Lex Fridman Podcast
#182 – John Danaher: The Path to Mastery in Jiu Jitsu, Grappling, Judo, and MMA
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Jiu Jitsu focuses on exploiting the asymmetry of strength to incapacitate opponents using targeted attacks.
- Technique development in Jiu Jitsu involves trial and error, experimentation, and testing with training partners of varying skill levels.
- Escaping bad positions in Jiu Jitsu builds confidence, promotes skill development, and prioritizes continuous improvement over immediate success.
- Control and entanglement are crucial in leg locks in Jiu Jitsu, allowing for safer and more effective applications.
- The development of leg locks in Jiu Jitsu is currently in an incremental phase, with potential for growth through exploring new directions and incorporating principles from other grappling styles.
Deep dives
Jiu Jitsu as an art and science
Jiu Jitsu is an art and science that focuses on using tactical and mechanical advantage to exploit the asymmetry of strength between opponents. The goal is to apply a high percentage of strength against a low percentage of the opponent's strength, targeting critical points on their body to incapacitate them. It involves understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the human body, with an emphasis on vulnerable joints and the neck. The art of Jiu Jitsu lies in the choices practitioners make in technique selection, allowing for self-expression and individual growth.
The importance of trial and error in Jiu Jitsu
In Jiu Jitsu, technique development relies heavily on trial and error. Just like in scientific research, techniques start as weak and unproven, developing and evolving over time. Practitioners experiment with different approaches, testing hypotheses and seeking promising avenues for improvement. Some techniques prove successful, while others are discarded. Training partners of varying skill levels, including lower belts, play a crucial role in the development process, providing the opportunity to test techniques in less competitive environments and allowing for organic growth.
The significance of escaping bad positions and the value of training with lower belts
Escaping bad positions is a fundamental skill in Jiu Jitsu and holds multiple benefits. It not only demonstrates dominance over opponents, but also builds confidence, as practitioners learn to navigate and overcome challenging situations. Training with lower belts is encouraged because it provides an opportunity for skill development and exploration. The focus shifts from winning every battle to honing techniques and experiencing growth. This approach emphasizes skill development over immediate success and fosters a mindset of continuous improvement.
The importance of control and entanglement in leg locks
In the podcast episode, the speaker emphasizes the significance of focusing on control and entanglement when it comes to leg locks in jiu-jitsu. By distinguishing the mechanism of control from the mechanism of breaking, leg locks can be performed with greater safety and effectiveness. It is highlighted that immobilizing an opponent through control allows for a more secure application of the lock. The speaker also mentions the importance of understanding different forms of Ashi Garami, such as variations of inside and outside hooks, and using them strategically based on an opponent's tendencies and resistance. Additionally, the development of a leg lock system is discussed, with the podcast delving into the squad's exploration of leg locks and their success in competition.
Incremental growth and future possibilities in leg lock development
The podcast highlights that the initial progress in leg lock development has been significant, with the squad pioneering new approaches and achieving success. However, it is acknowledged that leg lock development is currently in an incremental phase, with gradual advancements being made. The speaker mentions that future growth may involve exploring the interface between leg locking and other techniques, such as transitioning into back attacks or incorporating principles from other grappling styles. While the current phase might not bring meteoric progress, the podcast suggests that new directions and opportunities for growth will continue to emerge within the leg lock system.
The effectiveness and limitations of leg locks
The podcast discusses the effectiveness and limitations of leg locks in jiu-jitsu. It is noted that breaking a leg through leg locks can be relatively easy when opponents lack knowledge or defense skills. However, opponents who know how to defend and actively resist can be challenging to submit with leg locks. The speaker mentions the importance of psychological toughness and the choice to submit or continue fighting even with a compromised leg. It is emphasized that leg locks, such as the Achilles lock, can cause damage but are less likely to result in severe injuries compared to other types of submissions. The podcast also touches upon criticisms historically associated with leg locks, such as fears of positional loss, which the speaker suggests can be addressed through improved control and attacking from underneath opponents.
The Greatest Grappler Ever: Haudhagracy
Haudhagracy is considered the greatest jujitsu player by many due to his dominance in three out of the four aspects of jujitsu: ghee grappling, no ghee grappling, and mixed martial arts. He excelled in these areas during his generation and even made a comeback to defeat the best of the newer generation. While he may not be known for self-defense, his overall versatility and success across multiple facets of jujitsu make him an exceptional athlete.
Gordon Ryan: One of the Greatest Grapplers
Gordon Ryan is widely regarded as one of the greatest grapplers ever. He has a strong foundation in fundamentals and brings new techniques, specifically lower body attacks, which were not heavily emphasized in previous generations. While he shares similarities with Haudhagracy in terms of top positions and dominance, his game is focused on butterfly guard and working between upper and lower body attacks. His calmness under pressure and ability to escape from inferior positions sets him apart. Although he has never trained with Haudhagracy, their paths have crossed in the same gym, and both are highly respected in their respective eras.
The Challenges of Building a Human-like Robotic System for Grappling
Building a robotic system that can mimic the body and senses of a human being, especially in the context of grappling, poses significant challenges. The complexity of biomechanics, as well as the intricacies of touch and perception, make it difficult to create a system that can experience and interact with the world as richly as humans can. Tasks like picking up a cup or grappling involve a high degree of physical interaction, leverage, and sensory feedback, making it a formidable project to replicate such abilities in a robotic system. While progress has been made in the field of robotic manipulation for object handling, the extension to the human body presents further complexities. However, the potential of cyborg-like systems, where human computational power is combined with robotic capabilities, may eventually bridge this gap.
The Dominance of Machines in Chess and the Role of Common Sense in Human Thinking
The rise of machines and artificial intelligence has greatly surpassed human capabilities in chess. Human-machine pairs are consistently outperformed by machine-dominated matches. However, the noteworthy distinction lies in human thinking processes, specifically the concept of common sense. Humans possess a deep understanding of the world around them and possess basic rules that guide their behavior. Machines, on the other hand, have computational power far beyond humans and access to vast knowledge repositories. When simulating a human mind with the computational power and knowledge of machines, it yields a superior result. The integral nature of common sense in everyday tasks, like picking up a cup or understanding the hardness of objects, underscores the unique strengths humans possess amidst the power of machines. This distinction prompts the question of how to best utilize and integrate AI and computational power to enhance human capabilities.
John Danaher is a coach, scholar, and educator of jiu jitsu, submission grappling, judo, MMA, and the martial arts. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:02) – Fear of death
(17:18) – The path to greatness
(22:57) – Judo
(27:07) – Seoi nage judo throw
(39:21) – Fundamentals of jiu jitsu
(45:34) – Developing new techniques
(53:24) – Value of training with lower belts
(1:03:23) – Escaping bad positions
(1:10:18) – Submissions
(1:14:30) – Reinventing yourself in 5 years
(1:30:38) – Drilling
(1:49:10) – Leglock system
(2:08:44) – How hard is it to break a leg?
(2:12:52) – Greatest jiu jitsu player ever
(2:17:42) – Roger Gracie
(2:22:25) – Gordon Ryan
(2:27:16) – Georges St-Pierre
(2:36:26) – Superintelligent Robot vs Cyborg Gordon Ryan
(3:12:07) – Advice to white belts
(3:15:24) – What does it take to get a black belt
(3:16:09) – Best martial art for street fighting
(3:23:23) – Tie chokes
(3:27:44) – Austin
(3:32:23) – Meaning of life
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