Building a foundation, and then keeping it! HELP!

[Fat Donkey]

I am trying to build a solid BJJ foundation BUT I seem to lose my techniques. For example, I prepare for submission tourney against big guys so my single leg takedowns, sprawls, kimura and defense is good. I go back to the gym and I can't pass anyones guard or defend or submit from the guard AAAAARRRRGH! My armbars suck and I get spanked by everyone under 205 lbs. Plus I miss 2 weeks of class with a pulled groin so my hip movements suck. I keep losing what I learned 3 months ago because I get so focused on what I learned yesterday. Anyone have this problem? How did u remeber and USE all the techniques u have learned.

[White Warlock]

It sounds like you are fixating on learning the techniques. Go beyond the techniques and attempt to understand the principles behind them. The techniques are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves.

Once you are able to grasp the principles, all you will need to do will be to remember the 'little things,' like cupping the thumb on certain holds, etc.

[SubGrappler]

It depends on how often you're training (like how many times a day, how many days a week).

Dont get so caught up in it in such a short time. I believe it was Jean Jaques Machado who said that blue belt is the most important belt in terms of how frequent you train. Everything you're seeing in terms of techniques and all the little suttleties you're picking up WILL eventually come back to you. Whether you can remember it off the bat or not is irrelevant- it will come back the one day you slap yourself in the forehead and say "oh yeah!"

Beyond that, take into account that fighting the people in your gym is (or should) be much more difficult than fighting people in a tournament. The people in your gym know the kind of game you play, and will probably have their game altered in some way to best fight against yours. This is natrual and the only way to address it is to train more than they are. Whoever takes the initiative and dedicates themselves to training more often will always be one step ahead of their peers.

[TJS]

Some words of wisdom on this subject from Saulo Ribiero.

"Strive to be complete"

What good is it to get an A+ in guard-passing but flunk attack-from-the-back? To stand out in Jiu-Jitsu, the fighter can’t excel at one or two moves. He must play in the eleven, as we say in football. Black-belt Saulo Ribeiro teaches a simple way of reaching versatility: “Many people despises the warm-up before practising. Well, dedicate the first 15 minutes in the academy to doing the basic: escape from the back, from the mount, and side-mount. In the next 15, practise submission from the back, the mount and the side-mount. Do this every day in your Jiu-Jitsu career. It may be boring, but it’ll make you complete. No matter what belt. I am a black-belt and still discipline myself into doing it till today.

[BJJ is 1]

I agree wit TJS, in class especialy a month or so we always drill the basics. EX. do ten armbars on each arm from the guard, then ten triangles, then ten kimuras and so on. This also works with sweeps and passes. Soon you will probably do the techniques naturaly, without realy trying to rember them.

[h2whoa]

It sounds like you are fixating on learning the techniques. Go beyond the techniques and attempt to understand the principles behind them. The techniques are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves.

Once you are able to grasp the principles, all you will need to do will be to remember the 'little things,' like cupping the thumb on certain holds, etc.

YEp like what white said!