At 19 years old, Jozef Chen has already developed a framework for thinking about jiu-jitsu that goes well beyond what most practitioners encounter at any level. Chen broke down the concepts driving his rapid development, starting with what he calls alignment theory.
Alignment theory organizes the principles of jiu-jitsu into three categories: posture, structure, and base. What makes this framework stand out is that Chen insists on clear definitions rather than vague coaching cues.
Take base, for example. Rather than telling someone to “stay in good base” without explanation, Chen offers a precise definition: “Base is your ability to generate and absorb force relative to your goals.”
That definition opens things up considerably. Base is no longer just about being stable on top.
As Chen puts it, “You can be on bottom playing guard, but if you have a good ability to carry weight and then exert force, this means you’re in good base.”
The clarity of the definition lets practitioners apply the concept across positions they might never have connected it to before.
Beyond frameworks, Chen draws a distinction between growth and performance mindsets, a concept he picked up from a video discussing fighting games.
“Some people just hone the same skill set over and over and really try to refine everything, and then some people it’s not so much about refinement, it’s more about innovating with new ideas and trying to bring new techniques in,” he explained.
For Chen, the key is cycling between both. When a competition is approaching, he shifts into performance mode, relying on what he already knows and performing it cleanly. Outside of that, he opens things up to exploration.
“When I’m in more of an off season or there’s no immediate competitions coming up, then I’m in a more growth mindset where I’m going to be trying to take on new information.”
He is equally direct about self-reliance as a learner. While coaches can accelerate progress, Chen believes you have to build your own jiu-jitsu mind eventually.
“In the long term, you want to be able to do it yourself. You want to be able to not rely on someone else, because otherwise you’re going to be more or less a reflection of them and not your own practitioner.”
His advice for younger competitors circles back to sustainability. Three-a-day training sessions during camp taught him that grinding too hard without mental recovery leads to burnout.
“I want to do it for the rest of my life,” Chen said. “So it’s important that I’m keeping that in mind and not necessarily putting too much pressure on myself all the time.”
The common thread across all of Chen’s thinking is intentionality. Whether it’s defining terms precisely, cycling training phases, or protecting your relationship with the sport, the goal is always the same: keep thinking, keep enjoying it, and keep going.
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