Technical vs Tactical Jiu Jitsu: Understanding the Difference and Improving Your Game

Technical vs Tactical Jiu Jitsu: Understanding the Difference and Improving Your Game

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there are many paths to victory—but not all approaches are the same. One of the most important distinctions a grappler can learn is the difference between being technical and being tactical.

In this blog, my friend and fellow Team Rhino black belt, Riley Rogers, shares his thoughts on the topic of “Technical vs Tactical” Jiu Jitsu. Riley is one of the coaches at Team Rhino and has one of the sharpest analytical minds in Jiu Jitsu. He’s also the owner and self-proclaimed Mad Scientist behind Salt Electrolytes, and the host of the Go Earn Your Salt Podcast.

You can learn more about Riley here:
🔗 https://saltelectrolytes.com/
📸 Instagram: @saltelectrolytes

Technical vs Tactical in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

In Jiu Jitsu, there are many ways to win, but there is an important difference between a technical approach and a tactical approach. Some techniques are better than others depending on the strengths, weaknesses, size, and skill set of your training partner or opponent.

For the sake of this article, I’ll define each concept as I see them.

What Is Technical Jiu Jitsu?

Technique, in my mind, refers to the moves themselves—things like:

• Weight distribution

• Leverage

• Balance

• Timing

These are the techniques you spend time drilling during practice. Technical Jiu Jitsu is about performing movements correctly and efficiently. It’s the foundation of everything we do on the mats.

Without solid technique, nothing else works.

What Is Tactical Jiu Jitsu?

Tactics, on the other hand, are about the game plan.

A tactical approach still uses technique, but it also accounts for:

• Your opponent’s size and strength

• Their experience level

• Their background (wrestling, judo, BJJ, etc.)

• Your own strengths and limitations

Tactics are about choosing the right techniques for the situation—not just knowing them.

Thinking Tactically on the Mats

When entering a round of grappling—or a tournament—technique and tactics should be thought of as separate but connected ideas.

For example, if your opponent is significantly larger than you, it may be wise to avoid certain techniques—such as pulling guard—that put you directly underneath them. While pulling guard is a valid and effective strategy in many situations, it can also increase the risk of failure or injury when there’s a large size disparity.

However, tactics change based on context.

What if that same opponent is a Judo black belt? If you don’t have the skill or experience to safely defend against their throws, then pulling guard may suddenly become the smarter tactical choice.

The technique hasn’t changed—but the tactical decision has.

Why Tactical Thinking Makes You a Better Grappler

Adding a tactical layer to your Jiu Jitsu will make you a more effective and intelligent grappler. By thinking through your approach before and during a roll, you begin to recognize:

• Which techniques are appropriate

• Which techniques carry unnecessary risk

• When to adapt instead of forcing your favorite moves

This kind of thinking leads to better results in training, competition, and self-defense scenarios.

Final Thoughts

Great Jiu Jitsu isn’t just about collecting techniques—it’s about using the right tools at the right time. When you combine solid fundamentals with intelligent tactical decision-making, your overall game levels up.

— Riley Rogers
Team Rhino Black Belt

Want to Train Smarter Jiu Jitsu?

At Jungle Cat Jiu Jitsu, we emphasize fundamentals, strategy, and intelligent decision-making on the mats—whether you’re a beginner or an experienced grappler training in Texas.

📍 Visit us at junglecatjiujitsu.com to learn more about our programs.