{"id":269,"date":"2023-08-13T17:33:41","date_gmt":"2023-08-13T22:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/?p=269"},"modified":"2023-08-13T17:33:43","modified_gmt":"2023-08-13T22:33:43","slug":"bjj-solo-drills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/bjj-solo-drills\/","title":{"rendered":"The 9 Best BJJ Solo Drills that Will Improve Your Jiu Jitsu [Plus 40+ More]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Tz3GMFc9AHU\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/Tz3GMFc9AHU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is the most comprehensive guide to best BJJ solo drills I could find&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll see lots of solo drill ideas.<\/p>\n<p>But most importantly?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going to show <strong>which solo drills give you the most bang for your buck<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Oh, and HOW to fit them into your training.<\/p>\n<p>In short: if you want to improve your jiu jitsu but can&#8217;t get to training as much as you&#8217;d like (like me), you\u2019ll love this guide.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n<h2>The 9 Best BJJ Solo Drills that Will Improve Your Jiu Jitsu<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-285\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Bruce-Lee-I-Fear-Not-the-Man-Who-Has-Practiced-10000-Kicks-Quotes.png\" alt=\"Bruce Lee I Fear Not the Man Who Has Practiced 10,000 Kicks Quotes\" width=\"710\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Bruce-Lee-I-Fear-Not-the-Man-Who-Has-Practiced-10000-Kicks-Quotes.png 710w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Bruce-Lee-I-Fear-Not-the-Man-Who-Has-Practiced-10000-Kicks-Quotes-300x85.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can chase your tail and try a billion different solo drills. And not get good at any of them.<\/p>\n<p>Or you can start by focusing on a few:<\/p>\n<p>The ones that will help your jiu jitsu the most.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-286\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-80-20-Rule-Applies-to-BJJ-Solo-Drills.jpg\" alt=\"The 80 20 Rule Applies to BJJ Solo Drills\" width=\"489\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-80-20-Rule-Applies-to-BJJ-Solo-Drills.jpg 489w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-80-20-Rule-Applies-to-BJJ-Solo-Drills-300x184.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 489px) 100vw, 489px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But\u2026 don\u2019t just take my word for it.<\/p>\n<p>I watched every YouTube video I could find. I read the top 20 articles on the internet about BJJ solo drills.<\/p>\n<p>The good ones all have a lot in common:<\/p>\n<p>They all cover the same drills. Over and over.<\/p>\n<p>To bring them all together, <strong>THESE are 9 best BJJ solo drills<\/strong> to improve your jiu jitsu:<\/p>\n<h3>Shrimping<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"10 Ways to Shrimp and Improve Hip Mobility on the Ground\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TQ4gJ7E6Xis?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Without a doubt, the most fundamental escape movement in BJJ is the hip escape, also called shrimping. It applies to every single escape from the bottom and is something you should be able to do effortlessly and in every situation.<\/p>\n<p>The hip escape can be done in multiple ways, like from one foot or both feet. The forward shrimp is harder to do but is still something you should become proficient at to improve guard retention.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s great about the hip escape is that it makes a great solo drill and one that requires very little space, meaning you can do it everywhere.<\/p>\n<h3>Bridging<\/h3>\n<p>Bridging is the second most fundamental escaping movement in jiu-jitsu, and it often goes hand in hand with a hip escape. The bridge uses the power of the hips to create space and escape from bottom positions. While the bridge on the shoulders is a good exercise, in jiu-jitsu, you will most likely need to bridge to one shoulder and not straight up.<\/p>\n<p>The key is to get your feet as close to your hips as possible and to use the hamstrings when you push. Keeping the feet on the toes rather than flat-footed also provides full extension and more power in the bridge.<\/p>\n<p>The idea of the bridge is to create space, which is why the most natural continuation after bridging is to hip escape, extending the distance from the opponent even further. Combining the two is powerful and can get you out of most situations.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Unstoppable Move in BJJ\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EuJu75SlDHU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Technical Stand Up<\/h3>\n<p>The good old technical stand-up is fundamental for MMA and self-defense situations because it lets you reset the situation and come back on your feet. But it is also useful in BJJ competitions for someone who relies more on takedowns and feels confident in standing.