As the debate over Ecological BJJ continues to gain momentum, ADCC veteran Kit Dale has stepped in with his own take – arguing that traditional drilling methods aren’t necessary for fast progress in Jiu-Jitsu.
Dale’s journey in Jiu-Jitsu has been anything but conventional. Originally focused on Australian rules football, he transitioned to BJJ under Bernie Jenkins and later Peter De Been.
His game evolved further when he began training with world champion Yuri Simoes, and in under five years, he achieved his black belt – an almost unheard-of progression in the sport.
Reflecting on his development, Dale makes a strong claim:
I think I’m the only person that’s a living proof that you can get good at Jiu-Jitsu…
Not just very good, but very good very quickly – without drilling at all.
Dale’s views share some similarities with ecological training, though he takes a more balanced approach than Greg Souders, who outright rejects technical instruction.
Instead, Dale sees Jiu-Jitsu as a form of problem-solving:
What you want to do is you want to compartmentalise jiu-jitsu into certain little subcategories and you want to play in those areas and develop experience in those areas.
Dale also questions whether excessive instruction might actually impede a student’s ability to adapt in real-time situations:
When you tell someone how to do something, although you think you’re doing the right thing as a coach, you’re robbing them of developing a skill that’s going to help them solve problems better and better and quicker.
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