There are several aspects to a typical Jiu Jitsu class in both our adult, kids, and preteen programs. There’s time spent drilling a new move and then live rolling at the end of class. In between the two is often a set of positional sparring rounds in which training partners start in a predetermined position and work to escape or advance from there. These rounds are for shorter periods of time and involve resetting. Practicing positionals offers several benefits:
Technical Proficiency: It enhances students’ understanding and execution of how to maintain or escape from such fundamental positions as mount, side control, or back control.
Problem-Solving Skills: Positional training challenges students to think strategically, developing their ability to escape from unfavorable positions and maintain dominant ones.
Muscle Memory: Repetitive drilling of positionals enables students to react more instinctively in live rolling situations.
Conditioning: It improves students’ physical conditioning, as positionals often involve intense movement and transitions, increasing strength and endurance.
Feedback and Correction: Positional training provides instructors the opportunity to give feedback and correct technique, facilitating student improvement.
While they may not seem as fun as live rounds, positional rounds can actually be more challenging and tiring and definitely do their part to contribute to a well-rounded Jiu Jitsu skill set.