Iceland Camp 2020: "Want To Get Better At Jiu Jitsu?" with Priit Mihkelson

[@nevercine]

It's remarkable to me that he gave this talk to a mere ~20 people and yet tens of thousands of people get to watch to it because it's on the internet. Thank you for filming and sharing, very valuable!

[@alope4217]

Write a book. I am a Blackbelt and in education. You are articulating the thoughts I have had over the years. I have always wondered why we do what we do. If you were to put your thoughts on paper, backed by research, it will be a game changer.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Hmm ...interesting. Have not thought about that before!

[@balvsmalvs5425]

Hear hear.

[@roe1699]

I’d buy it

[@bradvincent2586]

Yes, but don't back it by research. Just write in a way where it's obvious and people can figure it out for themselves. A ton of research is flawed and people just believe stuff because it's "official". That gullibility and inability to think for oneself is a cancer on the human soul. You don't need research to know this is correct. If you demand research for this type of beautiful truth, you will miss out on the most important truths this world has to offer (like Jesus for example).

[@andydufresne2818]

Yes, a book would be great.

[@zakshah3480]

One of Priit's best videos yet. This is gonna be a repeat watch for years. He really needs to put more material out there

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Working on that ;)

[@yamazaki997]

wow someone is finaly talking about teaching methodology- it is what our community was missing

[@DefensiveBJJ]

I am actually amazed how this video spreads. Clearly there is a need for this kind of information I agree!

[@yamazaki997]

@@DefensiveBJJ it's like unspoken truth of bjj

[@DefensiveBJJ]

@@yamazaki997 Yup, very much so!

[@jodybond]

As a brown belt who's been training for ten years, watching this couldn't have come at a better time. Priit and BJJ Globetrotters, I can't thank you enough for posting this. I'll be processing much of this for some time to come, both as a student and as a teacher. Hope to train with you in person at some point. All the best!

[@jodybond]

Btw, I'm 50 years old, so the pedagogical talk resonates that much more.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Jody Bond I appreciate that very mush!

[@dmjjohnful]

I love pritt as a jiu jitsu academic and teacher. His teaching is thoughtful and provocative. We need more teachers and students like this in this sport. I appreciate this seminar very much

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Thank you!

[@loudcryofthe4thangel]

Praise the Lord for this kind of attitude. We need a lot more of it especially now. Question everything and demand the evidence for its efficacy. “Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good. “

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:)

[@OGG619]

Around the 8:30 mark he says he demonstrates the move and lets you try it out. Then the second go around he actually breaks it down and goes over questions. That ‘s how I was taught aikido in the 90’s. That method works well. I’ve had many jiujitsu instructors and none follow this method. Sometimes less talk/infinite amount of instruction and detail is better

[@anders.hovmoller]

8 minutes in and it's like it's me talking heh. I taught dancing for many years, and "show once, try once, show again" is a method I discovered too after tons of time of me being a terrible teacher! It's crazy how effective that teaching system is. And it's even more crazy how few people use it.

[@precisionmovement]

This is a masterclass in evidence-based BJJ with sublime tips intertwined with key take-home messages. Stop static stretching (unless your goal is to be asleep BEFORE training). Stop the 900 hours of warm ups BEFORE asking people to do skilled movements. Bin the “pre activity” clapping - use it to call people BACK to refocus the technique. Start with the end in mind - backward chaining movements is an evidence-based approach to many movement impairments. Yet trying to pass the guard and THEN learn the choke/triangle/D’Arce etc - it’s too hard for beginners. And remember - if you get upset or offended by what is said in this video - so what? You’re an adult - be offended. Nothing happens. You won’t wake up tomorrow with leprosy. New subscribers and fan of defensive BJJ website 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@And-Or101]

Steve Hughes right? 😅

[@adamabbas1487]

Fantastic video. There are so many instructors who need to see this. Signs of a gym that will lead to slow progress includes excessively long warm ups without connection to jiu-jitsu such as doing push ups, teaching random techniques each lesson, lack of position sparring with progressive resistance, no feedback, no conceptual learning and no problem solving. He said some things indirectly, but he should talk about such as active compared to passive learning.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Thank you!

