Jiu Jitsu practitioners are always looking to find and study the next "new" technique that high-level competitors are doing. They go on YouTube and try to imitate other people's games. Meanwhile, the innovative "new" move was "invented" by someone through tireless trial, error, and experimentation over a period of time.

Jiu Jitsu is absolutely unique to EVERY person. The techniques adapt to your body style and athleticism without you changing anything.

That is the beauty of Jiu Jitsu. It is constantly evolving and just when you think it is complete and you "learned" everything, there is an innovation that changes the whole scene. And yet even though Jiu Jitsu is always changing, the core basics never do. Some people argue that all you need are the basics. Other people just like the new stuff. Well, they are both wrong.

Until you learn the core basic techniques and strategy, you shouldn't be searching out techniques way above your skill level.

You can study other people's games and let it evolve your own game, but ultimately you don't want to just be a carbon copy of other high-level competitors. Use it as a learning experience and a way to be knowledgable of all possible movements. Try to understand how that competitor came to the discovery of that "new" technique over the course of their Jiu Jitsu journey.

Once you have a solid base of technique and understanding and you start developing your own game, which is monitored by a qualified instructor, then it is ok to experiment and learn from watching other matches/techniques on YouTube and instructional videos.

The best teaching formula for success in Jiu Jitsu is to have new students learn a core of "basic" techniques. From there, based on body type, athleticism, and experimentation, assist them in developing their own style. Then one day they just might be the one who has YouTube videos that people will be searching out, and in your head you will know that your "new" technique was developed because you made the effort through trial and error.

Tips for developing your own game:

• Learn the basics FIRST
• Adjust & adapt for your body type & athleticism
• Keep an eye out on the top level competitors and what is trending
• Train at an academy that promotes learning everything, new and old.
• If a "trending" move doesn't work for you, drill it anyway to learn how to prevent & counter
• Never quit and keep evolving! The process doesn't stop!

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