Using Strength and Technique in Jiu Jitsu - Jocko Willink

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@jockowillink @echocharles
Excerpt from JOCKOPODCAST 66

[@PsychologyOfTheFight]

I got my blue belt today and don't have anyone else to tell. Thank you for inspiring me to start

[@Eclipse240]

Congratulations! How long did it take and how often you went?

[@PsychologyOfTheFight]

@@Eclipse240 thank you! 2 years. I was supposed to get it in April but Covid hit. I went through a lot of ups and downs but I averaged prob 3 times a week and had to take 4 months off

[@Eclipse240]

@@PsychologyOfTheFight good job! And thank you!

[@b4nk3r15]

Congrats!!!

[@MESHQuality]

Congrats! I started BJJ 2 months ago ;)

[@juvinious]

Dude: "Let's just warm up, not trying to kill myself..." Also Dude: Going 150% speed and power.

[@whiteyduvall69]

You must also train with my normal training partner

[@frankingham9274]

When I started training, I heard the same things over and over. I’m 6’3” and 260lbs. When I was “accused” of using strength, I felt like saying I wasn’t even getting to the strength yet. Then I would back way off and the same peeps would come back at me 100% and rip subs and grind gi lapels across my neck and face. It was a weird place to be in. This is what I figured out by watching my coach. When I train, I comcentrate on keeping my face muscles relaxed. When I tense my face, it is 100% indicating I am using muscle over technique. That changed everything. Actually, my coach also chews gum when he rolls. I’m not to that level yet. I would choke myself out if I did that.

[@damnson6556]

imo using strength isn’t always just muscling through everything it’s also being very very tense. i’m a big guy too and just breathing in and out and relaxing helps so much

[@jackswanson1725]

Have you seen this clip of Jocko? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnuWhGCCfpynkKc It’s hilarious!!

[@ketameme7462]

Z 0:21 0:28

[@ketameme7462]

0:36 0:37 0:51 0:56 1:19 1:25

[@ketameme7462]

​@@damnson65561:30 1:31

[@RomanBinenbaum]

Them: How much doya bench bro? Me: Jocko

[@BrubMan]

Iv been training for 15 years. And I have come believe that strength is the foundation which technique is built upon.

[@maxfeliz140]

I love Jocko's honesty lol

[@chrisostudios1]

I got my first stripe on my white belt last week after ~2 months of training. Rolled with purple belts for the first time and was crushed and initially intimidated, but am now so excited to get back on the mats. Thank you for the inspiration, Jocko and Echo!

[@johnkritchey8445]

Best question. I am new and feeling this way.

[@gingabred2898]

That lighting + the black and white + echo's huge arms = echo could pass as a CG character

[@medreed6569]

Thanks, I have had the same conversation with a lot of guys at the gym.

[@TheDarkMonk]

It's crazy how strength is always demonized, but never cardio, flexibility, speed, balance, etc.

[@user-bi9xs3zr6h]

Because strength can beat all technique and in the very first moment

[@TheDarkMonk]

@@user-bi9xs3zr6h weak argument. Speed, balance and flexibility can easily lead to quick victory. Regardless, how fast one can end is irrelevant. Fact is, cardio, flexibility, speed, balance, etc., none of these things have anything to do with technique.

[@damnson6556]

jiu jitsu is the greatest thing ever discovered

[@Poppa_82]

Flow rolling helps people transition from move to move...you get better flow rolling 💯

[@kcmacdonald]

My first coach would tell me not to use my strength/size and then little faster guys would take my back or get out of everything haha My coach now encourages using all your tools and attributes. Even though I'm "weak a f" in weight lifting terms I often press people off of me, and everyone asks how long I wrestled for. I never "wrestled", I just GRIND when I'm on the mat Those with terrible strength and conditioning and decent technique are the first to knock strength and conditioning

[@michaela8121]

You need technical skills but also strength and agility. That's fighting.

[@dochamsty7361]

ahhh Jiu Jitsu the art of folding clothes with people still in them.

[@shadymilkman443]

The art of "Involuntary Yoga".

[@SirBojo4]

The art of humbly bragging with exagerations to breed a community more arrogant than any others.

[@josh21101]

@@shadymilkman443 I love this. I just started in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and love it. It's definitely different than the little Taekwondo that I practiced years ago.

