It seems like everyone is completely adverse to the idea of Jiu-Jitsu being painful even though it should be.

“But it’s the gentle art!” So is knitting…

I know, I can hear people screaming that from my chair.

So why am I saying pressure and pain is a good thing and you need to harden the fuck up? Lets get into it.

1. It teaches you that you are never safe.

I have taught and rolled with plenty of people over the years. It always comes up at some point that Jiu-Jitsu is the ultimate form of self-defense because of ABC. Cool argument on the face when you are newer to the art, bad argument when you look at MMA stats (but let’s not go there now).

What inevitably happens is that Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast will try to play some form of guard and I will shin ride their exposed ankle, then they will be in lots of pain and tap. If they don’t tap, they will be hesitant to play that form of guard with me again the rest of the round.

Why is this important?

That safety in their guard (despite me already saying it’s an inferior position and not safe from strikes) is now shattered. All that time they spent feeling safe in butt-scooting now gets tossed out and they realize the safety on the bottom is a lie

This also applies to being in bad positions. You may mount someone, but knuckles in your ribs will remind you that you need to consider more inside position and not just rest. There are threats everywhere.

This is extremely important when people come to learn to defend themselves and never seems to get taught in a sport-focused gym.

2. It takes the opponent out of their A-game.

As I said above, a good shin ride on an ankle will often make the open guard player think twice about their guard. If they are a guard player, they will begin to stop using it in the round and resort to something else.

In most cases, you just forced them out of their A-game. If it wasn’t their A-game, usually they wouldn’t have opted to try to start or get there on purpose.

If they aren’t in their A-game, this is more space for you to go to yours.

3. It gets in your opponents head.

They came thinking they were going to do some moves. You came and showed them you were going to keep pressure on them and make every movement inflict pain. Suddenly they are hesitant to go anywhere, can’t play their game they thought was safe, and now don’t know what to do.

You may have defeated them mentally in the first minute and they don’t even know it.

If you can defeat them mentally, the physical battle becomes much easier.

Now let’s talk about why you may be opposed to the idea using pressure and pain in your grappling.

1. You think its mean.

You know what’s more mean? Someone trying to learn to defend themselves getting a false sense of security in bullshit positions and you continuing the lie to them.

2. You think it will seriously injure someone.

A good shin or knee ride is much less dangerous than a choke or a heel hook.

If I don’t let go of a choke you will die.

When you feel pain in a heel hook, you are already tearing your knee.

If I shin ride your bicep and you don’t tap, it will be bruised tomorrow.

See the difference?

3. You came to learn the sport.

No one said you cannot incorporate pressure and pain submissions into it.

4. Your ego is massive and you are a pussy.

No one likes to lose. You have to lose to learn to win.

5. You are elderly and came to learn something to just be active.

Okay. You got me.

Mathematical Jiu-Jitsu teaches pressure submissions as a means to control and funnel our opponents moves. These controls are taught through all belts to emphasize that nowhere is safe and you must constantly be aware of your opponent.