Thanks for making the world of Jui-Jitsu accessible to so many! One of the top BJJ content creators out there!

I am so used to you tubers having a fluffy intro free of useful content that I phased out at the start of your video. Then I had to restart it because I realised you were getting straight to the point and straight into the valuable info. Excellent! Most people training BJJ regularly are busy people so it's great you don't mess around!

I’m 2 months into starting jiujitsu and I still feel like it’s my first day. I have such terrible analysis paralysis. This was so helpful! I can’t wait to binge all your videos! Thanks so much! ♥️

Jon is such a great resource to have🔥

This video was awesome.Thank you

I love how you used the "use principles" approach at the beginning of the video to explain that you want to give us some context and explain some principles regarding your thoughts on the issue. This is the most meta video I've seen in a long time, I love it! 🤙

That is so well said. Your explanation just gave me an understanding of how to use the different types of learning! Thank you.

My jiu-jitsu is becoming better, thanks for your concepts, and it's always good to check your youtube chanel and find something new to watch! One of the best bjj coaches on youtube honestly. OSS

Good intelligent assessment.

Thank you sooo much for all your content ! I would loooove to see a video from you where you give some principles or exercices to train and improve at home. I can only train 2 times a week at the gym and I feel it is slowing me down. And when you search for training at home it's always the same mobility drills... Again thank you for everything !

Thank you for the video! Well said. I think one part people miss is that “systems” vs “concepts” is only the mental half of jiu jitsu. There’s also the physical half to develop. Systematizing done right lets you fine tune your athletic movements and response in isolation, and lets you simplify your thinking into multiple choice. Done wrong it sends you down an over-thinking rabbit hole of focusing too much on “technique” and not enough on athleticism. Conceptualizing lets you skip 90% of the overthinking part so you can work on the athleticism - but you have much less of a guide for how to *do* the athletic movements, so you end up inefficiently “reinventing the wheel.” I agree with blending the two, while being aware of the potential pitfalls for students. Students need to realize that goal for either style of learning is not the system or the concept itself as an “I win” button, but as a way to enable their own growth in executing the physical technique against their opponent. In the end, an action that worked is what matters.

Nice! I've been focused on grips and position before attacking lately. Also arm/neck awareness in defense positions. Also enjoyed the chess analogies. Do you have a school or any tourneys coming up?

Fantastic stuff Jon! I remember talking about this with you in person, and something I think about often. You've done a great job of explaining both approaches and providing real-world examples of their benefits.

Ok, whenever I ask someone, who exhibits awesome talent and I press them for how can I improve( mind you I am a over 50 blue belt) their answer is always mat time. I practice most days and for me that has not equated to more skill, but watching your videos has given me a clear and concise guide on getting better faster. Thank you. 🙏🙏🙏

Thanks again coach. Great advice

Right now, your jiu jitsu content is the best. There's tons of videos on techniques that confuse more than they help because they are very situationally specific. But videos like this which discuss principles and frameworks help make the art itself more digestible. Would love more content like this for certain positions, like side mount escape principles, full mount control principles, etc. Thank you.

great video. i like the chess analogies, in chess what you discussed was tactics vs strategy; someone understanding opening-specific tactics vs general chess strategy.

Underrated video.

Always a good video. Thank you!

Thank you coach

Interesting discussion! Good analysis imo ^_^

Thanks for another excellent video - > this will go perfect with the kimura systems i'm going over with my son 👍

Excellent video Jon! I look forward to discussing this more with you in person during your training camp with Espen in Sligo, Ireland, August 4th-7th 2023.

Great ideas! I've run into the issue of general principle vs everytime rule due to my tendency to play around with an Eduardo Telles style game. Folks are often telling me not to give my back but honestly I've been practicing enough escapes and reversals that it's often easier for me to utilize turtle than try to escape side control for instance. I do follow principles of defending neck, hooks, and inside space while engaging in turtle.

Useful video

Dang I remember when I first subscribed professor has like 5k or less. Now you’re on his way to 100k n beyond. Way to go professor!

I really enjoy the structure of the way you convey knowledge, all your 'complete' system videos have been particularly helpful, a lot because of the insight of WHEN to use moves and how they fit together. Do you have a comprehensive list somewhere of "absolute" principles for each position that you think a white belt should keep in mind? You mentioned some in this video that never occured to me, though are obvious in retrospect, and I'm wondering what else I don't know that I don't know.

Chess allegories are useful thanks a lot

I'm probably biased because my hair is as powerful as yours, but I love your channel! How do you keep your hair out of your face? Are you using Bobby pins or is it just a lot of hair gel? I ask this as someone who has been doing bjj for roughly 2 months

Thank you, you have great content sir. I think besides the definitions that when It comes to learning it also is very individual. Just like learning a subject at school different people are able to receive knowledge individually in more than one way. Some learn from listening, others by watching another by doing etcetera. Maybe easier while standing, siting, listening to music, writing down or other ways. I've seen students whom mediate before/after class, some bring a textbook others watch KZfaq, one eats before another fasts. I do believe the first way to improve learning is to find out about yourself, how do I pick up on this class? And probably it is also very individual how we comprehend to systems and concepts. Again, thank you for this content!

