Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Jiu Jitsu (And How to Avoid Them)

Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Jiu Jitsu (And How to Avoid Them)

Starting Jiu Jitsu can be a rewarding experience, but like any new endeavor, it comes with its challenges. As a beginner, making mistakes is a part of the learning process. However, being aware of some common pitfalls can help you progress faster and avoid unnecessary frustration. Here’s a list of the most common mistakes beginners make in Jiu Jitsu, along with tips on how to avoid them.

1. Holding Your Breath

The Mistake:
It’s natural to tense up and hold your breath when you’re in a challenging position or trying to execute a technique. However, this can quickly lead to fatigue and clouded judgment.

How to Avoid It:
Focus on maintaining steady, deep breaths throughout your training. Breathing properly helps you stay calm, conserve energy, and think more clearly during rolls. Make a conscious effort to check in with your breath during training.

2. Using Too Much Strength

The Mistake:
Relying on strength rather than technique is a common habit among beginners, especially those with a physical advantage. While strength can be useful, it often leads to inefficient movements and quick exhaustion.

How to Avoid It:
Concentrate on learning and refining techniques rather than overpowering your opponent. Jiu Jitsu is about leverage, timing, and strategy. Just using strength will slow your progress.

3. Neglecting Defense

The Mistake:
Many beginners focus solely on offensive moves like submissions and sweeps, neglecting the importance of defense.

How to Avoid It:
Spend time developing your defensive skills and focus on control rather than submissions. A strong defense will make you a more well-rounded practitioner and harder to submit.

4. Not Tapping Early Enough

The Mistake:
Pride or inexperience can lead some beginners to resist tapping out when caught in a submission, hoping to escape at the last second. This can result in injury or unnecessary pain.

How to Avoid It:
Tap early and often. Tapping out is not a sign of weakness; it’s a smart way to avoid injury and continue training. Remember, Jiu Jitsu is a marathon, not a sprint. Staying healthy and injury-free is key to long-term progress.

5. Overtraining

The Mistake:
The excitement of learning a new art can lead beginners to train excessively without giving their bodies enough time to recover. This can result in burnout, injury, or diminished performance.

How to Avoid It:
Listen to your body and incorporate rest days into your training routine. Recovery is just as important as the time you spend on the mats. Make sure to stretch, hydrate, and get enough sleep to allow your body to heal.

6. Skipping the Fundamentals

The Mistake:
Some beginners want to jump straight into advanced techniques without mastering the basics first. This can lead to gaps in their skillset and a lack of understanding of how techniques work together.

How to Avoid It:
Focus on the fundamentals, such as basic guard passes, escapes, and positional control. These foundational techniques are the building blocks of everything you’ll learn in Jiu Jitsu. The better you understand the basics, the more effective your overall game will be.

7. Ignoring the Mental Aspect

The Mistake:
Many beginners focus solely on the physical techniques and neglect the mental side of Jiu Jitsu, such as strategy, mindset, and problem-solving.

How to Avoid It:
Approach Jiu Jitsu like a chess game. Think several steps ahead and consider the consequences of each move. Embrace the learning process, and don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Remember, Jiu Jitsu is as much about mental resilience as it is about physical ability.

8. Being Impatient with Progress

The Mistake:
It’s easy to get frustrated when you don’t see immediate results. Jiu Jitsu is a complex art that takes time to master, and progress can sometimes feel slow.

How to Avoid It:
Be patient and consistent. Progress in Jiu Jitsu is often measured in months and years, not days or weeks. Celebrate small victories and understand that every mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve. Keep showing up and stay consistent.

9. Tunnel Vision

The Mistake:
Chasing submissions and rushing transitions is not efficient. This slows progress, burns energy, and compromises position.

How to Avoid It:
Slow things down, control the basic positions and understand the importance of inside position.

By being mindful of these common mistakes and taking steps to avoid them, you’ll set yourself up for a more enjoyable and successful Jiu Jitsu journey. Remember, everyone starts as a beginner, and making mistakes is part of the process. The key is to learn from them, stay committed, and keep improving every day.