Training for the Next Generation: Class Structure, Intention & Positional Grit I

If you want to build world-class Jiu-Jitsu, your training needs to reflect that intention from the ground up. The structure of your class isn’t just a routine — it’s a philosophy. It’s how you build habits, instincts, and a mindset that doesn’t break under pressure.

We’re seeing a generational shift right now. You can’t just add elements to your game anymore. You can’t go, “Okay, I’ll do a month or two of takedowns before my next tournament,” and expect to close the gap against a lifelong judoka or wrestler. It’s the same mistake strikers make when they dabble in groundwork before their first MMA fight. You don’t need temporary skills — you need intuitive, embodied responses. You need fluency, not familiarity.

That starts with the structure of your training.

No Warmup. Just Jiu-Jitsu.

The class starts straight into technique — no warmups, no wasted reps. This is key. Every minute is focused on building technical chains. Long series. Sequences that link together with purpose. That’s how the best develop anticipation and timing. It’s not about memorizing moves — it’s about learning the transitions between the moves. That’s where real understanding lives.

Stand-Up Grappling is Not Optional

Stand-up training isn’t a separate thing — it’s part of the DNA of each class. Clean. Precise. Never as an afterthought, but as a continuation of the Jiu-Jitsu you’re already doing. That’s how you develop true integration. You’re not building an incomplete grappler with “some stand-up.” You’re building a grappler who understands how to move, pressure, and transition from feet to mat and back again.

Takedowns When You’re Ready

Takedowns happen after your body is warm. After your focus is tuned in. This isn’t just smart for safety — it’s optimal for performance. Your body is primed, and you can commit to your entries with real intensity. From there, it’s a natural flow into standing sparring, and the result is always the same: better movement, more confident grapplers, less injury.