White Belt - How To Survive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Part 8, Take the extra classes, do the open mats

White Belt - How To Survive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Part 8, Take the extra classes, do the open mats

You’ve probably come across that famous idea that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become a true expert at anything. I’ve always had mixed feelings about that number myself. On one hand, some skills really aren’t that complicated once you grasp the fundamentals, so you can reach a solid level of competence much quicker. On the other hand, certain disciplines are incredibly deep and layered, meaning you could easily spend a lifetime refining them and still feel like there’s more to learn. Still, the underlying principle feels solid: the more quality time and effort you invest, the better the results you’ll see in the long run.

In my own Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey, one of the most valuable parts of training has been the open mat sessions that most schools run regularly. For someone like me who tends to learn a bit more slowly than others, these sessions have been absolute gold. They give me the freedom to move at my own pace without feeling rushed or pressured to keep up with the main class. Instead of having to absorb new techniques in a structured lesson, I can go back over the details I’m still shaky on, drill them repeatedly, and really let them sink in properly.

What I enjoy most about open mats is the chance to experiment freely. I genuinely don’t care about winning or losing when I’m rolling. My only goal is to learn and improve. That mindset means I’m more than happy to try things that I know will probably look ridiculous or are clearly not the optimal move in that moment. I’ll deliberately put myself in awkward positions just to see how my training partners react, where I end up when things go wrong, and most importantly, what I need to do next to escape or regain control. Sometimes those “stupid” attempts teach me far more than playing it safe ever could, because they reveal exactly where my weaknesses lie and what I need to work on.

Because of that experimental approach, I’ve come to value an open mat session just as highly as a regular class taught by a highly skilled black belt instructor. In fact, I’d say the two types of training complement each other beautifully. The structured classes give you the technical foundation, the new techniques, and the expert guidance, while the open mats let you test everything out in real time, make mistakes safely, and build the kind of practical understanding that only comes from live rolling at your own rhythm.

Another thing I strongly recommend is taking advantage of any extra classes your academy offers in related grappling disciplines. A lot of good BJJ schools now run additional sessions in Judo, for example, which are fantastic for sharpening your hip throws, foot sweeps, and overall stand-up game. Others might include wrestling-focused classes that drill takedowns, sprawls, and ground control from a different angle. The beauty of it is that grappling is grappling at the end of the day. The core principles of leverage, timing, balance, and control cross over between these arts more than you might expect.

As long as the sessions are well organised and the instructors know their stuff, you’ll pick up fresh skills that can directly improve your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu performance. Maybe a Judo throw helps you get on top more reliably, or a wrestling technique gives you better ways to defend against being taken down in the first place. Either way, these extra sessions help you survive longer in tough rolls and give you more tools to dictate where the fight goes. Over time, that variety not only makes you a more rounded grappler but also keeps your training interesting and prevents you from getting stuck in the same old routines.

White Belt - How To Survive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Part 8, Take the extra classes, do the open mats: In Conclusion...

So if your school offers these kinds of add-on classes, I’d say give them a proper go. You might be surprised how much they accelerate your progress and deepen your overall understanding of the gentle art.

Written by Jimmy Rose, lifelong martial artist and BJJ enthusiast