BJJ Mental Models Ep. 371: Building on a Curriculum, feat. Todd Richards
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Jan 5, 2026 Todd Richards, a BJJ black belt and co-head instructor at Team Rhino Jiu-Jitsu, shares valuable insights on building a structured curriculum following the loss of Keith Owen. He emphasizes the importance of scenario-based drills for beginners and how a well-crafted curriculum supports hobbyists who may not have time for unstructured learning. Todd also discusses the significance of teaching concepts behind techniques, testing philosophies, and the need for progress markers like stripes and belts to guide students in their Jiu-Jitsu journey.
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Curriculum As A Structured Pathway
- Build a curriculum as a structured pathway, not just a list of techniques.
- Use it to guide progression so students know what comes next and avoid random instruction.
Jiu-Jitsu Is The Space Between Techniques
- Teaching techniques in isolation misses the interstitial space that makes them work in sparring.
- Focus on connections between moves to create functional, flowing jiu-jitsu.
Drill In Scenarios, Not Moves
- Teach drills as scenarios, not isolated moves, to train decision-making under pressure.
- Start drills with a realistic trigger so students learn how moves chain in context.