Why You Should Tap Early and Often in BJJ
When you first start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), tapping out can feel intimidating. It might seem like a sign of weakness or failure, but in reality, tapping early and often is one of the most important practices in BJJ.
It's not just about submitting to your opponent. It's about learning and protecting yourself.
Let’s explore why tapping is essential for your development and why it should be a core part of your training mindset.
Injury Prevention and Self-Preservation
BJJ is a sport that involves joint locks, chokes, and pressure on the body, and while the goal is not to hurt your training partner, things can escalate quickly if you don’t tap in time. The reality is, once you feel the pressure building on a joint or neck, it’s important to acknowledge it and tap out before any serious injury occurs.
Tapping early protects your body from long-term damage. Waiting too long to tap or refusing to tap out can lead to strains, sprains, or worse, chronic injuries that may sideline you for weeks or months.
Tapping is a safety mechanism that allows you to train consistently and continue progressing without risking your long-term health. As you train, you’ll start to recognise those moments when you’re in danger of injury and learn to tap out at the right time.
Learning and Improving Through Humility
BJJ is all about technique, leverage, and understanding your body. Every time you tap, it’s an opportunity to reflect on what went wrong and how you can do better next time. It’s important to see tapping as part of the learning process rather than a sign of defeat.
As a beginner, you’re going to get caught in a lot of submissions. But each time you tap, you gain insight into your own weaknesses and how to address them in the future. It’s easy to let your ego take over, especially in front of more experienced practitioners, but refusing to tap or waiting too long to tap can slow your progress.
It takes humility to admit that you’re in a bad position and need to reset. Embracing this will ultimately make you a better, more skilled practitioner.
Building a Smart, Resilient Mindset
Learning when to tap out is a skill in itself. Sometimes, you’ll be caught in a submission and feel the urge to fight through it, but tapping early teaches you to manage your emotions and avoid reckless decisions. It encourages you to think strategically and recognise when it is smarter to reset and try again.
This mindset goes beyond just physical training. it influences how you approach setbacks in your personal life as well. The ability to tap out and reset builds mental toughness. Every time you tap, you’re telling yourself that it’s okay to fail, it’s okay to make mistakes, and that there’s always room to grow. BJJ is a journey, and tapping early helps you embrace that journey with the right mentality.
Tapping out early is a fundamental part of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that everyone should embrace. It’s not a sign of weakness. It is a smart, safe and strategic part of your training.
So the next time you find yourself caught in a submission, tap early and tap often. It’s a key to improving your technique and ensuring a long and successful BJJ journey.
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