BJJ’s most controversial coach on How To Train At Each Belt In Jiu Jitsu For FASTER PROGRESS

Greg Souders, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and founder of Standard Jiu-Jitsu, advocates for an innovative training methodology known as the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA). This method, rooted in ecological dynamics, emphasizes learning through environmental interactions rather than traditional technique-based instruction. By applying CLA, practitioners can accelerate their progress and enhance their ability to submit opponents. He explained this in a recent interview with Joshua Settlage.

Understanding the Constraints-Led Approach

The Constraints-Led Approach focuses on manipulating specific constraints—such as task, environment, or individual factors—to guide learners toward discovering effective movement solutions. Souders explains that this approach allows students to self-organize and adapt their movements based on the challenges presented, leading to a deeper understanding of BJJ principles. He states, “It’s the constraint of the human eye as it interacts with the environment. It teaches a person how to stand. We just have to find out what they are. What are we using to self-organize? And time is a big one.”

Training Strategies for Each Belt Level

Souders emphasizes that the CLA can be tailored to practitioners at all belt levels, promoting faster progression through personalized learning experiences.

White Belt: Beginners should focus on fundamental tasks, such as maintaining base and posture, rather than memorizing specific techniques. By engaging in situational drills that encourage exploration, white belts develop a solid foundation. Souders notes, “You don’t give the student any extra information they can’t utilize… So you hear it all the time—’my coach talks too much, giving me 37 steps to this move, and I don’t remember any of them anyway.’”
Blue and Purple Belts: At intermediate levels, practitioners should encounter varied constraints to refine their adaptability. This includes positional sparring with specific goals, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. Souders asserts, “If you understand the relationship of how things are added and create the specific effect, you can reorient that novelty into your whole game or change something about or even grasp it more deeply.”
Brown and Black Belts: Advanced students benefit from high-level conceptual challenges that push them to integrate and innovate within their game. By setting complex scenarios, they can deepen their strategic understanding and execution. Souders mentions, “If we’re copying the cookbook or the procedure, you never get access to that move. That move and why it works. You’re just replicating something you don’t understand.”

Implementing CLA for Enhanced Submissions

To increase submission proficiency, Souders recommends creating training environments where specific constraints lead practitioners to discover submission opportunities organically. For instance, limiting the use of certain grips or starting from disadvantaged positions compels students to find innovative paths to submissions. He explains, “We have to understand the procedure that’s underneath it.”

Greg Souders’ Constraints-Led Approach offers a paradigm shift in BJJ training, moving away from rote technique memorization toward a more adaptive and individualized learning process. By embracing this method, practitioners at all belt levels can accelerate their development and become more proficient in applying submissions effectively.