[@matthewcrawford4216]

All symptoms of the last gym I was in. So frustrating I eventually left.

[@adamabbas1487]

He makes an important point about how even gyms with bad methodology can produce some great students due to those students being mat rats that do a lot of problem solving themselves.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Thank you :)

[@mcnoodles76]

This is a huge problem in sport more generally. Many athletes are successful in spite of suboptimal and ineffective practice components.

[@andrewkim6037]

High level of critical thinking. Nice quality for a coach to have. Good video.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:) thank you!

[@bishopofapples]

I really like the show/try/explain idea.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Thank you!

[@AlpenBJJTirol]

I was in the Zen Camp April 2024 and so impressed by your teaching methods. Thank you and the Globetrotters for sharing this video!

[@karlitozwei]

This is possibly one of the most important videos I've seen on jiu jitsu. I've only seen 2 other black belts mention teaching / learning methodologies with regards to jiu jitsu, but was not as long or as in depth as this video. I am so glad Priit spent over an hour explaining the "why" to his madness. So often as he pointed out, many of the things done in jiu jitsu are not planned out well to maximize our training on the mat. Random warm-ups, technique, after technique, and no specific ways on reaching a certain level of competency. To see someone spend some time discussing this has made me question how I'm approaching jiu jitsu, and to be more intentional and having valid reasons backed by some evidence using a more scientific process. It would be an honor to train with Priit someday, but for now these videos will have to do. Many thanks for this content as it was well worth my time to sit down and watch this. I will re-watch again after I forget and do some recall.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

I appreciate that very much! We will be launching our site DefensiveBJJ.com soon and through that platform you could gain more access to train with me :)

[@andrewkain7518]

Who are the other two black belts you've heard mention teaching / learning BJJ methodologies like this one? I'm interested in learning or even studying from these guys myself

[@christopherhasty5493]

Thank y'all so much for uploading these videos. They are a great help.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:)

[@Fanaro]

In Go (board game), most of the time, after learning some preliminaries, we don't even teach techniques. We just tell the person to play, and then we review (some parts of) the game because that's the only way for them to have an emotional connection with the knowledge, otherwise it's either too much or not compelling.

[@roysauto7674]

Thank you, Priit. I'm very thankful I found your information. I started training at 45 years old and was pretty discouraged after being bombarded with techniques for 6 months with no virtually no pressure testing or sparring. I'm starting to get excited about it again and have found a couple like minded partners I can train with.

[@JSMinstantcoaching]

Awesome dear Priit, so many logical statements, thank you for what you do for the community. Especially for the white belts. Giving options and making bjj joyful again for everyone. I keep coming back to this awesome video :-)

[@DefensiveBJJ]

You are very welcome!

[@Bassolator]

One of my favorite Blackbelts of Globetrotters

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:)

[@matude_1]

53:32 "Something going to the left" is an expression in Estonian btw, not a political comment.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Haha

[@jessesantiago3586]

YES! His thoughts on teaching are spot on.

[@Fanaro]

16:00 Usually what happens is that I (or we) do not use it in the immediate roll but in the next day or two. The first day I spend trying to figure out when and how to spot where I can use the technique. Then, in the next day, after thinking about it during the day, sometimes unconsciously, I can enter a roll and execute the thing with bare bones proficiency. Most of our learning actually doesn't happen immediately in these tutorial sessions, it takes place afterwards, during sleep, or when you're reviewing mentally what you did on the mat.

[@frazzle657]

For the first couple of weeks when I started I would be literally doing the moves in my sleep. Last thought before sleep and first thought when I woke up. Like it never left my mind

[@adityatyagi4009]

Wow, I would love to learn JJ from this guy!

[@DefensiveBJJ]

You can :) ...I guess when this corona thing backs away a bit you could travel or also now you have the possibility to work with me through the DefensiveBJJ.com site

[@Ronin13881]

Start with the end goal is very insightful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@FallaGallera]

Huge huge fan of Pritt I implemented Hawking today! Wow…the explosions in my 3rd eyes mind was ✨🧨🎇

[@ahmadmoner]

thank you Priit, faith in humanity restored

[@porl42]

I run one of the little clubs that had arranged to have Priit visit before the whole COVID-19 situation :( Hope that we can get him out eventually! In the meantime I enjoy all the content GiA puts out with him.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Lets hope yeesh we can make it happen!

