#54 - Greg Souders - BJJ Instructional Shortcuts Are A Lie, All You Need Is Live Work
Jan 14, 2025
auto_awesome
Greg Souders, a Jiu Jitsu black belt and head coach at Standard Jiu Jitsu, dives deep into the world of Ecological Dynamics and Constraints Led Approach for learning grappling. He argues that traditional instructional methods are misleading and emphasizes the importance of live training over drills. Greg explains how constraints can enhance skill acquisition and decision-making in BJJ. He also critiques the common myth that great athletes automatically make great coaches, advocating for a more experiential and personalized approach to teaching.
Greg Souders emphasizes that traditional instructional shortcuts in BJJ are misleading, advocating for genuine learning through live engagement and problem-solving.
The ecological dynamics framework highlights how perception and action interplay, enhancing understanding of behavior during grappling training.
Utilizing the constraints-led approach allows instructors to tailor learning environments, maximizing skill acquisition by adjusting relevant challenges for students.
Embracing honesty about knowledge gaps fosters authentic learning experiences, encouraging educators and students to engage dynamically with complex tasks.
Deep dives
The Importance of Honesty in Education
Operating a school involves navigating significant pressures, which can tempt educators to present a facade of knowledge. Some educators may choose to conceal their uncertainty to maintain their positions, but embracing honesty can lead to authentic learning experiences. Prioritizing real understanding over superficial techniques allows educators to build genuine expertise in their fields. Engaging in honest discussions about knowledge gaps can foster a more enriching educational environment.
Challenging Conventional Learning Approaches
Many traditional methods of teaching, particularly in sports, may not be as effective as they claim. Explicit techniques and drills often dominate the landscape of skill acquisition, but research indicates that these methods may not significantly enhance learning outcomes. Instead, an ecological approach emphasizes understanding behavior in the context of the physical environment and the individual’s interactions. Shifting focus towards experiential learning can create a more profound understanding of complex tasks.
Understanding Ecological Dynamics
Ecological dynamics is a theoretical framework that examines the relationship between perception, action, and behavior in learning environments. This framework posits that an individual's perception of their surroundings directly influences their actions, which in turn affects future perceptions. By understanding these interconnected processes, educators can better facilitate learning experiences that resonate with students. Most importantly, it charts a path forward for incorporating this understanding into practical teaching strategies in sports and other disciplines.
The Role of Constraints in Learning
The constraints-led approach emphasizes adjusting environmental conditions to facilitate skill acquisition, focusing on how constraints shape learning experiences. By manipulating these constraints, instructors can guide learners toward specific outcomes without restrictive techniques. For example, giving students a challenge relevant to their size and strength can foster inventive problem-solving in grappling scenarios. Understanding how constraints regulate movement options can significantly enhance a student's ability to learn effectively.
Embedding Understanding Through Experience
For effective learning, students must engage in live interactions rather than solely relying on theoretical knowledge. Encouraging students to participate in real-time problem-solving can lead to the organic development of skills. For instance, students can focus on manipulating their partner's limbs during grappling, providing a richer context for understanding movement mechanics. This experiential strategy empowers learners to discover solutions through direct engagement instead of rote memorization of techniques.
The Challenge of Traditional Instruction
Relying heavily on structured instruction and drilled techniques can potentially hinder the learning process. Students often quickly become passive consumers of information, leading to a disconnect between theory and execution. True mastery requires ongoing, dynamic engagement with the material, demanding that learners actively participate in their skill development. Thus, integrating interactive methods into practice can yield substantially better outcomes for developing athletes.
Encouraging Diverse Learning Methods
Highlighting the significance of learning from various sources and methodologies can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of grappling techniques. Encouraging students to watch grappling matches or instructional videos while simultaneously practicing offers valuable insights that enhance their physical learning experiences. Observational learning can complement hands-on practice, creating a more versatile athlete. The integration of visual and physical learning can ignite a deeper comprehension of nuanced movements and strategies.
Expect to get the grapplers perspective on the science of Ecological Dynamics and the Constraints Led Approach (CLA) explained in (near) simple terms, how we learn as humans, Greg's foundational framework, what the key focus of practice should be, how instructional are the biggest lie in jiu jitsu, how good athletes don't make good coaches and much more.
Greg Souders is a Jiu Jitsu black belt and owner and head coach of Standard Jiu Jitsu. He is a leading authority in the use of Ecological Dynamics and the Constraints Led Approach (CLA) for learning grappling. He is renowned for only using this approach, and not drilling or teaching specific techniques.
Guest Stuff: Insta - https://www.instagram.com/gdsouders Standard Jiu Jitsu Website - https://www.standardjiujitsu.com Standard Jiu Jitsu Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@standardjiu-jitsu6031
00:00 Intro 02:22 Ecological Dynamics 08:37 The Role of Constraints 12:47 Being A Sceptic 18:55 How We Really Understand 26:26 Foundational Framework 34:42 All You Need is Live Work 42:22 Coaching Movement Patterns 49:48 It’s Not a Plug and Play Method 01:00:16 Focus on Invariance 01:09:48 Specific Instruction Doesn’t Work 01:15:38 He Doesn’t Know Shit About Coaching 01:19:58 Instructional Shortcuts Are a Lie 01:26:30 How to Work with Greg
Co-Hosts: Paul Johnson (Glasses) and Danny Allen (Beard) Audio and Video Edited, and Produced by Paul Johnson Insta - https://www.instagram.com/bodyforbjj and https://www.instagram.com/rollingstrongbjj
Sponsors:
Looking to find, organise or manage seminars? Download Matador today and start finding seminars with your favourite athlete's - https://matadorapp.io
Get 15% off XMartial Rash Guards and Apparel via link in our Bio or use: https://www.xmartial.com/?ref=thegrapplersperspective
Support us by joining our exclusive Patreon community at https://www.Patreon.com/GrapplersPerspective
10% off Mr Bassett’s Grappler’s Soap! Use Code: EVERYDAY at https://www.mrbassetts.com.
Come Train BJJ With Us At Flo Martial Arts in Plymouth - https://www.flo-martial-arts.co.uk
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
