If you’re serious about learning effective Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Joe Rogan has a simple piece of advice: find a smaller instructor.
Speaking recently on his podcast, the UFC commentator explained why size — or the lack of it — can be a hidden advantage when it comes to teaching truly technical Jiu-Jitsu:
If you can learn Jiu-Jitsu with a guy who’s small you’ll learn the best Jiu-Jitsu.
Because they have to use technique, they have to use leverage.
Rogan pointed out that larger, stronger practitioners often fall back on their physical power to muscle through techniques, developing habits that rely more on strength than proper mechanics:
You’re a big strong guy, if you learn Jiu-Jitsu you could use that strength.
You could squish people’s necks and throw them on the ground and grab their arms and stuff like that.But a small guy can never do that.
Instead, smaller instructors are forced to refine their technique to the highest level, relying entirely on leverage, timing, and precision.
Rogan pointed to several respected instructors who embody this approach, including Barrett Yoshida, Royler Gracie, Eddie Bravo, and Gabe Tuttle of 10th Planet:
Small guy Jiu-Jitsu is the best Jiu-Jitsu because it has to be razor sharp.
They don’t have the physical strength to overpower an arm and get you into a certain position just from raw horsepower.
They have to like sneak it in there with leverage and they have to do everything perfectly.
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