Image Credits: Evolve MMA
It ain’t easy improving your BJJ skills after you’ve been training for a while. However, there are many things that you can do to further improve… Such as doing solo drills.
For example, here are 12 (!) solo drills that you can do whenever you have time – before & after training, during free time in the evening, weekends, etc. – and that will dramatically improve your ease of movement and techniques.
Jordan, from the Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu YouTube channel, demonstrates these drills and explains why you should do them.
12 SOLO DRILLS FOR YOUR BJJ GAME
Knee Slide from Headquarters: one of the passing techniques you’ll have an opportunity to use most frequently. Make sure to keep your elbows and knees close together when you drill it; to simulate not giving space to your opponent.
The Backstep: one of the most underutilized passes across the board and a great one to use in solo drills every single training session. Drop your elbow on the mat while doing it, to simulate the Crossface.
Front Roll: teaches you to protect your head while falling on the mat, but it’s also great for developing movement skills all-around.
Back Roll: teaches you to protect your neck while falling on the mat as well, and makes you better at transitioning between moves and similar.
Bump & Shrimp: teaches you to first remove weight off of yourself and then to create space to escape the position.
Bridge To Knees: very good for escaping positions like Side Control, but will also translate into your wrestling skillset.
Inversion: good for transitions and for resisting some of your opponent’s attacks (like a Stack Pass). Just make sure to not spend too much time in this position, as it can be quite hazardous on your neck.
Wrestling Shot: extremely useful in takedown entries such as the Double and Single Leg. You don’t have to lower your knee down to the mat, but it’s a bonus if you do, because it’ll lower your level even more.
Sprawl: an extremely versatile counter to many wrestling takedowns – primarily against Double and Single Legs.
Turtle Sit Out: one of the easiest and best ways to escape the Turtle position.
Technical Standup: it’s not just useful for standing up (without getting Guillotine choked), but it’s also fantastic for sweeping people.
Triangle Hip-Up: teaches you an important rule for Triangles – that you have to get your hips up high in order to establish the submission hold.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.