Is This the Easiest Way?

Learning BJJ is partly about learning how to be efficient.
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Use as little energy as possible so you can tire your opponent out.
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Be a few steps ahead of your opponent so you will be in charge of the pace.
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Control your opponent in such a way that they will come into your submission.
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“Eh, I see, but how do I do that?”
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Good question.
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Probably a good start is to ask yourself this question:
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What’s the easiest way for me to do such and such?
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To put it differently, what kind of situation do I want my opponent to be in if I want to do such and such to them?
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And then think about how to make them want to move into that situation.
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In many cases, beginners often insist on doing things hard way… mostly because they don’t realize they need to provoke some desired reaction or don’t know how to do so.
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But I bet that if you start asking yourself the “what’s the easiest thing” question, it will help you clarify your options.
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While it’s important to learn actual techniques and moves, updating your BJJ critical thinking skills is crucial and helps you improve your overall game, too.
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Put your thinking cap on and start looking for easier paths.