<\/p>\n<p>The technical stand-up is done by posting on the palm of one hand and extending the same side leg toward the opponent. Then step on the opposite leg and stand up with your other arm extended to prevent him from punching or trying to take you down.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Basics: How to Do a Technical Stand Up\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yC_sSqO4Vx0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Granby Roll<\/h3>\n<p>Granby rolls, also called lateral rolls, are a great movement to get used to being inverted. It is also a powerful move to use for guard retention. It looks fancy at first, but it\u2019s not that hard to do once you get the hang of it.<\/p>\n<p>The lateral roll is done by directly rolling on your side from a seated position. The rolling is done across the upper traps and back of the head. Always tuck your chin to prevent neck injuries.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to do a Granby Roll\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kU813Z7oH5g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Penetration Step<\/h3>\n<p>The double-leg takedown is fundamental in BJJ, MMA, and street fighting, and the good thing is you can drill a significant portion of it on your own by doing the penetration step.<\/p>\n<p>The penetration step starts with dropping your level below the hips of the opponent, then stepping forward, dropping the knee of the leading leg to the mat, stepping up on the back leg, and driving forward as if you are taking an opponent down. This makes for a great warm-up exercise, but it can also be intense if you choose to make it so.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Double Leg Solo Drill\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dY6IQOvqgBY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Sprawling<\/h3>\n<p>Another one from the wrestler&#8217;s book is the defense for the double leg takedown known as sprawling. Doing fast sprawls is a great way to instantly raise your heartbeat and the intensity of the workout.<\/p>\n<p>Sprawls may look a lot like burpees, but they serve another purpose, so don\u2019t do any pushups and drop your hips to the floor with your chest staying upright as if you are pushing a person who shot at you for a takedown with your hips.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sprawl Solo Drill - Wrestling for MMA\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YyA0JAnK5l8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-306 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Top-9-BJJ-Solo-Drills-to-Improve-Your-Jiu-Jitsu-Infographic-1.jpg\" alt=\"The 9 Best BJJ Solo Drills to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu Infographic\" width=\"800\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Top-9-BJJ-Solo-Drills-to-Improve-Your-Jiu-Jitsu-Infographic-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Top-9-BJJ-Solo-Drills-to-Improve-Your-Jiu-Jitsu-Infographic-1-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Top-9-BJJ-Solo-Drills-to-Improve-Your-Jiu-Jitsu-Infographic-1-768x895.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>These are the movement patterns that you use every time you roll.<\/p>\n<p>So get good at them.<\/p>\n<p>And guess what?<\/p>\n<p>Watch your favorite grappler. You\u2019ll still see:<\/p>\n<p>Hip escapes. Bridges. And rolling.<\/p>\n<p>Every time.<\/p>\n<p>The only thing that changes is the context that they use them.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-288\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/BJJ-Solo-Drills-Aren\u2019t-Just-for-White-Belts-Meme.jpg\" alt=\"BJJ Solo Drills Aren\u2019t Just for White Belts Meme\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/BJJ-Solo-Drills-Aren\u2019t-Just-for-White-Belts-Meme.jpg 500w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/BJJ-Solo-Drills-Aren\u2019t-Just-for-White-Belts-Meme-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/BJJ-Solo-Drills-Aren\u2019t-Just-for-White-Belts-Meme-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/BJJ-Solo-Drills-Aren\u2019t-Just-for-White-Belts-Meme-440x440.jpg 440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I know what you\u2019re thinking\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2026\u201dyou\u2019ve given me a list of BJJ solo drills. Can\u2019t I see a demo?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Absolutely.<\/p>\n<p>This one shows you nearly the whole list. Awesome descriptions of the drills too.<\/p>\n<h2>Solo Drills With a Dummy<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"101 Techniques on the Grappling SMARTY! (Best Grappling Dummy EVER!!!)