David Figueroa Martinez breaks down the common pitfalls of "skill chasing"—the habit of jumping from one flashy technique to another without building depth. He contrasts this with "skill stacking," a strategic approach where practitioners master interconnected move trees and versatile techniques that work across multiple positions. This episode serves as a roadmap for white to purple belts on how to stop collecting random moves and start developing a unified system.

3 Key Takeaways

• Depth Over Breadth: Skill chasing leads to a "shallow" knowledge base where you know a little about a lot, whereas skill stacking builds "depth" by understanding the evolution and varied responses of a specific position.
• The Power of Move Trees: Successful stacking involves learning techniques that share the same entries or controls, such as the Armbar, Triangle, and Omoplata "family tree".
• Focus Your Resources: Instead of buying numerous disconnected instructionals, invest in one that covers a preferred position in-depth and master the fundamental "frames and escapes" before moving to complex attacks.

Chapters & Timestamps

• 0:00 – Defining Skill Chasing vs. Skill Stacking
• 1:15 – The "Blue Belt Cycle" of dropping techniques too early
• 2:30 – The Danger of Social Media "Flashy" Techniques
• 3:45 – Deep Knowledge vs. Instructor Knowledge
• 4:30 – Example: The Ankle Pick Move Tree
• 6:15 – Mastering Versatile Positions: The 2-on-1 and Kimura
• 7:10 – Submission Families: Armbar, Triangle, and Omoplata
• 8:30 – North-South Stacking: Chokes and Transitions
• 10:15 – The Roger Gracie Approach: Simplicity and Control
• 11:45 – Advice for New Students: Focus on Frames and Escapes

Are You You New To The Podcast? Start Here!

DFM Coaching Skool Community

Join the freemium DFM Coaching Skool Community, the space where the conversation continues after the episode ends. Mindset tools, mat culture, and a community of grapplers who take the mental side seriously.

👉 DFM Coaching | Bjj Skool Community.

DFM Coaching In Person and Remote Coaching

DFM Coaching works with recreational grapplers who want to get better and actually feel it. Remote coaching and in person seminars available.

👉 DFM Coaching | Bjj

Stay Connected

🌐 www.DFMCoachingBjj.com

📸 Instagram @DFMCoaching.Bjj

▶️ YouTube @DFM2099

DFM Coaching | Bjj Blog:

Long-form storytelling, deep strategy, and the philosophy behind the fight:

🌐 DFM Coaching Substack Blog

Affiliate Partner

BJJ Mental Models has one of the deepest conceptual Jiu-Jitsu libraries out there. I use it. I recommend it.

👉 Join BJJ Mental Models+

(Code: FIGUEROAMARTINEZ)

Help the Show Grow

If this episode gave you something, pass it on. Share it with a training partner, drop a review, or repost it to your story. That is how we keep the signal strong.

Stay tapped in,

David Figueroa-Martinez

Founder, DFM Coaching Bjj

Mentioned in this episode:

Patreon Ad

0:00 – Welcome to Tapped In... we're going to be discussing skill stacking versus skill chasing.

1:15 – When I was a blue belt, we noticed that blue belts had a tendency to want a new answer to various problems... they would pick up a technique, it would be successful for a little bit, then people would catch on, and then they would drop the technique.

2:30 – We have so many avenues to get information and techniques that we kind of get distracted by the new flashy technique that came across our feed.

3:45 – You'll know a little about a lot... As an instructor, I should have a working knowledge of various positions... but as a student trying to build a game, not so great.

4:30 – What skill stacking actually is going to look like is moves that are very similar to one another. Move trees and move set trees that have depth based on common responses.

6:15 – 2-on-1... you could do 2-on-1 standing, if you're seated and they're standing over you... that stackability where you can just plug and play and put it anywhere that it fits is massive.

7:10 – If you learn how to do armbars, the other thing you should learn how to do really well is triangles... and then you can start using omoplatas... those stacked techniques are all in the same family tree.

8:30 – The same happens with guillotine, d'arce, and some of the other chokes from that position. If you're someone who loves playing north-south... north-south choke, breadcutter choke... north-south kimura.

10:15 – It doesn't have to be super intricate. Roger Gracie had a very simplistic but deadly game. It doesn't have to be showy.

11:45 – Stop picking up random techniques on Instagram... buy a instructional that covers that position really well and build from there. If you're new to the game, your goals are going to be a lot of guard retention, escapes, frames. Build on that.