[@greengreensio]

I agree with 90% about his system of training. Drills sparing is the way for warm up and to remember stuffs you been taught.

[@mauricerichardson]

Absolute Gold, Priit.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Thank you!

[@MachoMaster]

A second Priit video? Hurray!

[@dadthelad]

Second? What, there's a bazzillion Priit vids on YT?!

[@MachoMaster]

@@dadthelad But the second one from that specific Iceland Camp 2020.

[@dadthelad]

@@MachoMaster Ah ok, thanks!

[@fearthetriangle]

Amazing, Still using baby bridge concept I have had 2 children since I seen that and learning more from them lol.

[@samuelemeryjiujitsu]

His lectures are like good books that get you like "I gotta read that again and get a little nugget of gold."

[@Matto_Harvo]

Yeah, the classic “warm up”, most people end up breathing super heavy, gasping for air, using shit technique that compromises their health and then they do technique where they barely move, and cool down, and then spar. Weird shit

[@Bassolator]

Actually, this is what almost every training looks like at my academy. And I totally agree with Priit. I am by far not mat rat and I think this is one of the biggest reasons I suck at Bjj. Unfortunately...

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Well, we can start to change that and knowing the problem is already a ver good start!

[@SonnyBrown]

Ok, everyone hit the like button in 3 ..... 2......1...... *clap*

[@grandbuba]

If there's one thing Priit doesn't like.. :-)

[@DefensiveBJJ]

@@grandbuba :D

[@BMagor57]

What class is he talking about at 1:12:11 pls? I searched all the Iceland camp 2020 vis on Globetrotters but I can't find the one he is talking about. I can't understand the name. Please help :)

[@DefensiveBJJ]

This kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXXPqaGOp7uWjNE

[@marlonscloud]

Wonderful talk. Thanks so much for this content!

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:)

[@madebyape]

Would love to hear you and Rob bierneckis chat you have similar ideas.

[@BudoTraining]

Very nice. I definitely will seek Priit out next time I am in Norway. Science rules. I have to add, though, that the science of training is the worst with so much conflict of opinion, even scientific opinion, especially the science of flexibility training. And it is very difficult to draw conclusions that apply to everyone. So from my experience most people respond very very well to static stretching if it is applied properly, then each person finds a stretching training formula over and above that that fits them. But I am really interested to hear more of your viewpoint on this subject.

[@AndrewPotterton]

Excellent, free thinking.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:)

[@emmanuelrodriguez1693]

Priit! Clapping does something: It's a small psychological action/movement to get your body ready to perform a task it has done before. Alternatively, screaming "woooh!" would work in the same way (probably better). Check out Tony Robins for more on this. Let's Discuss about it...

[@rollinOnCode]

Oh wait! This is like practicing music and coding! you can CHUNK it! chunk the flow from the end- break it down into the most atomic bite sized pieces and work on that segment one at a time. :) If you have trouble w specific measure(s), then you practice measures and focus on that- later you add more flow and fine tune the energy.

[@maxb5640]

I just started training BJJ and honestly I hate sparring part. Warm up is ok. The zero resistance drill is fine too. But sparring is nightmare. I strain, fight and its all for nothing. After sparring I don't feel like I learned anything just exhausted and beaten down. And afterwards I feel very tired and broken for a few next days. Have hard time doing it just two times a week. I would prefer to do drills /structured rolls. I try to ask to drill one on one after class for more learning but its not very successful I would love to have less "sparring" . Maybe just once a week. But rest is just drilling - for me I feel would be way more beneficial then sparring when I dont even understand whats happening most of the time

[@Test-uj6nh]

Which area you in ?

[@l.d.tjonathan5101]

thats because u just started. Sparring will become your favorite part once you know what ure doing

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Max B well I can help you to make sense of it if you are interested? Sparring is not the problem. It is the way it is done is the problem. Example in our gym we do not let people spar 3 months until they have finished beginners course. They do enough drills with resistanse but not free sparring because they do not know the context and the risk of injury is quite high.