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_Sw_4--4QMc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>BJJ dummies are a wonderful invention that helps you cover the drilling part of BJJ alone. Drilling usually means going through the motions, memorizing the correct sequence, and going over the little details without resistance from the training partner. Dummies are really good at not offering resistance.<\/p>\n<p>They do not replace the solo drills we&#8217;ve covered above because they teach and reinforce core movements, but with a dummy, you have a whole body to work on.<\/p>\n<p>Old-school wrestling dummies have only two arms and are not practical for BJJ, but decent grappling-oriented ones have both arms and legs. They can even be bent into a certain position, allowing you to train back mounts, turtles, and most other positions.<\/p>\n<p>Some drills, like knee-on-belly passing and spinning transitions, can be done on a regular heavy bag lying on the floor. Still, the dummy is infinitely better and provides a much more realistic representation of a real person.<\/p>\n<p>The quality of the dummy depends on what you can do with it. As expected, the ones perfect for BJJ are worth more than generic dummies, which are straight and have extended arms.<\/p>\n<p>Two of the great ones I have found online are the Grappling Smarty and the Fairtex Maddox dummy, both of which give you realistic experience and the ability to drill transitions, escapes, and submissions.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"BJJ Grappling Dummy Flow Drills - Solo Training with Steve Campbell\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DSjw-aKGLHg?start=215&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>7 BJJ drills you should do EVERYDAY w\/Roberto Atalla<\/h3>\n<p>Want so see a demo of the sprawl?<\/p>\n<p>Of course you do.<\/p>\n<p>Then check out the first demo in this video by fightTIPS with a cameo by Stephan Kesting.<\/p>\n<p><strong>CAUTION!<\/strong> You\u2019ll probably end up watching the whole video.<\/p>\n<h3>5 Solo Movement Drills for BJJ: No Partner Needed!<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"5 Solo Movement Drills for BJJ: No Partner Needed!\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GyQo5xhhNtw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>What about shooting for doubles? And singles?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the first demo in this video.<\/p>\n<p>This guy is smooth:<\/p>\n<h3>5 Solos Movement Drills for BJJ \/ MMA \/ Grappling \u2013 EXPLAINED!!<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"5 Best Solo Movement Drills For BJJ - EXPLAINED!!\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1jb16b7mf7I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>4 Ways to Incorporate BJJ Solo Drills into Your Training<\/h2>\n<p>So you know WHICH drills to start with. You know HOW to do them.<\/p>\n<p>But WHEN should you do them?<\/p>\n<p>Well, here&#8217;s the BIG 4:<\/p>\n<h3>1. Do BJJ solo drill training sessions.<\/h3>\n<p>Perfect if you\u2019re travelling or just can\u2019t get to jiu jitsu enough.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s me.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ll mix it up and do different sessions.<\/p>\n<p>[some example workouts are included below]<\/p>\n<h3>2. Do them as part of your BJJ warm-up.<\/h3>\n<p>Maybe your school does most of these anyway? If not, squeeze in a few while you\u2019re getting ready.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Include them in your non-BJJ warm-up.<\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re doing strength or conditioning training you\u2019ve got to warm up anyway.<\/p>\n<p>So why not kill two birds with one stone.<\/p>\n<p>What if you&#8217;re at a normal gym?<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t be a weirdo.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s some solo drills you can do that don&#8217;t look so, well, weird.<\/p>\n<p>[You don&#8217;t want to practice inversions at Anytime Fitness&#8230; trust me]<\/p>\n<p>See these below too.<\/p>\n<h3>4. You could use solo drills for your conditioning workouts.<\/h3>\n<p>But\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Be <strong>VERY<\/strong> cautious about statements like this:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-295\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/How-NOT-to-do-BJJ-Solo-Drills.jpg\" alt=\"How NOT to do BJJ Solo Drills\" width=\"428\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/How-NOT-to-do-BJJ-Solo-Drills.jpg 428w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/How-NOT-to-do-BJJ-Solo-Drills-300x67.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the thing:<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re doing solo drills to get better at jiu jitsu related movements.