Watching John Danaher and instructionals from other, similarly exceptional professors, is definitely worth your while – if you’re not doing it, you’re missing out big time. Through watching them, you’ll learn that much more about Jiu-Jitsu and its underlying concepts, techniques you didn’t know how to do, and details you have never even considered.
But, did you know that watching too much of John Danaher and other instructionals could actually be bad for your BJJ? That’s right. Here’s why that’s the case.
INFORMATION OVERLOAD
Remember the days in school and/or university, when you had to learn a lot of stuff in a short period of time? And do you recall the ease of how all of that information would basically evaporate once the exam ends?
On the other hand, can you also think back to the instances when the things you learned kind of morphed into a giant mix of info… Leaving you confused and not knowing „what is what“?
Both of these things can happen when you watch too much instructionals. The problem of „too much information“ is a real one – and it can leave you even more clueless about Jiu-Jitsu than you were before.
By forcing yourself to learn too much, too soon, you’re not giving yourself a chance to really absorb that knowledge – something that only comes through repetition and focus on one or two techniques at a time. Additionally, all of those details, concepts, and techniques in general can make you feel confused. Not knowing what to use, when to use it… Leaving you feeling totally discouraged.
Instead, turn your attention towards getting better in just a couple of techniques and positions, in a couple of training sessions. You’ll experience a lot more success this way.
TOO MUCH FOCUS ON THE DETAILS
Details are extremely important in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Without knowing about them – when to notice them and use them – you’re not going to be as great of an athlete as you could be… And other Jiujiteiros will have an easier time tapping you out.
However, too much focus on the details can derail your progress. Instead of going for the technique and learning through trial and error, the detail-oriented BJJ athlete gets stuck on the minutia.
That is to say: there is only so many details that you can learn before you get stuck in yet another version of information overload. It’s necessary that you – above all other things – simply force yourself to execute a technique. Even though you don’t know all of the details behind it.
In this manner, through trial and error, you’ll be able to both apply and learn the required details.
TOO MUCH OF DANAHER, NOT ENOUGH OF YOU
Another issue that could arise is that a Jiujiteiro will become overly obsessed about watching instructionals. He/she will begin „collecting“ them, trying to watch as much as possible in the shortest period of time.
In turn, they begin watching much more than actually doing Jiu-Jitsu.
You probably know that guy or girl that, in one way or another, sacrifices real training time for the „training“ of instructionals. Sometimes they skip training altogether, just to stay at home and watch some new techniques. Or they disregard what their instructor shows in class, focusing just on the things they’ve learned from John Danaher and others.
But this is a grave mistake. Your focus, above all things, should be on what you’re being taught during your mat time. And on what you are doing on the mats – not on what you’re watching and what you’ve „learned“.
Real knowledge comes only from consistent practice. Never forget that.
