BJJ Positional Drilling

Positional drilling isolates specific BJJ positions for targeted repetitions. Instead of rolling from standing, you start from a chosen scenario — back control, mount, guard — and accumulate high-quality reps in exactly the situation you want to improve.

Contents

High-Priority Positional Drills

Position	Attacker Goal	Defender Goal
Mount	Finish or advance to back	Escape to half guard
Back control	RNC or collar choke finish	Escape to guard
Closed guard	Sweep or submit	Pass without giving up position
Half guard	Recover full guard or sweep	Pass to side control
Turtle	Take back or turn to guard	Escape to standing

Positional Drilling Protocols

Format	Duration	Best For
Standard (both reset after finish)	5 min × 2 sides	Learning specific counters
Shark tank (fresh attackers)	3 min continuous	Cardio + survival instincts
Slow-motion (50% speed)	10 min	Technical analysis
Blind (eyes closed)	3 min	Tactile sensitivity

Pro Tip: Keep a simple log: "Mount escapes — 5 sessions." Tracking which positions you drill reveals blind spots. Most practitioners avoid drilling their worst positions — do the opposite.

FAQ

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Common Mistakes in Positional Drilling

Rushing the Setup

Attempting to finish before proper mechanics are in place results in failed attempts and positional loss. Prioritize position before submission.

Using Strength Over Technique

Muscling through setups creates bad habits and fails against stronger or more skilled opponents. Focus on leverage and angles.

Skipping Drilling

Techniques only become available in live rolling after extensive drilling. Regular repetition builds the muscle memory needed for execution under pressure.

Ignoring Defensive Reactions

Every technique has common counters. Learn the most frequent defensive reactions and have follow-up attacks ready.

Training Tips for Positional Drilling

Shadow Drill at Full Speed

Perform the technique slowly, then progressively increase to competition speed while maintaining crisp mechanics. Video yourself to catch form breakdowns.

Use a Skilled Partner

Training with a partner who can give realistic resistance and honest feedback accelerates technical development more than repetitions with a passive uke.

Isolate Weak Phases

Break the technique into phases and identify which phase breaks down under pressure. Spend disproportionate drilling time on that specific phase.

Compete in Tournaments

Competition reveals real weaknesses that controlled training obscures. Even white belts benefit from early competitive experience.