Awareness

​Being able to perceive what your body is doing is a huge part of Jiu Jitsu. It happens all the time, that someone believes they are doing something, and in actuality they are only doing it to a minor degree if at all. Early in your grappling career, I usually recommend exaggerating movements. If you think you’re on your side get more on your side. If you think you’re stretching them out, stretch them out further. Only fall over when someone makes you. These are all things that you can control and should be aware of. It’s important to know what your whole body is doing and not have to think about it. this is especially true if your legs. We don’t think about walking most of the time, and so we lose connection with where our feet are and what our legs are doing. For a while you will have to consciously focus on what you do with your legs until you can get them to the point where you don’t have to think about what they’re doing. Body awareness is critical for grappling both because of what you will do to them but also because of what they can do to you. Train your brain to process the actions of the whole and your success rate is much higher.