How do you learn from a video instructional?

I like to take it in about 10-15 minute segments and try the content out in slight resistance drilling starting to troubleshoot on the way.
Or I watch the whole thing and try to grasp a takeaway concept I can apply immediately.

Honey Badger

Black belt 3rd degreeVerified

255 forum posts9745/1000

I’ve always been very good at breaking down techniques I see. So I don’t like the ones with a ton of talking. I prefer just ones with the move, or ones I see in competition. Just my personal preference.

Hannu LeinonenOP

Purple beltVerified

188 forum posts8035/400

I've tried many ways. Sometimes I watch many hours and write down some pointers. Sometimes I take a technique and try to do it with a partner. Lately I've been more interested in just getting to a position were technique should start and doing some kind of unbalancing. Not worried about the actual move but first trying to get to a situation when I might be able to do something.

Edited 6 year(s) ago

Brandon Belew

Purple beltVerified

107 forum posts1610/400

I have a terrible time learning from most videos -- Chewy ( one of the black belts in the association i'm under ), lays them out in shorter chunks and it's MUCH easier to digest in my opinion. He also includes videos of his setups and use of the techniques in competition which is also helpful.

Alexander Warncke

Purple beltVerified

2 forum posts925/400

Heavily depends on the instructor.
For example, Craig Jones Leg log DVD I watched 2-3 techniques in a row (~15-20 minutes), wrote them down, drilled them, came back, etc.
John Danahers Kimura DVD I first tried the same, which failed, because he doesn't teach "just" technique, he shows concepts. So, better to watch trough in big chunks (I take around 45 minutes to an hour at once), write down small markers and then, when you can grasp the whole picture, search for the details you need right now. Those, I write down again in parts of 1-3 techniques, depending on the extend of information.

Edited 6 year(s) ago

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

I like to take it in about 10-15 minute segments

Exactly how I approach it. I've watched vids since the vhs days and can only digest a few mins at a time. I write down the points I want to try and then my training partners drill them with me and slowly increase resistance to full out rolling. It is trial and error until we both really understand it. I have had a grappling dummy for over 10 years and I like to work my side control and mount transitions on it when no one else is available. Plus it doubles as a nice pillow when I fall asleep on my home gym mats. lol

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

I love videos. My process is watch the vid, then ideally download it and chop it into short chunks I can put on my phone. Drill it at open mat, then when I feel comfortable with the mechanics, try teaching it in my small daytime classes. If that goes well, I'll teach it in the bigger evening class, continuing to try it out in sparring. Take notes on how the teaching went, ready for next time (if I decide it's something I want to add to my rotating curriculum). For me, I learn a lot through teaching.

Olivier Hennau

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

219 forum posts6675/1000

sometimes it's a little detail, sometime it's a different way of thinking (concept)

my process is trying watching vid entirely one time and watching again only the move.
i do with my fav teammate in a few drill to catch the move and right after trying to hit it on blue belts.

but most the time i take vids a reminder for teaching cause sometime, i "forgot" to teach some technique that i do not use so much (due to body type or whatever),

Brian Van Miltenburg

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

117 forum posts6070/1000

I have problems sitting through hours of talking and little movements shown. Danaher stuff is not my bag to say the least. I enjoy watching short video's of techniques or competition video's and extract from them what looks interesting. Usually its a detail sometimes a position.
Roger Gracie has video's out that click with me. Simple and effective stuff, usually leave me thinking "why didnt I think of that?" Because Im not Roger... thats why haha

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

I have problems sitting through hours of talking and little movements shown. Danaher stuff is not my bag to say the least.

Yep, Danaher is unwatchable without speeding it up. I usually watch him at 2x speed or higher, he talks so slowly it's like normal speed for most people. The Guard Retention set is pretty good, though a lot of it you can find spread across various other instructors and DVDs (e.g., Danaher's framing is much the same as Ryan Hall's Defensive Guard, plus there's even some grilled chicken type stuff that Priit covers in more depth) ;)

Also, this is why I chop the videos up after watching them. I'll watch the whole thing first, then slice it into 1 to 3 minute chunks of mp4 to watch on my phone. Also useful doing that with Ryan Hall, and indeed for Priit (although I've only been to lots of his classes, not checking out his DVDs yet).

Ben Wynne

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

291 forum posts4820/1000

I tend to stop longer videos at the 10 min mark or so (depending on where a natural break in the concept is) and go work on it / think about it, then come back later.
I really like short instructionals that are under 7 mins for specific technique.
I like longer videos for concepts (e.g. Chris Paines how to defend everything or All wrestling takedowns you'll ever need with Jorgen Matsi)

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

I learn more from privates than videos as it is hands on and you can feel the pressure. I try to take a private from other black belts when the opportunity arises.
Any visiting instructor I will usually get a private from. I have also had to opportunity to roll with them. Too many to name but there are some real hidden gems out in the bjj world that don't get the recognition they deserve. More recently I was taking privates from a local black belt (Cam Florczak) who grew up on the mats with the team. I have photos of him with his yellow belt on when he was a kid. He grew up to be a machine. I really enjoy what he shows me and he helps "modernize" my game. Humble as pie and a great person.

Jon

Purple beltVerified

89 forum posts1345/400

I think Keenan online is the best resource these days. Short chunks that you're supposed to practice and everything makes sense. They're also entertaining.

