What's more important – heuristics or details? When it's time to gain knowledge in Jiu jitsu that improves performance there are two main avenues. The first is HEURISTICS. These are general rules of thumb that guide behavior. So for example, “whenever possible try to pass guard in a direction opposite that which your opponents knees are pointing” is a general piece of advice that guides guard passing behavior in a wide set of circumstances and generally aids guard passing performance. It is easy to remember and gives good guidance in many situations. The second are technical DETAILS. These are situation specific and often difficult to remember under stress. In truth you need both. HEURISTICS WITHOUT DETAILS ARE INEFFECTIVE AND DETAILS WITHOUT HEURISTICS ARE PARALYZING. Make sure your study and general reflections on Jiu jitsu involve both.