[@keanenfulton4696]

​@@SirBojo4 douche alert

[@RyanJamesOfficial]

If I sense that someone less experienced than me is trying to use too much strength, I defend and let them squeeze or whatever to their hearts content. Then the moment they let up and I sense they are tired, I sweep and sub. Higher belts in my gym don't do the strength thing because well, they are higher belts. It's always a white belt thing and I use it against them.

[@prandz420]

I used to do that but then i almost paid for it once in a comp and someone nearly guillotined me from inside my own guard. They were very strong. Also on the street youll need to be able to quickly overcome and find a way around someone using heaps of strength. Same goes for mma for several reasons.

[@josephjennings5945]

I have had this done to me soo many times.

[@GaryLiseo]

A brown belt in my gym and I were talking about this after training tonight. He had said how I should use strength more so I can get that edge on opponents who are otherwise on par with me. In the past people have said how I’m strong (even when I didn’t realize I had used much of it). I try to use more technique in my rolls and seem to do well (I’m currently a white belt), but I’m wondering how much my game would change by using more strength while staying technical

[@bettermanchannel770]

Jiu jitsu is the next challenge for me. Very interested

[@connorsingley5464]

Muscle man style😤

[@intikhabkhan3466]

Thank you Mr.Jocko and Erroll, you have these really calm manners , i enjoy your videos so much , i started at 52 about 10 months ago ,hsve 2 stripes on my white , is it goid to roll with all body types ? I do , am 70 kg myself

[@zakkzahariev7080]

This is a constant topic in our gym, I wonder what your take is. As a white belt with already a year in BJJ, is it better to: 1) Learn a system of moves that works together well (2-3 submissions, 2-3 sweeps), and non-stop apply it and troubleshoot it. In other words try to only play this system for 8-10 months. OR 2) Continue to get more well-rounded, focus on every possible move that they teach you in class and avoid repeating your tactics so often Thank you!

[@jayduncan8153]

mix everything you can mate. from my view as a guy who mainly likes to play top position, there are only so many good positions to be on top and just control and hold someone down with. so I wanna mix all my takedowns/footsweeps/throws (or pulling guard), with all of my good top positions, and then go for the closest good submission I know from where I am and what I see

[@shrimuyopa8117]

People need to stop complaining about strength. Its different if you give the other person some advice to help their jiu-jitsu. Like, "Hey if you focus more on technique than strength you won't tire out as fast." Versus, "Hey you were using way too much strength against me in that roll." For me, I am happy to roll with someone bigger and stronger than me. It helps prove that my technique works against someone strong. And if it doesn't work, than I can start to analyze the flaws in my technique.

[@titus17]

need to realize that more than likely this person was going way too hard on their training partner. there is a time for that. doing drills with your fellow white belt partner is NOT the time to act like your life is in danger and youre trying to kill them.

[@1deaver]

I tend to use more quickness (not in a spas way) then strength, in combination with my technique.

[@sirpibble]

My jiujitsu went from mediocre to exceptional when I got a different coach that told me to start using my strength and stop holding back You realize how bullshit it is when you replace the word strength with flexibility, or cardio, or technique, or any other physical attribute STOP USING SO MUCH ______! I work hard to be strong, dont make excuses because you cant overcome my power

[@michaela8121]

Okay Shang Tsung

[@calmwater2529]

😂

[@user-bi9xs3zr6h]

But you don't wanna kill a guy or injure a guy. In my first week of training, a guy who was 300 pounds and 6'7 did a 10-finger death choke on me and picked my feet above the ground. I had a sore throat for a week

[@waelharp4060]

If I had to pick an area to be really physically strong in it would be core strength. I'm constantly working on my core. Deadlifts, Russian twists, crunch machine. HIT workouts for cardio. Stretching everyday for flexibility. Man Jiu Jitsu is definitely a lifestyle everything is important if you don't want to get smashed all the time gotta do stuff off the mats and also be on a healthy diet.

[@crashgsxr750]

Is it just me Or are echos arms bigger each podcast

[@Shadowarfare117]

Well he does workout. Lol

[@lencumbow]

“Relax harder” has flip side: “panic slowly”

[@jims512]

Echo’s biceps sent in that question.

[@wildaceds]

😂

[@williampotter6038]

Relying on strength becomes a crutch. Toss it aside. Overcome it and by using less strength you will save that energy in the tank for opportunistic explosive moments during a roll and will allow more rounds of rolling after most of your academy are packing it up to go home. More rolling leads to more development and growth.