Thanks

Subscribed!!

When I was a white belt I really struggled with the idea of concepts as opposed to learning techniques but as a blue belt I am starting to get to grips with some of these, videos like this certainly helped. Your concept of establishing grips to start building a guard along with focusing on improving my collar sleeve guard during rolls has really helped me improve my guard retention, so unconsciously I have been using a mix of a system and concept to improve - as always you summarise these ideas and convey them excellently.

Somewhat ironically, the detailed "maps" are what give context to the concepts (like cardinal directions). Of course, once you have enough context and competence you can find your way around a lot better with a compass than needing a map for every path. And for my money's worth, the "maps" I'd iron out (i.e. things you can never bee too good at): takedowns, back / mount escapes, and maybe add some late escapes / finishes.

I prayed to god and created a BJJ-Project with JIRA from Atlassian. There I note everytging down, rollings, trainings, problems as you recommended in previous videos. God bless you Jon Sorry for my nasty english 😅

hell yeah brother

My goodness the editing of this video is so slick.

How we learn is similar to how we get into a swimming pool. No matter what you get into the water but how quickly that transition occurs will give you a different outcome. You can spend years on non resistance drilling and become really good at it but until you move that training to an actual resisting opponent, you will only be "good at" the non resistant part. If you skip the non resist part then it can be more of a shock to the system but with good couching through a more constants led approach, skill acquisition can occur quicker and will be more robust.

Nice that I also learn chess principles watching this video 😁

Nice video! My brain is farting along here, so I'll just ask: systems work well when there are few enough variables. Am I right in thinking this applies to all sub finishes and all "established" positions? And that it's easier to have/use a system the more specific the position gets? (say Z mount is more specific than mount - the latter arguably has more variables) I don't fully understand the separation between systems and principles. On the surface it seems that you NEED good principles in order for systems to work. I.e. if you know 3 good finishes to a single leg, depending on opponent's response, but your base is weak and he has better posture, you probably won't get it. How do you conceptualize this? Do you assume that decent base+posture is a part of the system? Thanks!

It really helps the white belts!

My coach uses the ecological approach where we learn through games. Would that fall more into systems or principles (I'd guess principles)? I found I learned more things faster through games. Also, as an absolute beginner, I progressed a lot by learning bjj theory (from Jordans course)

Many thanks for this awesome content.

Shouldn’t the kettlebell sit on a lower shelf?

So basically when you have multiple options bigger general concepts work and when you have limited options then minimizing and learning the few moves for that situation works?

That's a beautiful shirt and now i want one. 😅

I hate writing comments, but I find your content really helpfull since I am an analytic person and you explain it in ways I Understand it quite well. So here is the "support the channel" like and comment :D Thx for the Content!

Any thoughts on Greg Souders' ecological approch to teaching/learning BJJ?

🔥

GREAT!👍

I was watching a video the other day and I think it was about using competition footage vs instructionals for studying but I can’t find it now. Even checking my view history anyone know what that videos title is?

Man Jon, after I learned from you as a whitebelt I choked and nealy choked two bluebelts with the help of God. One hatet me at the first time, the other one looked me strange.

Jon Thomas is like a friendly bjj Keebler Elf

🙏

❤❤❤

As a white belt wouldn’t you think I should just focus on principles?

The real question is, what is your chess rating coach?

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🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 *🥋 There's debate on the best way to learn Jiu Jitsu-focus on big principles or break down into systems and algorithms.* 00:55 *🔄 Systems work well in low-variable situations, like Chess. They provide pre-planned answers for specific scenarios, aiding muscle memory and decision-making.* 02:58 *🧠 Principles offer general guidelines, like "distance creates leverage." They help make quick decisions in complex situations but require contextual understanding.* 05:57 *⚖️ Be cautious with principles; they can be counterproductive if not always true. Context matters, and relying blindly on principles may hinder adaptability.* 08:29 *🤔 The ideal approach is a mix of systems and principles. Systems build confidence and save time, but understanding principles is crucial for real-time decisions under pressure.* 09:40 *📍 Focus analytical breakdowns on endpoint positions-common situations like single leg takedowns. Invest time in calculable scenarios before tackling more abstract and broad concepts.* 11:03 *🔄 The future ideal is a combination of systemization and intuitive understanding. While systems are powerful, relying solely on them without principles can put one at a disadvantage.* Made with HARPA AI

No books on that bookcase.

I think Elon is working on downloading all Jujitsu knowledge as we speak haha

I am a black belt KZfaq-Jitsu

algogogo

I thought the most effective way was just to like and subscribe your videos.

Promo*SM

For a hobbist like me and knowing i have a reduce amount of time I think principles and conceptions are the way

Dude needs a hair cut