How to Be More Aggressive in Jiu Jitsu and MMA

What's up, guys? I got a good question asked the other day about how to be more aggressive in jiu jitsu. And the way the question was asked, I'm not sure if it was meaning just pure jiu-jitsu or for MMA. So, I'm gonna do a little bit of both, I guess. But first, I am an MMA channel, so I'll start with it.

Aggressiveness in Jiu Jitsu for MMA

I mostly talk about MMA, so let's dive into how to be more aggressive in jiu jitsu specifically for MMA.

Scrambling and Wrestling

First off, you have to know how to scramble. You have to know how to wrestle. I know wrestling and jiu jitsu are two different sports, but there's a lot of similarities in certain positions in both of them. And you have to be able to scramble if you're gonna be aggressive.

Fun Fact: In no gi, the scrambler is the king, just like in wrestling.

In an MMA fight, it's all about nogi. A scrambler is hard to lock into positions like leg locks or half guard, especially when you're sweating a lot, can get punched in the face, and deal with other variables. So, you need to be able to scramble effectively.

Focus on Neck Attacks

For MMA jiu jitsu, you need to go for neck attacks. These are high percentage moves in MMA. I'm not saying arm bars and leg locks don't work, but neck attacks are very effective.

Neck attacks are very high percentage in MMA.

Aim to be on top. When you're on bottom, work on your sweeps. You need to have thousands of reps of these moves. Pick a few submissions, maybe three, from the bottom and drill them rigorously. But much more importantly, work on a lot of sweeps.

Importance of Being on Top

Being on top in an MMA fight gives you more options. You can land punches easier and control the fight better.

To sum it up, work on your scrambling ability and try to be the one on top. You can be as aggressive as you want in neck attacks and passing guard from the top. It's harder to be this aggressive from the bottom unless your opponent stays in your closed guard without punching you.

Aggressiveness in Pure Jiu Jitsu

If you're doing pure jiu jitsu, especially nogi, the principles are somewhat similar.

Nogi and Scrambling

In nogi, the scrambler wins most of the time. If you're into leg locks and other entanglements, make sure your technique is perfect. With enough practice and drilling, you’ll be able to hold people in these positions, even in nogi, because many nogi tournaments have competitors wearing shirts, reducing the sweat factor.

Techniques and Drilling

You need to work on sweeps, get on top, secure overhooks, and master body wizers and wrestling switches.

The little rule in jiu jitsu is position before submission.

Make sure you're in good positions first. If you miss submissions, you don't want to be stuck in a bad position.

Sometimes, submissions don’t work, and some people fight harder than others. So, always have an exit strategy. Drill these techniques ensuring you’re giving yourself a way out if a submission doesn’t work.

Final Thoughts

So, to wrap things up:

Scramble effectively in both MMA and jiu jitsu
Focus on neck attacks, but don’t disregard other submissions
Work to be on top for more control and options
Always prioritize position over submission
Drill sweeps and submissions rigorously

If you have any other subjects or questions you'd like me to talk about, leave a comment below. Also, if you're looking for a guide to finding a gym near you, check out my book: "The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Martial Arts School." The link is in the description below. Thank you, guys!