Problem Solving
The practitioner who views every roll, every position, and every transition as a puzzle to be solved will always outgrow the one who clings to memorized techniques like an inflexible script. Embrace the mindset of a problem solver, and BJJ will become not just an art you perform but one you understand.
- You must first know what your goal is.
- You need to know the roadblocks your opponent is creating that are stopping you reaching that goal.
- You need to decide order to solve these roadblocks to achieve your goal.
The Limitations of Memorization
Memorizing moves is a beginner’s approach—a natural but incomplete way of learning. Moves are tools, and tools without understanding are useless when the situation shifts unexpectedly.
Why memorization fails
A memorized armbar setup from Closed Guard may work perfectly in drilling, but what happens when your opponent pulls their arm back? What happens when their posture doesn’t align with the "ideal conditions" for your technique?
What memorization lacks
It does not teach you why a move works, when to apply it, or how to adapt it when variables change.
To become a problem solver, you must ask the deeper questions:
- What is my opponent trying to do?
- How do I disrupt their plan?
- What fundamental principles are at play?
- Who is in charge of who?
Moves are not answers; they are options. When you focus on solving problems, you unlock the ability to adapt, improvise, and thrive under any circumstance.
Jiu-Jitsu as a Game of Questions and Answers
At its core, Jiu-Jitsu is about solving problems and creating problems for your opponent. Every position is a question. Every move is an answer.
Example of the Problem-Solving Process
- The Problem: You are stuck in bottom side control.
*The Questions
- Why am I here? Did they control my hips, head, or arms?
- How can I create space? What frames, angles, or movements can I use?
- What escape options exist, and which one fits their current pressure?
- The Answer: You identify the weakest link in their control (e.g., hips), frame against it, shrimp, and recover guard.
This approach builds awareness. You stop “looking for a move” and start creating solutions based on the principles of posture, leverage, pressure, frames, and timing.
The Role of Principles Over Techniques
Techniques are important, but they are applications of principles. The problem solver studies the principles, not just the moves.
Example of Principles in Action
Leverage
- A smaller grappler uses their hips and legs to sweep a heavier opponent rather than fighting with upper body strength.
Angles
- Instead of attacking head-on, you create an angle to isolate a limb for an armbar.
Pressure Management
- Understanding when to apply pressure (control) and when to relieve pressure (bait).
When you understand principles, you can create your own techniques, improvise when caught off guard, and troubleshoot on the fly. You become an artist rather than a technician.
Learning to Think, Not Just React
A problem solver does not roll mindlessly, nor do they simply react. They think. They observe patterns, anticipate outcomes, and create strategies.
What this looks like on the mats
- You recognize that an opponent favors an overhook grip, so you bait them into it and counter with a sweep.
- You notice their weight is too far forward in side control, so you plan a bridge and escape.
- You feel tension building in a specific direction, so you flow with their momentum to take their back.
Problem solvers are present in the moment. They do not rely on brute memorization—they read the situation and adapt.
Embracing Failure as Feedback
The problem-solving mindset embraces failure as part of the learning process. Every mistake is a lesson. Every roll is data.
Failure is not defeat
- If your sweep fails, ask why. Was your angle wrong? Did you miss their weight shift?
- If you get submitted, what vulnerability was exposed? What can you adjust next time?
When you roll with a problem-solving mindset, you no longer view failure emotionally. You see it scientifically: it’s feedback, not failure.
“I didn’t lose. I learned one more way not to do it.”
Creativity and Adaptability
Problem solvers are creative. They adapt to their opponent, their body type, their energy levels, and the unique challenges of each roll.
Creativity in action
- Combining techniques: If a sweep fails, flow directly into a submission setup.
- Innovating solutions: Developing new ways to attack or defend based on the circumstances presented.
- Improvising escapes: Escaping a tricky pin not with a textbook move, but by identifying a weakness in the opponent’s control.
This adaptability makes you unpredictable, dangerous, and always evolving.
Applying Problem-Solving Off the Mats
The problem-solving mindset transcends the mats. By approaching Jiu-Jitsu as a series of puzzles to solve, you cultivate skills that apply to life:
- Patience in difficult situations
- Critical thinking under pressure
- The ability to adapt when plans fail
- Creativity when faced with challenges
Jiu-Jitsu teaches you that no problem is unsolvable—you just need the right mindset and approach.
How to Train as a Problem Solver
To embrace this mindset, train with intention:
Ask "Why?" Constantly
- Why did my move fail?
- Why did that sweep work?
- Why is their pressure so effective?
Focus on Concepts
- Train drills that emphasize principles like frames, weight distribution, and leverage.
Troubleshoot During Rolls
- If you’re stuck, pause and explore: “What am I missing? Where can I create space or control?”
Embrace Open-Ended Rolling
- Instead of hunting for specific moves, aim to solve the problems your opponent presents.
Reflect After Training
- Journal or mentally review your rolls. What problems did you face, and how could you approach them differently next time?