There are many benefits to drilling. The two main reasons are:
Refine the technique you’ve learned
Review the techniques you’ve learned
Recently I have discovered for myself other benefits from drilling.
Drilling can be a form of MOVING MEDITATION. Sometimes I use drilling as a means of taking my mind of the daily grind. I simply focus on the mechanics and flow of the technique I am drilling. Drilling can be very meditative.
Drilling can be a form of ACTIVE REST. This is related to number one. Sometimes after a hard days work or after a hard practice, I like to drill techniques as a means of winding down and recovering my strength. Obviously when I drill as active rest I am drilling at a very slow pace. Drilling can be an excellent means of recovery.
Drilling can be a means of OCCUPYING TIME. Truth be told, we often do things to keep ourselves busy. We have more time than we want to admit and we’ll often spend that time on things really don’t do much for us. Drilling a technique(s) is certainly a better option in regards to the use of our time than wasting it on frivolous and petty things.
After ten years my worthless opinion is drilling a bit to get the movement down, then positional sparring with lower belts to work the moves. (Or maybe not going a 100% with an equal)
then trouble shoot the issue, a bit more drilling then repeat.
I’m becoming a much bigger fan of positional sparring and believe that may be the best “drilling” there is.
After ten years my worthless opinion is drilling a bit to get the movement down, then positional sparring with lower belts to work the moves. (Or maybe not going a 100% with an equal)
then trouble shoot the issue, a bit more drilling then repeat.
I’m becoming a much bigger fan of positional sparring and believe that may be the best “drilling” there is.
Agree’d
my issue with drilling is 1) things are way easier against a non resisting opponent. 2) I feel like different body sizes and shapes change the technique maybe ever so slightly
I'm a big fan of positional sparring as well to reinforce the drilled exercise. Variations can be, opponent goes 50% from the position or put yourself in the advantage position and then must finish against 100% resistance, or even opponent goes 100% trying to escape position while your job is to simply maintain the position. Put a very short time frame on it as well such as 30 or 60 seconds.
I'll caveat all of the above with, this is my experience from my wrestling days and is somewhat of the norm. I don't see it as much in my limited bjj experience so far.
After ten years my worthless opinion is drilling a bit to get the movement down, then positional sparring with lower belts to work the moves. (Or maybe not going a 100% with an equal)
then trouble shoot the issue, a bit more drilling then repeat.
I’m becoming a much bigger fan of positional sparring and believe that may be the best “drilling” there is.
Agree’d
my issue with drilling is 1) things are way easier against a non resisting opponent. 2) I feel like different body sizes and shapes change the technique maybe ever so slightly
Most people can’t even perform techniques correctly against a non-resisting opponent. They’ll perform it adequately. It’ll usually work. But there will be a ton of places they can tighten it up, move more efficiently, etc.
My thoughts: you drill until you perform the move perfectly every time without resistance. THEN you add in resistance. Because your sloppy technique isn’t suddenly going to get better when you’re going live.
Drilling and sparring (including situational sparring) are different activities with different functions and different objectives. Neither replaces the other.
The type of drilling I’m talking about is for building and developing coordination, body mechanics, body awareness, and body control. It is essentially using the techniques of Jiujitsu to move your body in a way to is specific to Jiujitsu.
Sparring and situational sparring is all about application. It is all about applying the skills you’ve learned and mastered on an active and resisting opponent.
Again drilling and sparring are two totally different animals.
Agreed OP. We pick a technique or sequence and drill it literally for weeks.
I have the fortune and honor to coach our sparsely attended noon class and I’ve definitely adopted this approach.
Monday was a highcrotch. Tuesday was a single off of a failed highcrotch.
Wednesday was Tabadas followed by live rolling, starting on the feet (the intent being to begin using the takedown we’re learning).
Tomorrow will be all drilling again.
Friday will be hill sprints for conditioning and live rolls from our feet.
Next week will be the same.
And the next.
Then we move on. Probably to a position and subsequent submission off of the aforementioned takedowns.
It took a few months but the guys (and ladies) at noon have experienced exponential progress since I implemented this regimen.
I’m at least as dumb as a bag of hammers. This ain’t rocket surgery. Drill, drill, drill with just enough other shit interspersed where the class doesn’t mutiny.
Agreed OP. We pick a technique or sequence and drill it literally for weeks.
I have the fortune and honor to coach our sparsely attended noon class and I’ve definitely adopted this approach.
Monday was a highcrotch. Tuesday was a single off of a failed highcrotch.
Wednesday was Tabadas followed by live rolling, starting on the feet (the intent being to begin using the takedown we’re learning).
Tomorrow will be all drilling again.
Friday will be hill sprints for conditioning and live rolls from our feet.
Next week will be the same.
And the next.
Then we move on. Probably to a position and subsequent submission off of the aforementioned takedowns.
It took a few months but the guys (and ladies) at noon have experienced exponential progress since I implemented this regimen.
I’m at least as dumb as a bag of hammers. This ain’t rocket surgery. Drill, drill, drill with just enough other shit interspersed where the class doesn’t mutiny.
I agree it isn’t rocket science. I do think things are much easier when you know what you’re doing and when you have an objective/goal to achieve.
I do think I need to make a few clarifications. As I stated, in my mind, drilling and sparring are two totally different activities with different goals and objectives. I also think there is a difference in drilling to learn and drilling to master (perfect, refine). Again, I think each has different goals. The goal of the former is the acquisition of the technique or skill you’re learning whereas the goal latter perfection or refinement of a skill or technique you’ve already learned.
Now the question is this: what are you drilling and why? Are you drilling a technique you’ve just learned or barely know? Is learning the technique the primary purpose of your drilling it? Or are drilling a technique you know very well? Is the refinement and perfection of this technique your goal and reason for drilling? The answers are important because they determine the work you’ll do in regards to drilling.