[@maxb5640]

@@DefensiveBJJ yeah . So more I go I get to know some people. And sometimes we can go more chill. I think the method of no full resistance sparring for a few month would be great Unfortunatelythe class is what it is. And nobody goes light through sparring. Except one really nice Blue belt who is really chill with me unless I get ahead of myself. But trainer rarely pairs me with him. Others go hard.and some go harder. By now I done about 8 sessions of BJJ And in every single one I got injured. In last one I lost my voice after ezekiel choke. I didn't even know that could happen All in all from beginner point of view my experience in BJJ was the most unforgiving of any other sport I tried

[@maxb5640]

@@l.d.tjonathan5101 hope I can survive till that magical point :)

[@darcebrooks5409]

Wonder what his thoughts are on running for Muay Thai training? I know that’s quite common

[@danedunlop7978]

Great video guys. Thank you.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:)

[@raymondchou9550]

Hi Priit, What advice would you have for someone that maybe doesn't have the time to be a rat mat anymore (I graduated college), but the schools in my area don't train this way?

[@stayingsaneamidtheinsanity2499]

He is talking about spaced repetition which is science based

[@alope4217]

Who are the authors of the books? I found Talent is Overrated, but Peak and How We Learn have different authors.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Here are the links :) images.app.goo.gl/oUSQtdJrXetJUXpdA images.app.goo.gl/VSDmVbF3hjs1658dA

[@alope4217]

Gracias!

[@bhendrixlive1]

Do you have a recommendation on which one to read first?

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Brian Hendrix not really

[@mattgrosch6863]

I found two authors for peak, Ericsson and Bubbs, I’m guessing it’s the former

[@adamshipley5415]

New favorite video to share

[@Vscustomprinting]

The reason there is more motivation from 40% compared to more than 60% is elucidated by neurology- what you press a button and get a grape- you get a small amount of dopamine (among other things) when you have to press the button and you arent sure when the reward is coming, when the reward actually shows up- your body release a highly elevated level of dopamine.. The areas of the brain that affect motivation and behavior use dopamine in several different ways (neurocommunication).. its all boils down to the fact that free will and will power are simplifications that have no relevance to science.. (they are actually based on religion, and cause problems). WE constantly have to challenge our cognitive dissonance, against a constant wave of people saying that "challenge people just bothers them and makes them more resistant" This is the self fulfilling prophecy that we deal with as a basic level.. the easy thing or the hard thing.. which we need the same areas of the brain- frontal cortex- that deal with behavior and motivation.. the ability to connect the dots comes from interdisciplinary study.. and this whole conversation could boil down to evolution.. ju jitsu (and other sports, art, life etc) can be compared to symbiogenesis- the theory of single cells marging to form mutlicellular organisms. We evolve together as an exemplification of the organisms that would exist without us (but not us without them). All of this challenges people who see humans as "above" biology. Even people who arent religious are often clouded by anthropocentric ideology. For instance- i live in a secular society, yet still governed by people who believe in ghosts and "free will", and that damages our ability to deal with mental health, law enforcement etc. Its eye opening to learn that microbes compete in groups to evolve together, and to compare that to how humans evolve arts and sports and our entire society. Very humbling, in my opinion advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/27/eaba4962

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Thank you for that!

[@TPSTraining]

I ABSOLUTY LOVE THIS!!!!!!

[@DefensiveBJJ]

I appreciate it 🙂

[@awallerfamily]

1st of many views. Thanks for the video.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:)

[@cameronforbes2649]

I think there is a spectrum. Grappling training methodology is under developed, because it's relatively easy to just waste time and then roll. On the other end of the spectrum you have Martial Arts like Kali, where sparring would be extremely limited because it's a war/bladed art. That said, the training methods in Kali (taught by real teachers) are brilliant. Let me pre-address something, Tim Waid is an example of a Kali practitioner who 'spars' with real swords. At a distance of course, but that's about the best you can get for that environment.

[@Mindstangle]

WHILE YOU STUDIED JIU JITSU, CAMERON FORBES STUDIED THE BLADE

[@cameronforbes2649]

@@Mindstangle eh a little bit. I'm not spending hundreds a month training Sayoc Kali religiously like some folks, but there are Jiu Jitsu Blackbelts who've done so.