[@TenToesCat]

I am 6’ tall and weigh 220 pounds.I accidentally tweaked two peoples pre existing injuries over the few months I’ve been training at this new academy. (one being a hurt rib in side control, the other being a tweaked elbow in a counter to a one handed push drill) I use to wrestle (Folk style and Greco Roman) and I’ve done Gracie jiu jitsu (the art I’ve trained most recently) traditional/combat Hapkido, Brazilian jiu jitsu, A little Goshin jiu jitsu, traditional Taekwondo, Judo and Krav Maga.My favorite Proffessor recently told me he didn’t think his Academy was a good fit for me because I possibly have a baby that’s going to be born in 8 or 9 months but I don’t see why I wouldn’t be a good fit.. He said if I wasn’t going to be there for the long term he’d rather not take my money. When i asked if there was any other reason he said that he thought I needed more stability in my life. This was crushing to hear.. why do you think he said this? Do you think there is a way to change his mind? I can easily go back to sport bjj but I really don’t want to and I love grappling but if I have to train Dutch and Thai kickboxing instead I guess I’ll have to.. Thanks for taking the time if you choose to!

[@derekross6649]

Perhaps you are rolling too hard, hurting two people already. You're showing that you're inconsiderate to the people in the gym. Not saying you are but that can be perceived.

[@Please_allow_me]

I'm here a year late but can I ask how having a baby had an impact if at all? I only ask because my little girl is due in 7 weeks, and I've quite recently started martial arts again, primarily I'm doing combat submission wrestling which is a no gi MMA of various grappling styles. Only one session per week, an hour of drills followed by 30 minutes of rolling. It's not a lot but it suffices for my goals. I already train like mad in the gym, have respectable numbers in the 'big 3' and do cardio etc. I'm also a police officer as well so all that's done alongside shift work. Sorry for being long winded, no one I know with a kid balances it with the commitments like I am so I've gotta search KZbin for like minded individuals 😊

[@neptunessorrow6119]

Completely new to all this but I always thought that was the beauty in bjj? That you could go 100% and no one will get hurt like in boxing .

[@ignaciobustos8011]

I think the critical part is what Jocko said. Try to win but do not abuse your partner if you are much stronger or much better. Is about letting them work despite you being superior. You can't roll with the same intensity with a 145 white belt than with the instructor.

[@dreamtobeapolyglot8444]

I had a huge muscle bound training partner literally bench press me off when I had the mount last week🤣🤣

[@jlove0311]

As a former Delta Ranger Marsoc Sniper on SEAL TEAM 26 who is a door gunner on the Space Ship I appreciate this type of advice

[@badxradxandy]

Stfu

[@jlove0311]

@@badxradxandy Naw bro YOU !!! STFU

[@jeremybrimmer1990]

sockops

[@JDAWGstone]

I think I remember being on the space ship. I too appreciate this type of advice. Simper Pie. @.@

[@mbbag1980]

Strength spaz here. Thanks for addressing the issue.

[@allouttabubblegum799]

I just started Jiu Jitsu. It didn't take long to figure out that strength doesn't rule.

[@biggusy4249]

No, but it definitely does help.

[@Josh350]

Strength only stalls the inevitable and that's getting in a lock.

[@allouttabubblegum799]

@@Josh350 Yep. I've found that no amount of strength matters if you expose your back. They get your back, it's GG.

[@demorvie]

Strength rules, let is be honest.

[@SANCTUM-SANCTORUM]

@@allouttabubblegum799 not if your slippery snek 🐍

[@cancontrl]

I've never heard someone say "be less flexible" or "be less fast". Why do strong people need to "be less strong?"

[@garywingrove6546]

If someone tells me I won because of strength I say “it just sounded like a tap to me”

[@gigolokano1917]

There's always gonna be people that you'll beat 100/100 times, if you're both trying your hardest. Just let them try stuff out, see what techniques they use, look for patterns. You don't have anything to prove against someone weaker than you. Just have fun with it. Plus you always have the option to just sit on them if they get cocky.

[@dm20422]

✨

[@dannyortega382]

tbh there are also gonna be times when people will tell u youre going hard but it was all technique

[@nickwinsor6497]

How do I know the best place to train jiu jitsu?

