Goal-oriented training
Have a specific technique or area of focus for each rolling session. For example, I will come into training thinking “Today I will be working on passing the butterfly guard”. You may even want to let your training partners know and start in those positions
Consistent Training
Make BJJ a priority in your life by training 3-5 times a week EVERY week. It’s no coincidence that the best guys in the class also have the best presence.
Set a schedule for yourself and don’t let anything that isn’t really important interrupt it. Some guys are doing well really fast, but the best guys have all devoted countless hours to getting there. You will never see your game improve as fast as it should if you miss classes or weeks of training.
Take advantage of your training partners
Note a mind that has the best guard, destructions, passes, pins or escapes. Then work with them, allowing them to use their strengths. This will highlight your mistakes and help you monitor your progress. Once you can consistently overcome their strengths, then you know you are seriously improving. I never pull a guard against anyone if I know they have a smooth bottom game, I want to be on top.
Study everyone else’s game – When you’re not fighting, study your teammate’s games and try to pick up on their effective moves. Go over it in your head as they fight. Think about when you could use that move, or how you would resist it. Ask them what adjustments they make to make the technique work better.
Ask your teachers
Too often I see brown and black belts teach a class and ask, “Are there questions or things you want to work on?” and all are SILENT. Always have a question in mind unless you are an absolute phenomenon, there will always be a position where you don’t feel 100% sure.
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Try new things
I always use white belts for this. I’ll take a move or setup I haven’t tried yet and try to get it out to the beginners. This works well because if you’re still not sure about parts of it, you most likely won’t be able to get it out at all with the more advanced guys. For example, I’m trying to learn the twist right now, so whenever I roll with white belts or a new blues, that’s what I go for. It also helps because it makes rolling with those much less agile than yourself difficult.
Work on a new area until you feel it is one of your strengths, then move on to another. Work on guarding, for example, until it’s almost impossible for someone else close to your level to get through and really hard for someone advanced to endure. Then add your swings. After you sweep blues easily and higher belts sometimes, move to subordinates of the guard, etc.
Individual attention
Private with your teacher does wonders. Roll with them or make them watch you roll with someone who usually outdoes you, then make them draw attention best gaming monitor under 400$you need to improve or obvious mistakes you make.
Train at different gyms
I realized that having new perspectives helped me a lot. Also, the experience of rolling with guys you know nothing about will make your moves much sharper. This is especially true if you are the most technical in your academy, don’t fall into the “big fish in small pond syndrome”.
Compete as often as possible
Under the stress of competition the true nature of your skills emerges. It also helps to let you know where you stand in the larger scheme of things, giving you a realistic look where you stand against other guys with the same belt level.
Teach new guys
If you can make a clean beginner make a move 100% accurately, then you know you have it down. It is good practice to make sure you are aware of every detail that makes a technique work.
Roll until you are exhausted at each training session
I see a lot of guys packing their bags and going home when they were barely sweating. I always try to train until my teachers tell me they have to lock up and go home. Even if I’m so tired that I’m kicked out by some lower rank, the experience of training when you’re not staying strong will greatly improve your game both mentally and physically.
Your cardio is a technique. You may know a lot, but you won’t be able to express it well if you’re worried you’ll run out of air. You can really open up your game and hold pressure on your opponent if your lungs can deal with the constant movement and explosiveness.
Train in lower positions
Allow your training partners to pick up your back, pass your guard, or climb on you. Don’t let them know that you allow them to have the position (I say that because if they think they have legally acquired it, they tend to get excited and really work to the end, which is good for you). Stay in the lower position and work simply to avoid the submissions, then work your escapes.
