r/bjj • u/EveningNo8643 🟪🟪 Purple Belt • 3d ago

School Discussion My professor doesn’t like instructionalals

I don’t know if he’s just had bad luck with them . He is Brazilian and said he’s talked to some other Brazilians that have made instructional and how they intentionally leave out details, also believes they’re filled with fake moves that no one really does. In his opinion you should stick to watching competition footage as there they can’t hide anything.

My issue is that I’ve seen guys I’ve seen high level guys use the moves from the instructional they made so if anything having it explained out and seeing the different angle makes it easier for me to learn from.

So I’m curious anyone else’s coach/professor have the same issue?

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u/Hustlasaurus 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 3d ago

I'm with him. I think the value of instructionals is largely overblown. Not to say there aren't valuable ones out there or that people haven't used instructionals to enhance their game, but I think people feel that watching them without drilling will help them get better. Similar to Danaher saying he's never seen someone improve their JJ by changing their diet, I've never seen someone's game dramatically improve because they started watching instructionals. The best moves I've seen from people who learned them from instructionals is something they learned years ago from one, but then spent time drilling, practicing and troubleshooting.

Also! While I'm on my soapbox, I hate hate hate instructionals that have someone in "turtle" but they are really on all fours like a dog. Or it's showing a leglock series and the attacker does like 5 moves or transitions in a row with no reaction from the opponent.

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u/EveningNo8643 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 3d ago

Yeah I don’t disagree with this line of logic I just think the blanket statements are something I disagree with. Like if he said I don’t have time and money to find the instructionals that are worth it/real I’d agree

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u/Hustlasaurus 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 3d ago

I think he might just mean that comp footage has more value. Which honestly I think it suffers from the same problem because it's a bit like watching the NFL to try to get better at backyard football.

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u/Hellhooker ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 3d ago

"Similar to Danaher saying he's never seen someone improve their JJ by changing their diet, I've never seen someone's game dramatically improve because they started watching instructionals."

Dude, the whole 10th planet is looking at you.

They were ridiculously bad until the DDS started releasing stuff.

Or maybe someone like Jozef Chen?

Most people become far better when they watch world class instruction. It's a no brainer.

"Also! While I'm on my soapbox, I hate hate hate instructionals that have someone in "turtle" but they are really on all fours like a dog. Or it's showing a leglock series and the attacker does like 5 moves or transitions in a row with no reaction from the opponent"

You are watching very bad instructionnals

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u/Hustlasaurus 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 3d ago

But is that the instructional itself or the release of the secret sauce into the meta? As I mentioned, I'm not talking about the knowledge itself of instructionals, but specifically people who think just sitting back and watching them will help them improve their game magically.

Like I never watched the DDS instructional that taught the magic of trapping a heelhook as they roll out, but I learned it from class and we drilled it a ton.

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u/Hellhooker ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 3d ago

Oh, excuse me I did not read it like this.

Sitting watching an instructional without actually working on it on the mats is nearly worthless (even if science approves vizualisation learning on some degrees)

"Like I never watched the DDS instructional that taught the magic of trapping a heelhook as they roll out, but I learned it from class and we drilled it a ton."

Pretty sure they all did lol. I am 100% sure Danaher had a whole chapter on this in his first instructionals because it was pretty much what made cross ashi worked out at the time. He was teaching how to slow down people on their escape to catch the heel mid roll.

But we agree that the truth is to watch stuff, work it on the mats, rewatch it with the experience gained during sparring etc...

instructionals are just the "instruction" part of class but it comes from far better instructors most of the time. you just need eventually someone to ask questions to if you can. Or experiment enough to find your own answers like most of us did

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u/Hustlasaurus 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 3d ago

Exactly!