In a recent appearance on the Jits and Giggles podcast, Tom DeBlass addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the ecological approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. As a highly respected instructor and competitor, DeBlass shared his insights on balancing drilling and situational training, emphasizing that both play crucial roles in developing effective grappling skills.
DeBlass’s Training Philosophy
DeBlass broke down his preferred training methodology, which incorporates both structured drilling and constraint-based situational training. He illustrated this by describing how he runs classes:
“Here’s the things we’ve been doing—today I have my students start on each other’s backs. You can’t strangle, just hold; the person tries to escape. Next, you can’t strangle, you can’t escape, you just have to defend the strangle.”
While acknowledging the benefits of situational training, DeBlass underscored the importance of traditional drilling:
“When I show a new technique, however, I have my students drill it a few times before we put it into a live situation.”
Addressing the Ecological Debate
The ecological approach to BJJ, which prioritizes learning through live problem-solving rather than isolated drilling, has gained traction in recent years. However, DeBlass remains skeptical of fully abandoning drilling, citing examples from other disciplines to reinforce his stance. He referenced elite athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, who were known for dedicating extra hours to refining fundamental skills:
“When I said Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were known for going to the gym two hours before and staying two hours later shooting shots, does that help them? He says no. You’re wrong.“
DeBlass also pointed to his own lineage’s competitive success as proof that drilling remains essential:
“Look at the resume of myself and our lineage. We have won everything, and we always drilled.”
Despite some pushback from proponents of the ecological approach, DeBlass maintains that drilling is a necessary foundation, especially for beginners. He argues that advanced practitioners naturally integrate ecological training into their skill set, but foundational knowledge must first be instilled through repetition:
“To sum that up:
- Drilling comes first.
- The ecological approach follows.
- At an advanced level, it all comes together.
- At a beginner level, drilling comes first—then live training, even positional stuff. But you have to drill a little bit.”
Simplicity Over Complexity
Another key point DeBlass emphasized was the need for clear and accessible communication when teaching. He critiqued the tendency of some coaches to overcomplicate explanations:
“Speaking in a way where everyone can understand—the bigger words you’re using to confuse people doesn’t mean you know more Jiu-Jitsu, it just means you have a better vocabulary.”
To drive this point home, DeBlass shared a comparison between two ways of explaining the importance of drilling:
- “It’s important to drill for a little bit when introducing new things; it helps your muscle memory.”
- “Drilling in Jiu-Jitsu is the cornerstone of mastery, serving as the bridge between conceptual understanding and fluid execution. Through relentless repetition, practitioners engrain techniques into their neuromuscular memory, allowing movements to unfold instinctively under duress…”
DeBlass posed a simple question: which explanation is better suited for a 16-year-old student just starting their Jiu-Jitsu journey?
Inviting Critics to the Mats
As the debate continues, DeBlass remains open to testing ideas on the mats, challenging critics to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ecological approach in live training:
“And again, I would train with him. Come through, train, pass my guard using your ecological ways, right? Maybe you could—maybe you can’t. I don’t think you could, right? Because I don’t think you’ve drilled it enough times to be able to do it.”
Ultimately, DeBlass believes the discussion is valuable, but he stands firm on the necessity of drilling, especially for beginners. Whether the debate will lead to a shift in training methodologies remains to be seen, but DeBlass’s stance is clear—fundamentals come first, and drilling remains an indispensable tool in skill development.
