Playful Pedagogy, Cognition, Concepts & Gamification of Micro Battles for Bjj With Rob Biernacki
Aug 27, 2020
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Rob Biernacki, BJJ instructor and founder of BJJconcepts.net, discusses playful pedagogy, cognition, concepts, and gamification in micro battles for BJJ. Topics covered include developing intangible skills in jiu-jitsu, gamification in training, making training fun for hobbyists, building a jiu-jitsu community in a new location, criteria for earning a black belt, and the prevalence of conspiracy theories in the jiu-jitsu community.
Gamifying jiu-jitsu training by incorporating games and controlled rolling enhances skill development and motivates students to continue their journey.
Teaching jiu-jitsu concepts, alignment, posture, and frames instead of relying solely on techniques promotes a deeper understanding and allows students to develop their own areas of interest and expertise.
Geographic isolation can foster unique approaches to jiu-jitsu instruction, emphasizing the need to create a positive and supportive training environment for long-term engagement.
Balancing intense rolling with playful exploration and skill development, while setting realistic goals, is key to sustaining enthusiasm and enjoying jiu-jitsu for a longer period.
Deep dives
Gamification and Skill Development
The podcast episode discusses the importance of gamifying jiu-jitsu training for skill development. The host and guest emphasize the value of making the learning process fun and enjoyable, especially for beginners. They highlight the significance of incorporating games, situational sparring, and controlled rolling into class structure. By using incremental goals and celebrating small wins, students are motivated to continue their jiu-jitsu journey and develop a growth mindset. The focus is on creating a culture of exploration, safety, and skill development.
Teaching Pedagogy and Conceptual Instruction
The podcast episode also delves into the importance of teaching strategies and instructional methods in jiu-jitsu. The guest, an experienced instructor, shares insights on the value of teaching concepts rather than relying solely on techniques. They discuss the need for instructors to develop a pedagogy that emphasizes fundamental concepts, alignment, posture, and frames. The guest also highlights the significance of creating a curriculum that allows students to have autonomy and choice in their learning, enabling them to develop their own areas of interest and expertise.
Geographic Isolation and Unique Approach
The podcast highlights the presenter's experience of being geographically isolated, which has forced them to develop their own unique approach to jiu-jitsu instruction. They discuss how the absence of a pre-existing jiu-jitsu culture in their area has led to the need for creating a new community of practitioners from scratch. The presenter shares their experiences of building skills and training habits in an environment where high-level athletes and competitors are not readily available. They emphasize the importance of cultivating a positive and supportive training environment to foster long-term engagement and enjoyment of jiu-jitsu.
Longevity and Fun in Jiu-Jitsu
The podcast episode explores the key factors that contribute to longevity in jiu-jitsu and the enjoyment of the practice. The importance of setting realistic goals and embracing the journey of incremental progress is highlighted. The podcast emphasizes the need to balance intense rolling with playful exploration and skill development. By promoting a training mentality focused on safety, fun, and playful exploration, practitioners can sustain their enthusiasm for jiu-jitsu and continue training well into their later years.
Importance of Quality Teaching Skills in a Competitive Market
In a truly competitive market with more supply than demand, the importance of quality teaching skills becomes apparent. The speaker predicts that the demand for jiu-jitsu will decrease in the near future, leading to a shift in market pressure. As the market saturates with jiu-jitsu schools, half-assed teaching will no longer be acceptable. The expectation for good instruction and fun classes will increase as people become more aware of what quality teaching looks like.
The Distinction Between Merit-based and Time-based Rank Promotion
The speaker emphasizes the need for a clear distinction between merit-based and time-based rank promotion in jiu-jitsu. They argue that many black belts may not be deserving of the rank due to a lack of skill and knowledge. The speaker believes that black belt should be awarded based on merit and expertise, rather than simply the number of years served. They advocate for a transparent and open conversation within the jiu-jitsu community to ensure rank standards are upheld and respected.
Conspiracy Theories and Proliferation in Jiu-Jitsu
The speaker discusses the prevalence of conspiracy theories within the jiu-jitsu community and proposes several hypotheses to explain this phenomenon. They suggest that factors such as under-education, cult-like admiration of black belt practitioners, and inherent biases may contribute to the proliferation of conspiracy theories. Additionally, the speaker highlights how conspiracy theories provide individuals with a sense of control and certainty in times of uncertainty and stress. They call for a higher standard of critical thinking and a greater emphasis on amplifying expert opinions in the jiu-jitsu community.
I interview Rob Biernacki of Island Top Team. He also runs BJJconcepts.net, and we discuss his thoughts on BJJ pedagogy, different teaching and cognitive learning strategies, gamification of jiu-jitsu drills which he calls micro battles also developing training mentality for fun and longevity. Finally, how his geographic isolation forced diversity in his information set, his rank requirements for what makes a black belt and he delivers an epic rant on the proliferation of conspiracy theories in BJJ circles.
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