“How do I make my [escapes, passes, sweeps, etc] work when my opponent knows all the counters?”
This is a very common question, isn’t it?
Jiu-Jitsu is not linear.
It’s a dynamic, nonlinear adaptive complex system and once you have two skilled and knowledgeable training partners playing the game and looking for the checkmate, you begin to realize just how fast rigid, step-by-step frameworks for understanding the art go out the window.
This is why my goal is always to help people understand how to evolve beyond “what to do” and “how to do it” so that they can understand the much deeper level of how to think.
Because changing how to think, in the right context, can have a massive impact on your real world ability on the mat. Not to mention your longevity.
More specifically:
My observation now after decades of training and coaching is that the vast majority of people solve problems when a technique “doesn’t work” by looking for answers outside the current frame –– often a different technique –– whereas relatively few apply a first principles approach and solve the problem by seeking a deeper understanding of the original movement.
Often, the optimal answers were staring us right in the face the entire time, and the solution was never “out there”… it was right here all along. As an example, here’s some problem solving of the classic Upa escape when your opponent is highly skilled and knows how to shift their weight and angle on top to prevent being rolled:
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