BJJ Drills With A Difference
We don’t learn from doing the same thing, the same way, over and over. We learn through differences. We use this idea, based on differential learning, to guide our training at Zenyo Jiu Jitsu in Baltimore.
Working in different ways — with no arms, or one arm — is a great way to explore new options in how to do things. Exploring the differences is the impetus for new learning.
“Creativity isn’t finding something new. It is rearranging what you already know into a new mold. There’s nothing new in this world.” Dr. Prem Jagyasi
We never do the same old, same old for our drilling at Zenyo Jiu Jitsu. We aim to make practice more difficult than rolling. In this drill, Kevin passes while holding an aqua bag for instability as Mike defends with hands behind head.
Play and fun training, based on the ideas of differential learning, have produced great results for the athletes at Zenyo Jiu Jitsu. Some are now getting to blue belt two times faster than through a classical, repetitive approach.
Great Results, Great Fun
Training doesn’t always have to be serious. A good part of it should be based around fun and play.
Play and fun training, based on the ideas of differential learning, have produced great results for the athletes at Zenyo Jiu Jitsu. Some are now getting to blue belt two times faster than through a classical, repetitive approach.
This is a surprise and not a surprise. Some of the best athletes of all time have trained with an emphasis on not just hard work but fun, play, and creativity. Tennis great Roger Federer used to play “only silly shots” once a week. See video.
Steph Curry is known for his crazy shots in practice. “He practices any type of shot you can possibly practice,” Warriors forward Draymond Green told The Sporting News. “Whether it’s full court or whatever, he does it. It used to be like, ‘This dude needs to stop joking around.’ Then you realize it’s no longer a joke.” See video.
Training based on the ideas of differential learning is producing great practice and competition results.
Winning In Competition
The point of this kind of training is not limited to technique but works to change the brain and make it more pliable and adaptive. The end goal, always, is how well does your training hold up under pressure and competition. Differential learning does that very well.
Zenyo Jiu Jitsu athlete Ayden Paulay puts his skills from practice to work in competition at the Good Fight in Baltimore. See video above.
In practice we train with the ideas of differential learning to prepare for the chaotic environment of a competition. We’re seeing tremendous progress in much faster time to compared to traditional practice.
“100% helped me,” Ayden says of practicing with differential learning the last six month. “Gives me the chance to make new sweeps and take downs up as well as experiment with we’re I should do a submission. Helps me think differently. I’m starting to prefer it more than the typical rigid training where you practice on a move the same way over and over again,” Ayden says of differential learning.
His improved skills and progress showed in his tournament success. Three matches, three submission victories.
Join us at Zenyo Jiu Jitsu to experience Jiu Jitsu with a difference.
Zenyo Jiu Jitsu

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