In class, I often communicate to our students that there’s a fundamental difference between being a ‘guy who does Jiu-Jitsu’ and being a ‘Jiu-Jitsu guy’. Someone who simply ‘does Jiu-Jitsu’ views each technique as discrete – a ‘move’ to be learned, a ‘counter’ to be practiced. A ‘Jiu-Jitsu guy’ uses these techniques as a lens through which he can view the underlying principles of leverage and efficiency. A technique is to be practiced so that it can be utilized. The principle must be understood so that it can be applied outside of that technique.
It’s like two people walking in the woods. One person can study diligently to be able to identify each of the trees they encounter. Another can do this and still keep a view of how nature placed each of those trees together to create a forest, and how that forest works within its environment to support its surroundings and thrive. Forest vs Trees.
Here are two good examples of beautiful Jiu-Jitsu. The fluidity with which these techniques are executed can only come from a fundamental understanding of leverage and efficiency – from understanding and believing in Jiu-Jitsu. None of these guys just ‘does Jiu-Jitsu’.