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re trying to develop muscle-memory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>That doesn\u2019t mean<\/strong>: flailing around on the mat, reinforcing poor movements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It means<\/strong>: focus on doing each drill and doing them properly.<\/p>\n<p>Practice doesn\u2019t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.<\/p>\n<p>So go slow. To start with.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>By practicing these 9 solo drills you will start to move more efficiently.<\/p>\n<p>You will be more relaxed on the mat.<\/p>\n<p>You will save energy.<\/p>\n<p>NOW it\u2019s time to move on\u2026<\/p>\n<h2>The Complete Guide to Other BJJ Solo Drills [For AFTER You&#8217;ve Mastered the Top 9]<\/h2>\n<p>So you\u2019ve mastered the core 9 BJJ solo drills?<\/p>\n<p>Good.<\/p>\n<p>Now it\u2019s time to <strong>ADD<\/strong> to them.<\/p>\n<p>But before you go crazy, ask yourself this\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Is the drill you\u2019re doing related to jiu jitsu movement, or is it just calisthenics?<\/p>\n<p>[sure handstands are cool, but their application to BJJ is questionable]<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s one of the reasons a good place to start is Stephan Kesting\u2019s Video:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-296\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Shrimp.png\" alt=\"The Shrimp Should Be Your BJJ Club Mascot\" width=\"225\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Shrimp.png 225w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Shrimp-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>10 Ways to Shrimp and Improve Hip Mobility on the Ground<\/h3>\n<p>Great explanations, and he relates them to different escapes:<\/p>\n<p>1. Shrimp (hip escape)<\/p>\n<p>2. Single leg shrimp (the bottom-mount elbow-knee escape)<\/p>\n<p>3. Side shrimp (under side mount)<\/p>\n<p>4. Forward (reverse) shrimp (escaping North-South)<\/p>\n<p>5. Box shrimp (a cool drill to combine the above)<\/p>\n<p>6. Bridge and shrimp (making space\u2026 more realistic against non-beginners!)<\/p>\n<p>7. Side control wall shrimp (useful for escaping side mount and putting your opponent back into guard)<\/p>\n<p>8. Shrimp and turn out (escaping and coming up into a single leg or standing)<\/p>\n<p>9. Elbow shrimp (guard retention)<\/p>\n<p>10. Hand shrimp (more space for guard retention)<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"10 Ways to Shrimp and Improve Hip Mobility on the Ground\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TQ4gJ7E6Xis?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll want to make the shrimp your club mascot after watching that video.<\/p>\n<p>For some more ideas check out this one from Jason Scully:<\/p>\n<h3>33 Solo Grappling BJJ Drills in Just 7 Minutes<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"33 Solo Grappling BJJ Drills in 7 Minutes - Jason Scully\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EXjP50SOwK4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Here is something to aim for\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Smooth.<\/p>\n<h3>BJJ Solo Drills with Professor Andrew Galvao<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"BJJ Solo Drills | with Professor Andre Galvao\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tEk2VQiacaM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>What if you have all the time in the world\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;but nowhere to train?<\/p>\n<p>Then here\u2019s an hour of solo drills by the 4x black belt world champion, Rikako Yuasa<\/p>\n<h3>Single Movement: An Hour of BJJ Solo Drills by Rikako Yuasa<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Single movement\uff1a\u67d4\u8853  \u30e0\u30fc\u30d6\u30e1\u30f3\u30c8 \u4e00\u4eba\u6253\u3061\u8fbc\u307f \u30de\u30c3\u30c8\u904b\u52d5\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m8nJ9d4g5mw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Should You Even Be Doing BJJ Solo Drills?<\/h2>\n<p>Here&#8217;s the deal:<\/p>\n<p>There is one real reason to do solo drills&#8230; and that is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Developing your technique.<\/li>\n<li>Improving quality of movement.<\/li>\n<li>Being smoother and faster.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But if your main goal is strength, conditioning, or flexibility for BJJ?<\/p>\n<p><strong>You&#8217;re better off doing a specific strength, conditioning, or flexibility program.