BJJ Mental Models Mini Ep. 86: Do What Works
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Dec 25, 2025 Explore the mantra of 'do what works' in jiu-jitsu, where skepticism reigns over rigid dogma. Discover the three critical criteria for a good technique: effectiveness against strong opponents, repeatability, and alignment with personal goals. Steve Kwan highlights the importance of tailoring techniques to individual body types and risk tolerances. He also discusses the value of questioning coach advice and ignoring critics when your method is proven. Personal expression in jiu-jitsu is celebrated as a liberating approach!
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Do What Works
- Do what works: prefer techniques that produce results for you over dogma from others.
- Use techniques that work against quality opponents, are repeatable, and align with your goals.
Jiu-Jitsu Allows Individual Variation
- Recognize that jiu-jitsu is not a hard science and accepts large individual variation.
- Best practices are often heuristics that worked for many, not universal laws you must follow.
Test Advice, Don't Blindly Follow
- Treat coaching advice with a grain of salt and test techniques yourself before adopting them.
- Reject or modify suggestions that don't fit your body type, goals, or risk tolerance.