Mastering BJJ Footage Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide
Enhance Your BJJ Learning Experience through Match Analysis
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling are complex and dynamic sports, with a myriad of techniques and strategies to learn and master. While attending classes and sparring are essential components of honing your skills, analyzing match footage can be a valuable addition to your learning arsenal. In this article, we'll explore how to effectively study videos of BJJ and grappling matches, extracting valuable insights and expanding your knowledge of the art.
The goals of this guide are to provide you with the tools to watch and analyze footage with purpose, going beyond mere entertainment value. By following the steps outlined below, you'll be able to identify techniques, understand their context, and ultimately apply these lessons to your own practice. So, grab your favorite device and let's dive into the world of BJJ and grappling videos!
Watch More
The first step in getting started is to watch more BJJ and grappling videos. There are countless resources on the internet, particularly on YouTube, that offer match footage for your viewing pleasure. Experience is irreplaceable in identifying quality content. For this guide, we'll focus on using YouTube as a primary resource.
Watch with Purpose
Identify why you are watching a particular video. Watching with a conscious purpose allows you to glean more information than you would by watching passively. Are you watching to identify individual techniques, a competitor’s game plan, or to understand the sport's scoring better? For the purposes of this guide, we'll watch to identify individual techniques that catch our eye.
Focus In
While watching, it's helpful to have a pen and paper nearby or a notepad open in another tab for taking notes. Write down the time of anything you see that's worth referencing later. For our example, we'll analyze a match between Dillon Danis vs Nicholas Meregali at Copa Podio in 2016. This match is full of action and provides numerous opportunities to spot interesting techniques.
Context
Understanding the context in which techniques are effective is crucial. To do this, ask yourself a series of questions about what you've just observed. These questions shouldn't be the only ones you ask, but they are a good starting point for any situation:
What did we just watch?
What position was the defending player in?
What position was the attacking player in?
Where did they end up?
This line of inquiry will help you grasp the basics of what to expect when applying the technique yourself.
Applying the Knowledge
Revolution BJJ instructor Andrew Smith shows a similar sweep on BJJ Path
There are many ways that analyzing footage can benefit your jiu-jitsu. At a basic level, it can serve as a tool to learn new techniques. From a defensive perspective, this knowledge can help you avoid traps and attacks. Lastly, sometimes we simply hold onto things for another day. Save a hyperlink to the match with a brief commentary for future reference. This will allow you to go back and review the technique whenever needed.
Watch More!
Keep your interest going – there's always something new to learn! This concludes the crash course on taking more from watching footage 101. Now it's your turn. Send me some cool techniques you've seen in matches and continue expanding your understanding of BJJ and grappling.
