Just roll. OR
Use a constraints led approach. For example:
A is in B’s guard. B can be standing or kneeling, etc. B tries to pass, A defends but cannot sweep or submit, just work guard retention. If A passes, reset. Work for X minutes with A trying to pass, then swap. This is a drill for A.
A is in B’s guard. B tries to retain his position, but cannot pass or submit. A tries to sweep or submit him. B can be allowed grips, or have them disallowed. This is a drill for A.
Arm drag game: A is kneeling, B has butterfly guard on A. A grips B’s knees and tries to stand up. B tries to arm drag A and move toward the back before A can fully stand up. If A manages to stand up, they “win”, B should go to supine guard and get some grips and foot controls. This is a drill for B.
“Seal” drill. A sits with B behind them. B tries to get grips, controls, hooks, A defends. This is a drill for A.
Chess drill. A makes one move, then stops. B makes one move, then stops. Continue.
Requires a timer, and probably one person to sit out and call the drill. Roll. When the timer goes off (maybe every 30 seconds), each partner takes the other’s position. Restart, go again.
Requires a timer, and probably one person to sit out and call the drill. One person is A, the other B. When the timer goes off, the person sitting out calls A or B. The partner called is allowed one move without resistance. Then, restart the roll. Continue. Can be done without the timer with the person calling out A or B at random intervals.
A has a top position on B. B tries to escape, All B can do is hold position, no hand position changes or anything. Could also be done with back control or turtle.
A has top position on B. B tries to escape, but now B can change positions.
Start anywhere. Both A and B try to either:
- pin both shoulders for 3 seconds, or
- get hooks in back control for three seconds.
A is like a standing heavy bag. B moves around him taking various controls, and arm drags, duckunders, snapdowns, 2 on 1, etc. Can add takedowns, but it is not really a takedown drill and you lose time getting back up and resetting.
A gets a standing control on B. B works his way out, reset if he escapes.
A gets a standing control on B. B starts to work his way out. A should abandon the hold at the point of no return and switch immediately to a single leg (or take the back, 2 on 1, etc.)
Specific positional sparring. Pick a position and work from there. If one escapes, passes, submits, etc. reset.
Groups of 3 (or 4, etc. depending on numbers). One person down. Each other person jumps into that person’s guard, the bottom person either sweeps or submits, or the top person passes. Reset with next person if this occurs. Do 3 minute rounds with the same person down the entire time. Then next person down, etc.
With larger groups – a specified number of people are down. The rest form a line, those at the head of the line get into a person’s guard. Same as above, pass, sweep or submit. Winner stays in, loser is out, the person at the head of the line takes the loser’s position (a number of ways to do this).
In all cases, learning occurs best at a pace where whoever the drill is targeted at wins between 60% and 80% of the time. Less than this, you get discouraged and do not want to play. More, you get overconfident and do not respect the drill. Modulate the speed and pressure accordingly. Remember, it’s the other person’s turn next, so play nice.
Designated Winner – Partners. One person is the Designated Winner. Work from any position to achieve a specific goal or one of a number of goals. The other person applies progressive resistance, but only enough to give the Designated Winner problems to solve, the Designate Winner always eventually wins.
Start from A on B’s back. A tries to get a rear naked choke, B resists. This alone is artificial in that it allows B to only have to defend the RNC without leaving themselves open to other submissions. To avoid this A gets 5 points for the RNC, but 1 point if he finishes with another submission (armbar, collar choke, etc.) This can be adapted for any position. B can be allowed to escape or only defend.
Work with a partner for 5 minutes, say from guard, but to win the drill the passer has to get 2 passes and the guard player has to get two sweeps or submissions. You both win or lose depending on whether both goals are achieved.
Per a recent John Will FB post – pick a technique and drill it for 15 minutes. Your partner can do the same technique as you or a different technique. Each person drills what they want. Strong Jiu jitsu games are developed by working on your weaknesses, a chain is only as string as the weakest link.
Skill development is not the same as collecting techniques!