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/strength-training-for-bjj\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Best Strength Training for BJJ Workout Routine<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stephan Kesting from Grapplearts get&#8217;s asked about it, here&#8217;s his response:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-294\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Stephan-Kesting-quote-about-BJJ-solo-drills.jpg\" alt=\"Stephan Kesting quote about BJJ solo drills\" width=\"591\" height=\"144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Stephan-Kesting-quote-about-BJJ-solo-drills.jpg 591w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Stephan-Kesting-quote-about-BJJ-solo-drills-300x73.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s pretty honest.<\/p>\n<p>You can see the instructional he&#8217;s talking about here on Amazon: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0018S1X4K?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=rollingbjj-20&amp;linkId=7a88984063292c4fc01cf0a2ea9ec530&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Grappling Drills for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2uap24T\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-302 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Grappling-Drills-by-Grapplearts.jpg\" alt=\"Grappling Drills by Grapplearts\" width=\"500\" height=\"306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Grappling-Drills-by-Grapplearts.jpg 500w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Grappling-Drills-by-Grapplearts-300x184.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>[Full disclosure: I haven&#8217;t seen it. I&#8217;ve <a href=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/bjj-back-attacks-formula\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reviewed his BJJ Back Attacks Formula<\/a> though, and I rate his work highly]<\/em><\/p>\n<p>That being said&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Solo drills that are based on jiu jitsu movements WILL also:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provide SOME sports-specific strength and endurance<\/li>\n<li>HELP improve your joint mobility and flexibility<\/li>\n<li>Improve your balance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Should You Train Solo Drills Even if You Get to Class Regularly?<\/h3>\n<p>It depends.<\/p>\n<p>If your sessions already involve doing movement drills&#8230; then it&#8217;s probably not needed.<\/p>\n<p>If you turn up, rep a few techniques, then roll&#8230; yes.<\/p>\n<p>Think about it:<\/p>\n<p>Basketball players practice shooting.<\/p>\n<p>Golfers practice their swing.<\/p>\n<p>Tennis players practice their serve.<\/p>\n<p>You get the picture.<\/p>\n<p>They are a good <strong>supplement<\/strong> to your jiu jitsu training.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>But&#8230; The Main Thing to Remember About Solo Drilling?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Don&#8217;t let solo drills replace your training.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-304\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Fact-You-Get-Better-at-Jiu-Jitsu.jpg\" alt=\"Fact You Get Better at Jiu Jitsu\" width=\"640\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Fact-You-Get-Better-at-Jiu-Jitsu.jpg 640w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Fact-You-Get-Better-at-Jiu-Jitsu-300x207.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Improvement comes from:<\/p>\n<p>Working on timing. Discovering which techniques work for you. Your body shape. Your opponents&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s what make BJJ effective.<\/p>\n<p>If all you do is solo drilling?<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s like only doing kata. Or practing kicking and punching air.<\/p>\n<p>As if any martial art ever only trained like that&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2>What Are Some Ideas for Solo Drill Workouts?<\/h2>\n<p>These are some of the workouts I&#8217;m currently doing:<\/p>\n<h3>The BJJ Solo Drill Home Warm-Up<\/h3>\n<p>This is the warm-up I do when I&#8217;m about to train at home:<\/p>\n<p>HINT: It&#8217;s the top 9 solo drills<\/p>\n<p>My wife is used to me being weird, so it&#8217;s okay<\/p>\n<p>I do 3x rounds of 5x repetitions (5x each side if it&#8217;s a one-sided exercise)<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Hip escapes (shrimps)<\/li>\n<li>Bridging<\/li>\n<li>Bridge and hip escape combo<\/li>\n<li>Bridge and mount escape combo<\/li>\n<li>Forwards and backwards rolls<\/li>\n<li>Inversions (side rolls)<\/li>\n<li>Technical stand-up<\/li>\n<li>Sprawls<\/li>\n<li>Shooting for doubles and singles<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-312 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Top-9-BJJ-Solo-Drills-to-Improve-Your-Jiu-Jitsu-Home-Warm-Up.jpg\" alt=\"The 9 Best BJJ Solo Drills to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu Home Warm-Up\" width=\"800\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Top-9-BJJ-Solo-Drills-to-Improve-Your-Jiu-Jitsu-Home-Warm-Up.jpg 800w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Top-9-BJJ-Solo-Drills-to-Improve-Your-Jiu-Jitsu-Home-Warm-Up-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Top-9-BJJ-Solo-Drills-to-Improve-Your-Jiu-Jitsu-Home-Warm-Up-768x895.