How To Use Prepositioning In Jiu-Jitsu

There’s an area that’s fairly prevalent in advanced Jiu-Jitsu called prepositioning (or pre-positioning). It’s straightforward in that each technique or transition requires “pre” thought achieve to the goal.

In beginning Jiu-Jitsu, I remember I simply tried to stay alive. I didn’t give too much thought to where I was going. I remember back in the beginning, my good buddy, Pete, used to scold me on my rolling. He would say to me, “What’s your plan?” I wouldn’t know what he meant, so he would sit there and continue to look at me. He’d say, “You just can’t come out here and chase me down like a race horse, because what you’re doing isn’t Jiu-Jitsu.” I knew what he meant, but I’m not sure I was at the point yet for it to matter.

What Pete was talking about was that I should set goals for myself each time I rolled. If I wanted to work on my top game, focus on that. If I wanted to work on a specific technique, control myself to work on the technique instead of getting lured into the fun of wrestling to my heart’s content. I remember Pete’s lesson – unfortunately, I haven’t followed his advice all that much through the years. I should have, but didn’t, so I’m working on it now. Today, I do give quite a bit of thought to where exactly I’m heading each time I roll. I don’t succumb to my typical tendency to get a great workout. Instead, I choose general areas to focus on. They can last days, weeks or months.

Today’s video deals with a microcosm of what I just talked about. Instead of having large, general goals, Roy Dean talks about “prepositioning” in very short scenarios – chokes, shoulder locks, etc…

Watch the video. I think it’ll give you some good insight into what to think about during a match. Instead of reacting to your partner, “think” about where you want to be. Be patient and put yourself there. I swear, the harder I’ve tried mentally through the years, the better I’ve gotten. Prepositioning, and the thought that goes behind something like this, is one of those areas that can really help a player.

Roy Dean Academy BJJ: Linking Techniques

Now, for an added bonus, check out the video below. It’s a match between Gregor Gracie and Marcelo Garcia. If you want to see some expert rolling, pay attention. Watch the thought process of each of these two and look at how much patience and control each one has. And look at 6:47 for a sweet shoulder roll. Awesome fight.

CLASSIC Superfight Gregor Gracie vs Marcelo Garcia at Grapplers Quest Beast of the East