BJJ Game Plan Development — Building Your Personal System
How to develop a personal BJJ game plan — identifying your strengths, building a connected system, and adapting it for different opponents.
📱 Track every roll like the pros
Free forever — heatmap, technique progress, streaks.
What Is a BJJ Game Plan?
A game plan is a connected system of techniques and positions that flows from your strongest attributes. It is not a list of techniques — it is a map of if-then relationships: if my guard pass is stopped, I switch to this; if my submission is defended, I transition to that.
Start with Your A-Game
Your A-game is the 2-3 techniques you hit with the highest percentage from any position. Build outward from these. If your A-game is the armbar from guard, build the setups that create armbar opportunities and the transitions that arise when the armbar is defended.
Identifying Your Strengths
- Track which techniques you finish most in sparring — these are your A-game
- Notice which positions you feel most comfortable in
- Identify which entries you set up most naturally
- Acknowledge your physical attributes: strong grip? Good hip flexibility? Long legs?
Building Your System
A complete system has: a takedown or guard-pull entry, a primary guard to play, a guard-passing preference, a top-control game, and 2-3 submission chains. Each component flows into the next when the primary option is blocked.
Adapting for Opponents
Against a stronger, slower opponent: use speed and movement. Against a quick, light opponent: use pressure and control. Against a guard player: prioritize your guard passing. Against a passer: prioritize your guard retention and sweeps.
Evolving the Plan
A game plan is not fixed. Review it quarterly. Add new weapons as you develop them. Remove entries that consistently fail against your training partners. Your game plan at white belt should look completely different by purple belt.
📬 BJJ Wiki Newsletter
Weekly technique breakdowns, training tips, and competition analysis.
FAQ
Depth beats breadth. A game plan with 5 deeply developed techniques beats one with 20 superficially known ones. Build connections between fewer techniques rather than accumulating many.
Start conceptually at white belt by noting what works for you. Formalize it at blue belt. Refine it continuously from purple belt onward.
Every A-game technique should have 2-3 follow-up options when defended. If opponents consistently stop your A-game, it reveals a gap in the follow-up chain, not a flaw in the primary technique.
Common BJJ Problems & FAQ
Focus on understanding dominant positions first, like side control and mount, and the primary escapes and advances from them. This involves learning to control your opponent's weight distribution by maintaining a strong base with your hips and using your limbs to frame and create space, rather than just trying to memorize every submission.
Prioritize learning how to maintain a strong defensive posture by keeping your elbows tucked and your hips close to the mat to prevent them from establishing dominant grips and leverage. Understanding how to shrimp (hip escape) effectively to create space and re-establish guard is crucial for escaping bad positions and resetting your offense.
Concentrate on using leverage and timing by focusing on leg attacks and submissions that isolate limbs, such as kimuras or armbars, where you can use your body weight to create torque. Learn to use your hips to generate rotational force and control your opponent's limb placement, rather than relying on brute strength to overcome their size.
Related Video
📬 Free BJJ Newsletter
Get the free BJJ White Belt Guide plus technique breakdowns, training tips & exclusive content every week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Get Free Access →More Questions
How do I identify my BJJ strengths and weaknesses to build a game plan?
Analyze your performance in rolling and competition. Note positions where you consistently succeed or struggle, and techniques you naturally gravitate towards or avoid. Discuss these observations with your instructor for objective feedback.
What's the difference between a BJJ game plan and just having favorite techniques?
A game plan is a strategic framework that connects your preferred techniques into a cohesive system, dictating how you'll approach different situations and opponents. It's about understanding the 'why' and 'when' behind your moves, not just the 'what'.
How often should I update or adjust my BJJ game plan?
Your game plan should be a living document, evolving as you improve and your body changes. Re-evaluate it every few months, or after significant learning breakthroughs, to ensure it still aligns with your current skill set and goals.