Man Monster Orange Belt

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2005
    Messages:
    408
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks guys, very helpful thoughts here!
     
  6. LCDforMe Purple Belt

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2005
    Messages:
    2,362
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    I generally like to roll more but sometimes on like Saturday's open mat time, I will spend the whole 2 hours drilling one or two things that are giving me problems. They are both good.
     
  7. Big Red Green Belt

    Joined:
    May 19, 2005
    Messages:
    1,161
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Columbia
    Rolling for me. You need an even balance of both but I think you naturally learn from your mistakes.
     
  8. RizRan Guest

    Rolling for me. The way i learn has always been time on the mat. I pick up new ways of submissions just by rolling which after i use in drills to perfect on them. There both important but for me rolling is key
     
  9. both are musts. 50/50%
     
  10. Big Red Green Belt

    Joined:
    May 19, 2005
    Messages:
    1,161
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Columbia
    I've drilled techniques that don't work in the step by step way I have been shown. By rolling, I can vary those dark patches in the technique.
     
  11. kumite Orange Belt

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2005
    Messages:
    469
    Likes Received:
    0
    I say 70/30 drills. Once you drilled to the point where you've perfected the technique, it will become a thoughtless action. you will see the opening and then explode with the technique. Like being of No mind. That is what has worked for me anyway.
     
  12. Darkslide632 Brown Belt

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2005
    Messages:
    2,564
    Likes Received:
    0
    I find it amusing that you say this, and at the same time you claim that you shouldn't train your throws at maximum velocity.

    You're right... once you have attained a reactive state with any given technique, you will enter for it without even thinking about it. But you'll enter for it how you've trained. If you don't train exactly how you want to apply it in contest, then your body is not going to just magically respond how you want it to.
     
  13. physicaltherapy Blue Belt

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2005
    Messages:
    938
    Likes Received:
    0
    M-u-s-c-l-e
    M-e-m-o-r-y
     
  14. physicaltherapy Blue Belt

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2005
    Messages:
    938
    Likes Received:
    0
    good perspectives........
     
  15. mcbadboy170 Orange Belt

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2004
    Messages:
    445
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Indiana
    I drill the move then incorporate it into open roll. Often times when I want to use a new move I will ask my partner if we can start is a certain possition and go from there. The other thing you can do is roll with someone you know you are better then (that way you can control where the fight goes) and attempt only the move I am working on.
     
  16. ValeTudo19 White Belt

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2005
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    IL
    Working on drills in a weak position will increase your skill level faster then just rolling!
     
  17. Spoonman7 Red Belt

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2003
    Messages:
    9,001
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    California
    I say 60/40, drills help me a lot, and I see the difference in sparring. I love doing drills, since I have such a problem finding adequte people my size to grapple with, I do a lot of drills.
     
  18. Oktavius** Brown Belt

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2002
    Messages:
    4,674
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    WA
    Both are important. There are some things one can teach you and the other cant. You cant get good form without working your drills a lot, and you cant learn the more complex moves while rolling against some huge spazzing freak, for that you need drills and slow rolling to get things down. But if your gonna fight or do tournaments you need to do lots of hard rolling because thats what you will be up against.
     
  19. Soid Renegade of Funk

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    5,899
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Nueva York
    Well.. I like to drill for a couple of minutes, and then try the move i learned every chance possible.
     
  20. Jeremy Henderson Amateur Fighter

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    Messages:
    340
    Likes Received:
    0
    You need both, plus competions help 2
     

Share This Page

X
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.