The Foundation of Fundamentals

"A house is only as strong as its foundation."

If the foundation of your house is weak, then no matter how big, strong, or spectacular your house appears to be — it will fall. Most people understand this concept. But how many truly grasp what it means in the context of Jiu Jitsu?

Let’s break it down.

The Car Jack Analogy

Imagine you're driving along the beach here in Florida. Life is good. Then boom  you get a flat tire in the sand.

At first, you're frustrated. But it’s no big deal you’ve got a full-size spare and a brand new jack. Confidently, you place the jack under the vehicle and begin to lift... but it starts sinking into the sand. The weight of the car overwhelms the jack. It won’t lift. You're stuck.

Now what?

You grab a simple, thin floor mat and place the jack on top. This time it works. The vehicle stays level, the tire comes off, the spare goes on, and you’re back on your way.

Some of you are probably thinking: “What the heck does this have to do with Jiu Jitsu?”

Everything.

If you know how to use the jack but can’t remove the tire, you’re stuck.

If you can remove the tire, but don’t know how to use the jack, still stuck.

Even if you know both, but don’t place the jack on a proper foundation, stuck again.

Without a foundation, your knowledge is worthless.

We rely on technique, leverage, and foundational skills in daily life. So why wouldn’t we treat Jiu Jitsu as something we may one day rely on to protect ourselves or loved ones the same way?

Moves vs. Techniques

I often hear:

"Yeah yeah, Professor. Show me that ABC/XYZ move!" Or… "How do I get out of this if they do XYZ?"

Now I say this with love, and it may offend some of you but if it does, this blog is especially for you: 

Jiu Jitsu is not just “moves.” Let me say that again: Jiu Jitsu NOT moves.

The essence of Jiu Jitsu lies in the principles of leverage, technique and timing, not memorizing cool maneuvers.

Move:

A move is a single, isolated action within a roll or sequence.

Think of it as:

Something you can name quickly (e.g., “choke,” “arm drag”)

A piece of a larger puzzle

Example:

A bridge or shrimp is a move it creates space or changes position.

Technique:

A technique is a system a combination of moves applied strategically.

It’s about:

When, why, and how you use moves to solving a problem or exploiting an opportunity by executing a full process with purpose

Example:

An armbar from guard is a technique that utilizes core concepts to complete successfully.

It includes:

·       Breaking posture

·       Controlling the arm

·       Pivoting the hips

·       Adjusting leg position

·       Finishing the lock

Moves are the words. Techniques are the sentences.

What Are Fundamentals, really?

Pop quiz:

Can you name the fundamentals of Jiu Jitsu without Googling them?

If not, no shame. You're only cheating yourself by pretending.

So, let’s be honest.

Fundamentals are the core principles of Jiu Jitsu.

They include:

·       Base

·       Posture

·       Connection

·       Leverage

·       Pressure

·       Framing

·       Positional hierarchy

These are what allow you to make the techniques work. Without them? Your technique fails. Period.

If you're in guard and get pulled down, it’s because your posture is weak.

If you have posture but get swept, your base is off.

I can show you every move/technique I know but if your fundamentals are nonexistent, the move won’t work. There’s no shortcut around this.

Foundational Repair

If you’re still reading, I’m proud of you, as you have recognized where you need to focus with honesty and that means you care about improving.

Here’s your homework:

Next time you learn a technique, feel it. Don’t just "do the move." Pay attention to what fundamental concept it’s built on.

Let’s break them down:

Base:

A stable, balanced foundation to resist sweeps and control movement.

Tip: During sparring, tell your partner to try sweeping you. Focus on adjusting just enough as small shifts make big differences.

Posture:

Maintain efficient body structure to maximize leverage and minimize vulnerability.

Tip: “Keep your nose behind your toes.” If your nose is over your toes (or knees if your kneeling) you don’t have posture.

Connection:

Maintain effective contact to control your partner’s movement and distribute weight effectively.

Leverage:

Use your opponent’s weight against them. Physics always wins.

Frames:

Use limbs to create space and prevent pressure or control.

Pressure:

Apply body weight and structural pressure — not just muscle — to control and create openings.

Professor’s Tip: When in side control, follow the gi line with your shoulder. It should press under your opponent’s neck and angle across the sternum (2–3 o'clock). You know it’s working when their voice changes.

Positional Hierarchy:

Understand which positions give you the advantage and what options exist from each.

Tip: If you know your opponent’s only route is X or Y, you can anticipate the next step before they do.

Final Thoughts

Foundations are important on every level in Jiu jitsu the biggest plus side is that you never stop improving your fundamentals they only get stronger over time (think of it as going from a crawlspace, to a basement, to a bomb shelter, to a missile silo) My goal is to help you build your foundation, because when your foundation improves  your whole game does.

As I said in my last blog:

When YOU advance, WE ALL advance.

Join Our Morning Sessions:

Whether you're a white belt or black belt, you're invited.

Monday / Wednesday / Friday

5:00–6:00 AM – Open forum (ask questions, dive into concepts)

6:00–7:00 AM – Structured training session

Let’s build your foundation, one concept at a time.

See you on the mats.

~ Professor Damon