[@johncannon3593]

Of course you want to develop technique and good technique can overcome strength, but if you have a physical advantage (and you aren't already more skilled than your opponent), you should use it like Jocko said - just enough. If you were more agile, faster, more flexible than your opponent, nobody is saying don't use those assets.

[@intikhabkhan3466]

By the way , you were awsome in Mayans .

[@CaseyBurnsInvesting]

Use your strength man

[@damnson6556]

flow rolling is fun but only higher belts really know how to flow roll

[@salvatoretessio4932]

This is Jocko Podcast 66?

[@helixentertainment5890]

Thanks for the videos Jocko and Echo. My wife and I have been getting after it in the gym for the past few months, and my wife and I are both a lot happier than we were before then. Forming the habit was the toughest part but once you get over that hump it feels weird when we don’t go, thanks for your videos in helping keep my mindset with a long-game perspective. That in and of itself has been the thing that helped me get over that hump and form the habit. You guys are the best.

[@RelentlessRejects]

Echo looks JJJJAAAAAACKED!! (throwback).

[@TapOnToeKnee]

Personally I've noticed that rolling with women teaches this lesson faster. Because we never wanna hurt our partners right? Easier to hurt a woman generally. So you end up learning to use technique with less strength behind it

[@kennethbarrington5773]

I’m a white belt at my gym and I’m 130kg literally the only people I enjoy rolling with are the two black belt instructors. Everyone else is spazzin out on me.

[@hootiehootheblowphish4109]

Jocko, is it important to wear a cup in jiu jitsu? The online opinions seems to differ. I haven't started yet but i worry about someone accidentally slamming their knee/full weight into my groin and crushing my balls. Then I worry about wearing a cup and the same thing happening but the cup makes the iniury worse and I lose a testicle. I know of a kickboxer that happened to from a kick (Bill Superfoot Wallace).

[@knyghtkrawlr]

Those types of injuries are super rare. I don't wear a cup and have taken a knee twice. Only people that i know that wear cups are the ones who are training to fight which makes sense. Otherwise I've always heard it's against the rules in a competition to wear a cup as it's an extra source of leverage

[@hootiehootheblowphish4109]

@@knyghtkrawlr thanks for answering my question. I don't want to compete but I would like to train once I can afford it. Would wearing a cup be frowned upon for noncompetitors if I wore one just to be safe?

[@knyghtkrawlr]

@@hootiehootheblowphish4109 i don't think anyone will care, i sure don't when i notice someone wearing one but ask the coach at the gym you plan to join

[@ineffablexx]

Should I learn gi or no gi for my first time?

[@donmccaig]

It depends on your goals, but I would say learn gi first. You can do everything no gi while wearing a gi, but you can't do any gi work in no gi. In other words, learn all the tools and techniques that come with gi work, then figure out which of those tools work in a no gi context. That said, literally every gym I've trained at does gi Mon-Thu and no gi on Fri, so you can get some work in both.

[@JUSTGROWWITHIT]

BUST THAT DOOR AND GET IN THERE.

[@iamawuss]

Minimum necessary force.

[@vaskomarinov7042]

Okay but if you don’t roll close to real life strength in training how are you gonna be prepared for real life scenarios?

[@Josh350]

People fail to realize appropriate technique matters more than strength. Strength should be used when needed, not to try and over power. Trying to overpower, you'll only end up exhausted and pinned.

[@alexanderbutler2989]

When all you have is a hammer. Everything looks like a nail.

[@thomasmccarver2556]

Hit the weight room is my answer. If your flexible I dont say you can't use it. Or they have crazy cardio I dont say you can't use it. So get better and find a way.

[@jeremybrimmer1990]

Accumulate and disperse

[@scalestailstrails4453]

Franklin, they're callin you out boy, get back to the gym and keep training! Lol

[@notanomba4598]

Control your Ki and achieve Ultra Instinct

[@nate7249]

Depending on the size of my partner and or the position I'm in I'll use more or less strength.

[@operatorclips5428]

That question was hard to listen to

[@johnkritchey8445]

Thrown into rolling. No idea what to do. Whitebelt. Not sure what to learn.

[@SANCTUM-SANCTORUM]

Whatever you want honestly. Then practice when rolling

[@rommanarayan7058]

Evil AussiZ Stop Stealing my privacy rights

[@jkarpov3634]

You're rolls in training should ne used to work on your game and fix holes in in...not dominating your training partners

[@nate7249]

Depending on the size of my partner and or the position I'm in I'll use more or less strength.