This is Not a Test
Not every sparring round needs to prove something. Some rounds test us, some teach us, and others are simply fun.
A sparring round does not need to become a final exam. It can test what we know, help us study what we do not, or simply give us a chance to enjoy jiu jitsu.
Tests usually come after the studying.
We learn the material, practice it, and get a few questions wrong when the consequences are relatively small. Then someone decides whether we understand it well enough to move on.
When Every Round Becomes a Test
Often, we try to test our jiu jitsu in each and every sparring round. We step onto the mat feeling like the next five minutes need to prove something.
Did I pass their guard? Did I get swept? Did a lower belt catch me? Would I have scored more points when the timer went off?
Nobody may have said that the round was a test. Our partner may not even know there is one. Still, many of us keep a private scoreboard that nobody else agreed to participate in.
The trouble is that a sparring round makes a poor comprehensive test. There is no agreed-upon material. The questions are not consistent. Our partner may be using their strongest jiu jitsu, trying something they learned ten minutes ago, or simply seeing where the round takes them.
If I use the safest parts of my game while you spend the round experimenting with a new sweep, ending in a better position does not prove that I have an expert-level understanding of my jiu jitsu.
When we treat every round like a test, our choices begin to narrow. We use our strongest grips. We return to the positions where we already feel comfortable. We abandon unfamiliar movements as soon as they begin creating unfamiliar problems.
That may help us protect the appearance of our jiu jitsu. It may not help us expand it.
Trying something new may give our partner an opening. Working from a weak position may lead to getting passed, swept, or submitted.
That is not necessarily evidence that we should stop trying. It may simply be the cost of learning.
Studying Through Sparring
A study round begins with a question. What happens if I stay here? How well can I recover? Can I create the reaction I expect?
The round may not look successful from the outside. We may get passed several times or spend most of it trying to reach a position without ever getting there. From the inside, we may be studying the same problem from several different angles.
Testing and studying are not always separate things. A practice test is still part of studying. It shows us which questions we can answer and which parts of the material need more attention. A sparring round can do the same thing.
Sometimes the question is whether a movement survives pressure, fatigue, or a partner who recognizes what we are trying to do. If it works, we can ask it a more difficult question. If it falls apart, we have a better idea of what to study next. The round can be both a test and a study session.
Sometimes It’s Just Fun
Those are not our only options. Sometimes I just want to have a fun round.
I love a challenge, but I don't love going 100 percent like it's a competition every time I roll. A real technical battle, though? That can be bliss.
We exchange positions, try things, catch each other, escape, and occasionally laugh at whatever strange decision brought us there.
Neither of us is giving the other person anything for free. We are simply not carrying the result with us after the timer sounds.
Plenty of people start jiu jitsu with no intention of ever competing. They do not expect to need it for self-defense, and they are not particularly concerned with how quickly they progress through the belts.
They almost always want to get better at jiu jitsu. They also want to enjoy doing it.
Most of us are not paid to participate in a recreational sport. We pay to play. Even professionals need to enjoy some part of their sport if they are going to keep practicing it for years. The rest of us might as well have some fun too.
Having fun does not mean we stopped learning. When the result matters less, we may become more willing to try something unfamiliar. Sometimes having fun gives us the insight we needed to get better in the long run.
Know What Kind of Round You Need
There are still times when we need a particular kind of round. Someone preparing for a tournament may need competition intensity. Someone studying a position may want to keep returning to the same problem.
If we need something specific, it helps to communicate that. We shouldn’t be trying to defend the reputation of our jiu jitsu every time we slap and bump. Not every round needs to be labeled before it begins. We should simply be honest, at least with ourselves, about what we are doing.
Some rounds show us what we know. Some help us learn what we do not. Some manage to do both. Others are simply fun. Whether I am testing myself, studying a position, or playing around, most rounds should end with a smile on my face. Not every round needs to prove something.
Most of the time, isn't it enough that we got to do jiu jitsu?
See you on the mats.
Joshua is the owner and head coach at 608 Jiu Jitsu in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. He writes about learning, problem solving, and becoming a better training partner through jiu jitsu.