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>The BJJ Solo Drill &#8216;Anytime Fitness&#8217; Warm-Up<\/h3>\n<p>This is the warm-up I do when I&#8217;m in public.<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t mind being weird.<\/p>\n<p>But&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Inversion rolls are VERY weird when you think about it.<\/p>\n<p>So for this one I do 3x rounds of 10x repetitions of:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Bridging<\/li>\n<li>Sprawls<\/li>\n<li>Shooting for doubles<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The sprawls look like burpees with poor form&#8230; and I sort of disguise the shots for doubles as dynamic lunges.<\/p>\n<h3>The 36 Solo Grappling Drills Movement Workout<\/h3>\n<p>I credit Jason Scully for this one, and use his video from above.<\/p>\n<p>Why 36 drills?<\/p>\n<p>I counted 34 drills in his video&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;plus added in sprawls and technical stand-ups.<\/p>\n<p>I usually go for 5x reps each side, aiming to go slow and smooth<\/p>\n<p>[This means it doesn&#8217;t take 7 minutes, I allocate half an hour]<\/p>\n<h3>Tabata Intervals with Jiu Jitsu Solo Drills<\/h3>\n<p>Below is an example Tabata workout I use for conditioning.<\/p>\n<p>Note:<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve specifically chosen drills that I find harder to stuff up when I&#8217;m fatigued&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and I make the less technical exercises last.<\/p>\n<p>AFTER I do the solo drill home warm-up:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Technical Stand-Up<\/strong>\u00a0(4 minutes of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest)\n<ul>\n<li>One minute rest<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Shooting for Doubles <\/b>(4 minutes of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest)\n<ul>\n<li>One minute rest<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sprawls<\/strong>\u00a0(4 minutes of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest)\n<ul>\n<li>One minute rest<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bridges<\/strong> (4 minutes of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds rest)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-313\" src=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Tabata-Intervals-with-Jiu-Jitsu-Solo-Drills.jpg\" alt=\"Tabata Intervals with Jiu Jitsu Solo Drills\" width=\"800\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Tabata-Intervals-with-Jiu-Jitsu-Solo-Drills.jpg 800w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Tabata-Intervals-with-Jiu-Jitsu-Solo-Drills-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Tabata-Intervals-with-Jiu-Jitsu-Solo-Drills-768x895.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<p>Now you know how to practice BJJ on your own. Solo drills are not enough on their own, but they are essential in building up the physical attributes and coordination in all the fundamental positions you will find yourself in while rolling.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you have a small space you can dedicate at home, in your garage, or basement, you can use the spare time you find here and there. I admit BJJ solo drills are not the most exciting way to train, but they&#8217;re the most convenient, so they serve their purpose.<\/p>\n<p>To round things off, here is a good summary of the solo drills you can and should do:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The BEST Solo Drills To Improve Your BJJ\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SeKq9JEYzh0?start=116&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Train them by doing solo drill sessions or include them in your warm-ups<\/p>\n<p>If you use solo drills in conditioning sessions keep in mind:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Movement skill is the first priority<\/li>\n<li>There may be better ways to achieve fitness goals<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>There&#8217;s lots of other drills you can also do to improve your jiu jitsu&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The best BJJ solo drills to improve your movement on the mat, how to fit them into your training, and 40+ other drills to improve your jiu jitsu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":315,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"wppr_data":{"cwp_meta_box_check":"No"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=269"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19977,"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269\/revisions\/19977"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}