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Jiu-Jitsu Kryptonite: Is It a Real Phenomenon?

Ever wondered what you might have in common with Superman? Read on to find out - but don't get too excited, because when it comes to training we all have our "kryptonite."

val worthington, valerie worthington, bjj, mma, brazilian jiu jitsu, grappling

Written by Valerie Worthington Last updated on February 23, 2012

One of the great things about writing about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it gives me an excuse to chat with practitioner friends and acquaintances who can share their perspectives on technique, interpersonal issues, and logistics related to the grappling lifestyle. With this topic, however, I am pretty much going it alone, in that I’m not naming names – yet.

But the only way I knew it was an actual topic and not just a reflection of my usual technical and implementational shortcomings was due to conversations with teachers, teammates, and friends who have far more experience and expertise than I do. The concept is something I have heard referred to as “Jiu-jitsu kryptonite.” (I didn’t coin this phrase, but I’m happy to throw it around.)

Jiu-jitsu kryptonite refers to the person(s) whose style seems to match up with yours in such a way that you perform more poorly against him/her than you do against someone else of similar size and experience. So if you are normally able to shut down the game of a mid-level blue belt of a certain weight, your jiu-jitsu kryptonite might be someone who meets that description but gives you fits no matter what you try. A grappler rolling with his/her jiu-jitsu kryptonite is unable to execute any of his/her go-to moves, or finds it surprisingly difficult to do so. The jiu-jitsu kryptonite might be able to shut down your game more effectively than even some higher-ranked people.

Like I said, when I first encountered my own jiu-jitsu kryptonites (and there have been several), I thought it was just my own shortcomings. It wasn’t until I started hearing about the concept from practitioners I respect who are far better and more experienced than I that I thought there might be a “there” there. Apparently I’m not the only one who is hamstrung by some people who theoretically have the same characteristics as other people who don’t give me as hard a time.

I’m not sure what causes my jiu-jitsu kryptonites to have that effect on me. I don’t know if they have specific physical qualities in common or if they like similar moves. What I do know is that this is another example of how ego can bite you in the keister. (In jiu-jitsu as it is in life.)

So what can be done about the jiu-jitsu kryptonite? There are several options, all of which I have tried. See if you can guess which has worked best for me:

1. Avoid the jiu jitsu kryptonite at all costs! – Pretend you have broken your leg, contracted mad cow disease, have to take an important international phone call about your offshore bank account when they ask you to train. Anything to keep from having to reveal this weakness to others or acknowledge it to yourself.

2. Train angry with them. – Flail around trying to apply your ineffective techniques, only try HARDER to apply them, and get really frustrated when you can’t. Risk hurting them and yourselves by refusing to tap or by forcing things, also ineffectively. (Good stuff, Einstein.)

3. Welcome the opportunity to train with them. – Smile while you are doing it. Depart from your normal game and roll your eyes good naturedly to yourself when they shut you down AGAIN. See if you get even an inch more of space or make them work a second longer. And count that as a victory.

What do you think? In your experience, is jiu-jitsu kryptonite an actual phenomenon? Or do I just need to spend less time complaining and more time training? (Regardless of the answer to the first question, I’m pretty sure the answer to the second question is a resounding yes.)

val worthington, valerie worthington, bjj, mma, brazilian jiu jitsu, grappling

About Valerie Worthington

Valerie Worthington has been moving her body since before she was born, for many reasons and with many outcomes. She really started to pay attention to how, when, and why her body moves when she began training in Brazilian jiu jitsu in 1998. From then on, she became hugely invested in educating herself about how to optimize her body movement for BJJ and how to support it in doing so. She has observed that these endeavors require her to invest herself not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and psychologically, fueling a particular interest in the influence on her life of these dimensions of athletic activity.

Valerie has developed as a BJJ practitioner via her own training and competition preparation, teaching and coaching other practitioners, and writing about her life as a jiu jitsu devotee through the lens of her education, personal experiences, and professional background. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a doctorate in educational psychology from Michigan State University. She is a first-degree black belt in BJJ, as well as co-founder and proprietor of Groundswell Grappling Concepts. She trains at Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Princeton, New Jersey.

Most recently, Valerie is the author of How to Love a Grappler: A Guide for People Who Love People Who Love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

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