Simplicity works...but don't take my word for it!

Growing up every activity I ever competed or participated in was never based on who had the best basics, it was based on who had the most tricks. I remember when And-1 first came out we couldn't wait to get our hands on those videos. We hadn't even totally mastered the game of basketball, yet we were out there trying to "break each others ankles". Sure we were eager to learn, but only the tricks that made us look badass. We would expend all this energy dribbling and carrying on, only to reach one goal...making the shot. Wouldn't it be easier to apply a simple cut to the hoop and make a lay-up? Yes, it would. But this my friend is the first mistake of most jiu jitsu practitioners, including myself. We expend so much of our precious energy trying to advance to the next position. We jump, juke, spin, split, kick, and dance until we're a sweaty mess with our opponent on top of us applying some painful armlock we haven't learned the name of yet. Funny thing about it is, some still don't learn. The flash and dash of the sport is hard and 9x out of 10 you won't get it, so why not work on your basics...the basics are easy. Both will get you to the same destination (with time and practice of course), but one will never fail you. This is why I like Roger Gracie...super duper elite black belt, that employs this idea of simplicity in every match. He even says that all that razzle dazzle stuff is hard. The amazing thing about it is that he uses these "basics" on other black belts...which goes to show you that if you practice them and leave the fancy pants stuff to the clowns, your game will be just as effective as said clowns, probably better. Enjoy the video. Ciao!