Have a Competition Game That Makes Sense

Have a Competition Game That Makes Sense

In Jiu-Jitsu, it’s easy to get lost in collecting "moves." You learn a cool sweep from one class, a slick submission from another, and a takedown from the weekend seminar. But when you get into a competition, do you freeze? Do you find yourself just "doing moves" without a real plan?

The difference between a good competitor and a great one isn't just knowing more techniques. It's about having a game plan that makes sense.

A "game that makes sense" is a simple plan that connects every phase of the fight, from the feet to the finish. It’s about pairing skills together so that they become more than the sum of their parts.

Think of it this way:

1. If You Want to Play on Top…

Let's say you have a great guard pass. That's awesome! But how do you get to use it? The match starts standing.

A top player's game only makes sense if they also have the skills to get the fight to the ground on their terms. This means you must pair your guard passing with wrestling or takedowns.

• A disjointed game: "I'm a great guard passer, but I have no takedowns." You'll spend the whole match waiting for your opponent to pull guard.
• A sensible game: "I use my takedowns to put my opponent on their back, which feeds directly into my guard passing."

2. If You Want to Play on the Bottom…

Let's say you love to pull guard. That's a great strategy! But what happens when you get there? If you just "hold on," you're not a threat. You're just stalling.

A bottom player's game only makes sense if you have multiple, connected threats. You need both submissions AND sweeps.

• A disjointed game: "I have a good armbar, but no sweeps." Your opponent will just defend the one attack and you'll have no follow-up.
• A sensible game: "I attack with a sweep. When my opponent defends the sweep, they expose themselves to my submission. If they defend the submission, they give me the sweep."

You create a dilemma. You force them to choose between two bad options.

Your Path to Victory

At the end of the day, you need a clear way to win, either by scoring points or working toward a submission. Your game plan is your roadmap to that victory.

Don't just be a collector of random techniques. Be an architect. Build a system where every move has a purpose and sets up the next one. That is a game that makes sense.