Hannu LeinonenOP

Purple beltVerified

188 forum posts8035/400

One good way to learn from videos is to record the instructions during lessons and watch them before next class - and also the previous lesson or two. I also notice that I miss details first time I hear the instructions, but after drilling them in class and reviewing it from video I see much more.

Tõll Simson

Black beltVerified8 forum posts2870/1000

Best instructional for me has been wulfinghouse with Langaker and Espen. Short and sweet. Two minutes explains what is happening and you can go on and try it out. Look it on the mat and start figuring it out. I think competition matches is more important to be watch than instructionals.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

Bumping this to avoid duplicates, as the same question came up in a new thread. Also, I see Roy Dean is on the site now, which is cool: as I've said in the past, I think his 'Blue Belt Requirements' remains the gold standard for broadly focused DVDs (i.e., trying to be comprehensive rather than a specific area, like spider guard or whatever) aimed at beginners.

Pedro Duarte

Black belt 6th degreeVerified

10 forum posts14735/1000

I am not a big fan of professor youtube, specially the videos with over explanation that you have to often endure.

It has been my opinion for a long time that BJJ teachers are there to guide their students to try to understand on their own, not to break down every little detail.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

not to break down every little detail.

Out of interest, as you've been around a good while and taught in a number of countries: would you say this is partly down to cultural difference? Though there are of course super technical instructors in Brazil, the need to dig really deeply into every detail, name all the transitional positions etc, doesn't seem to be as strong there.

I love to categorise and I love detail, but then I'm German (and a few other things). ;)

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

I am not a big fan of professor youtube, specially the videos with over explanation that you have to often endure. It has been my opinion for a long time that BJJ teachers are there to guide their students to try to understand on their own, not to break down every little detail.

I agree less talk is better.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

I like concise, focused talk, but with plenty of detail. E.g., somebody like Lilo (probably my fave teacher at camp, especially as she's also hilarious), Heather Raftery, Paul Schreiner, Roy Dean, etc. I like Rener's teaching too, in part because he talks really fast so I don't have to speed up videos like I normally do. :P

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

I like concise, focused talk, but with plenty of detail. E.g., somebody like Lilo (probably my fave teacher at camp, especially as she's also hilarious), Heather Raftery, Paul Schreiner, Roy Dean, etc. I like Rener's teaching too, in part because he talks really fast so I don't have to speed up videos like I normally do. :P

I like Rener too..He is very entertaining no matter what anyone says. His jiu jitsu is legit.. his salesmanship, well that's another matter, but it does not affect me so I don't really care. When I teach I basically show the gross mechanics (Jason Figliano gave me this idea) and let them try as they run into problems we troubleshoot. It minimizes the talking until it is necessary and at the end of class after everyone is exhausted from rolling we discuss the details of whatever technique was being taught in class to gain a better understanding without making the class seem long. It's been working pretty good. Before I would give too much detail and some students would be left a bit confused sometimes. Of course I think everyone can teach and train how they like as this is a very personal experience.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

Yeah: I've only met him once, found him to be exactly the same as he is in his vids. For sure a smooth salesman, but I think he's a net benefit to BJJ. I like what he had to say about running a school when I interviewed him for Jiu Jitsu Style Magazine.

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

For sure a smooth salesman, but I think he's a net benefit to BJJ.

Agreed

Dre Armeda

Brown beltVerified

9 forum posts1415/700

I prefer to watch tournament Jiu Jitsu and if there are specifics to a technique or sequence, I try them at open mat. There are some good instructionals out there but I try to stick to trusted sources such as team mates or world champions. I follow the same mechaniques with these videos by practicing and drilling at open mat to see if the move translates from video to the mat for me.

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

I prefer to watch tournament Jiu Jitsu

I love to watch tournament matches while on the treadmill at home. Keeps me entertained and I pick up alot of cool combos that happen on the fly.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1900 forum posts3635/1000

If it's got good commentary, then I like watching tournament matches too: I used to watch avidly back when Caleb and Shawn Williams did it, they were great. Such a shame that BudoVideos isn't in charge of the streaming now, I don't want to give Flo my money (although I know one of the commentators I think, who is on here, Josh: he's an excellent commentator too, enjoyed his work on Polaris among other places).

Without good commentary, I tend to find watching tournaments kinda boring. But then I'm not a competitor myself (did it once, hated it, but haven't completely ruled out trying it again some time. Especially as that was a loooong time ago ;D).

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

If it's got good commentary, then I like watching tournament matches too: I used to watch avidly back when Caleb and Shawn Williams did it, they were great. Such a shame that BudoVideos isn't in charge of the streaming now, I don't want to give Flo my money (although I know one of the commentators I think, who is on here, Josh: he's an excellent commentator too, enjoyed his work on Polaris among other places). Without good commentary, I tend to find watching tournaments kinda boring. But then I'm not a competitor myself (did it once, hated it, but haven't completely ruled out trying it again some time. Especially as that was a loooong time ago ;D).

I watch with the volume off and music playing on my stereo. The sound of the crowd makes me want to sleep for some reason. Weirdest thing

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

Pretty good event to watch when you get a chance.

https://www.youtube.com/w[...]p;t=10422s

Adam Laclair

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

126 forum posts2690/1000