[@ML-td8or]

Summary: - The speaker questions the effectiveness of selling information and following traditional curriculum in jiu-jitsu. - They propose a more progressive and adaptable training approach that challenges authority and emphasizes feedback. - The speaker discourages excessive warm-up routines and highlights the importance of concentration and experimentation in sparring. - They advocate for training techniques with resistance and modeling after high-level sports performance. - The speaker encourages teaching with progressive drills and creating a focused learning environment, especially when teaching kids. Sommaire: Priit Mikhelson remet en question l'efficacité de délivrer de l'information et de suivre un programme traditionnel en jiu-jitsu. Il propose une approche d'entraînement plus progressive et adaptable qui remet en cause l'autorité et met l'accent sur le feedback. Priit Mikhelson décourage les routines d'échauffement excessives et souligne l'importance de la concentration et de l'expérimentation lors des combats. Il préconise l'entraînement de techniques avec résistance et de modéliser les performances sportives de haut niveau. Priit Mikhelson encourage l'utilisation d'exercices progressifs dans l'enseignement et de créer un environnement d'apprentissage focalisé, notamment lors de l'enseignement aux enfants.

[@samuelemeryjiujitsu]

Those gun shots were ominous at 18:30

[@RogerRabbit123]

Priit, which books can you recommend on this topic?

[@charlhigg6686]

Roger Rabbit check out Make It Stick, Range, and/or Small Teaching. All outline a lot of the empirical evidence about learning he’s describing.

[@RogerRabbit123]

@@charlhigg6686 great, thanks!

[@danielschultz3166]

nice talk Priit !

[@Merzbjj]

Very nice! 👍

[@HerbertSimonDachs]

Very good! 🙂😎🙏

[@DefensiveBJJ]

I appreciate that!

[@808BJJ_Black_Belt]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Vscustomprinting]

hey, i take my shrimping across the mat seriously ;)

[@grandbuba]

I'm an old fart, so I have to get some mobility stuff in before everyone else gets on the mat, and I'll do my rolls, grandby stuff and shrimping out of the way. It's a slow thing, using all tips from Wim Deputter's stuff. Really doing baby bridge, rolling on the shoulder, getting my feet close to my arse and pushing away. It's not really something I can do in a 'line' without it looking like some caterpillar on speed.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnexZYaig8aijZo

[@jmmf1215]

Now this is a sport coach 👏

[@matude_1]

"I don't like hugging" 😀

[@endurojitsu3804]

"Make Uke Great Again" in summary ;)

[@alexanderj6329]

Iceland camp 2021: “Want to stop doing bjj?” w/ Priit Mikhelson

[@Vscustomprinting]

lol NEVER!!!

[@DefensiveBJJ]

:D

[@alexanderj6329]

Love your insight Priit!

[@DefensiveBJJ]

@@alexanderj6329 I appreciate it!

[@Stevecollinsclear]

phuk yeah !

[@ag2230]

"Manipulation without reason" 🎯

[@rjishott]

He is correct to a point but could have articulated this in 10 minutes and provided more examples with drills…. Wasted 15 minutes of my time buffering forward to hear him ranting

[@АлексейАлексеенко-и8о]

You spoiled my cubic rubic hobby.

[@DefensiveBJJ]

Haha

[@semperfi2974]

You don’t try to do the move you just drilled because you already know jiu jitsu and your working on your game.. if you went to a different class somewhere and they teach some crazy single leg X to the back to an arm bar madness; are you really going to keep trying to catch someone in that nonsense when your sparring.. hell no! Your trying to say the creativity in building out your own custom jiu jitsu game is stupid.. the simple structure of the traditional class is repeatable.. yours is complicated nonsense.. the traditional class does make you better, it has for decades. Your just trying to sell seminars. The defensive stuff is cool and super useful, but it’s not new or revolutionary.

[@root3434]

Want to get better at Bjj? Don’t listen to this guy. He’s notorious for feeding BS and down talking other world class bjj athletes.

[@samirrimas]

This guy sits there and claims yoga is not good for flexibility and that people shouldn't stretch which is complete bullshit. Stick to what you know bro

[@MrSnippety]

That isn't what he said tho