Gordon Ryan, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion, has long promoted a training methodology that challenges how most people approach practice. His philosophy centers on situational training as the most effective way to develop skill, pushing back against the ego-driven rolling that dominates many gyms.
“Fastest way to get better in the sport of jiu-jitsu is by doing situational training,”
Ryan explained, calling for a fundamental change in how athletes train. His targeted method stands in contrast to traditional sessions where rounds are driven more by competitive urges than clear technical goals.
Ryan argues that standard rolling is limited by psychological barriers.
“Most people are trying to win every round because of their egos,”
he noted. This mindset gets in the way of actual progress, as athletes focus on momentary success rather than long-term improvement.
He also pointed out how this creates imbalances in positional awareness.
“So you see a majority of every round being spent in guard, top and bottom, where one guy’s trying to pass and the other guy’s trying to defend. And not much else happens usually if the guys are relatively equal level.”
Ryan’s critique highlights how unrestricted rolling leads athletes to stay in comfort zones. Rather than exploring unfamiliar positions, people repeat sequences they’re already good at. The result is overdevelopment in areas like guard and top control while other critical positions remain undertrained.
“A massive discrepancy in the time spent in normal positions, guard, topside control, things like that,”
he added, noting how this skews a student’s growth.
Situational training forces exposure to neglected positions. By repeatedly working from specific scenarios, students can’t hide from their weaknesses. This method makes athletes develop competency in uncomfortable situations, rather than escape them the moment they feel threatened.
Unlike traditional rolling, where someone might scramble back to safety when in trouble, situational training keeps them locked in that difficult position until they can solve the problem with technique.
This aligns with established principles of motor learning. Focusing on isolated positions lets students concentrate fully on the technical details of a specific move or transition. This targeted repetition builds skill faster and more effectively than relying on full match flow.
Ryan also highlighted the mental side of training. Removing the win-or-lose structure from practice makes space for failure, experimentation and learning without ego or embarrassment getting in the way.
His approach hasn’t just worked for his own career — it’s gained traction among grapplers seeking more deliberate and productive training methods.
