Training for the Next Generation: Class Structure, Intention & Positional Grit II
How to Structure Positional Rounds — Real Grappling Pressure
After technique and takedown work, the sparring begins. But not with full rounds. It starts with adversity:
• Round 1: Bottom Mount
No timer. You escape. Or you don’t. Then you reset. If you’re not used to working from these spots, you break. People with good guards sometimes collapse when passed. But if you’ve put in the time on your escapes — it’s playtime. You learn to breathe. You learn to move.
• Round 2: Turtle
One of the hardest positions to escape when done well. Against average players, you’ll get out. Against tight top control? That’s where the struggle begins. That’s why you train. That’s why you isolate. Do you really escape, or do you go from the frying pan into the fire? That’s something you won’t realize until you’re paying attention.
• Round 3: Standing vs Sitting
One athlete is standing, one is seated. The exchange starts immediately: wrestle up, guard pull, entry to legs, pressure passes — everything is live. This is modern Jiu-Jitsu. Fluid. Unpredictable. Realistic.
• Round 4: Hands, Feet, and Back
This is the stand-up round. The goals are clear:
• Hoist to high single: Win
• Snap-down, both hands to mat: Win
• Take the back and lock your hands: Win
No need to complete the full takedown. The objective is sharp entry, clean control. It builds clarity under fatigue.
Train Smart. Compete Ready.
Some rounds you might sit out. Not because you want to — but because you need to. When you’re training in a room with depth, every round matters. But so does longevity. You don’t show toughness by breaking your body. You show discipline by knowing when to recover and when to push.
That sort of room? It pushes you. Long rounds. High level. But that’s what you want. That’s how you grow.
This is the blueprint.
No fluff. No filler. Just the structure, intensity, and intention it takes to build Jiu-Jitsu that lasts — under pressure, over time, and across every position.