A lot of students ask me:

“Coach, what should I work on next?”

And honestly, most people approach learning the wrong way.

They chase random techniques they saw on Instagram.
They try to learn the move that “looks cool.”
Or they just copy whatever upper belts are doing without asking if it even fits their game, body type, experience level, or goals.

The reality is this:

The “best move” to learn next is not always the most advanced move.
It’s the move that gives you the highest return on investment for YOUR current stage.

A white belt trying to learn flying triangles before understanding frames and guard retention is like trying to build a second floor before you even poured the concrete foundation.

So here’s a framework I think students should use when deciding what to learn next in their own training.

STEP 1: ASK YOURSELF WHAT PROBLEM YOU KEEP RUNNING INTO

This is the biggest mistake students make.

They learn moves randomly instead of solving actual problems.

Your training should answer questions.

Examples:

• “I keep getting stuck under side control.”
• “People keep smashing my half guard.”
• “I can enter leg entanglements but lose the heel hook.”
• “I can sweep people but can’t hold mount.”
• “Everyone keeps stripping my grips.”

Good learning is problem solving.

If you keep drowning in the same position every week, that’s usually where your next learning investment should go.

Not the spinning back take you saw on YouTube at 2am.

STEP 2: PICK MOVES THAT SHOW UP OFTEN

Some techniques happen constantly.
Others happen once every 6 months.

Prioritize high-frequency situations.

For example:

Learning:

• framing
• pummeling
• inside position
• posture control
• basic guard retention
• head positioning
• breaking grips
• standing up safely

…will improve your game WAY faster than some fancy low-percentage move.

If you’re newer, ask yourself:

“How often will I realistically get to this position?”

That matters.

A lot.

STEP 3: CHOOSE MOVES WITH A HIGH SUCCESS RATE

This is something I think people overlook.

Some moves are technically possible…
…but require insane timing, athleticism, flexibility, or reactions.

Others are just fundamentally reliable.

At fundamentals level, you should bias toward:

• simple
• repeatable
• mechanically strong
• easy to troubleshoot
• safe under pressure

Example:

A basic ankle lock is often a better investment for beginners than trying to invert into crazy backside 50/50 heel hook entries.

Why?

Because:

• easier to understand
• easier to enter
• easier to finish
• easier to drill
• lower risk
• shows up more often

STEP 4: PICK MOVES THAT CONNECT TO OTHER MOVES

This is HUGE.  The best techniques are not isolated islands but rather they connect into systems.

You want techniques that:

• create reactions
• lead to other attacks
• improve positional understanding
• branch into multiple pathways

For example:

A good knee shield half guard system can lead into:

• underhook dogfight
• waiter sweep
• wrestle ups
• leg entries
• back takes
• reversals
• submissions

That’s WAY better than learning one random submission with no follow-up.  The move should expand your understanding of the game.  Not just add another random technique to your memory bank.

STEP 5: STRESS TEST THE MOVE

This is something I’ve been talking to our instructors about lately too when it pertains to what to teach in their next class.  Before you invest heavily into learning something, challenge it.

Ask:

Does it work against bigger people?

Does it work when sweaty and tired?

Can I hit it without perfect timing?

Does it work in NoGi AND Gi?

Is it beginner friendly?

Can I consistently enter the position?

Does it expose me to danger if I fail?

Does it fit my body type and style?

Does it help me understand broader concepts?

You’d be surprised how many moves fail this test.

EXAMPLE 1 — WHITE BELT HALF GUARD

Let’s say you’re a newer student and you keep getting flattened in half guard.

You have two options:

OPTION A:
Learn some flashy inversion back take you saw online.

OPTION B:
Learn:

• cross shoulder framing
• knee shield structure
• underhook recovery
• elbow positioning
• hip escape timing

Which one will improve your overall game faster?

Obviously option B.

Because it fixes a REAL problem.

EXAMPLE 2 — STUDENT WHO WANTS LEG LOCKS

A student says:
“I want to get good at heel hooks.”

Cool.

But can they:

• control Ashi first?
• maintain inside position?
• off-balance opponents?
• clear the knee line?
• understand breaking mechanics?
• safely enter the entanglement?

If not, then maybe the next thing they should learn is:

• straight ankle lock
• basic Ashi control
• secondary attacks
• grip fighting in leg entanglements

Foundation before complexity.

EXAMPLE 3 — SMALLER STUDENT

A smaller student asks:
“What style should I learn?”

Well…
maybe techniques relying purely on squeezing strength or explosive athleticism aren’t the best investment.

Maybe they should prioritize:

• angles
• kuzushi
• distance management
• wrestle ups
• guard retention
• leg entanglements
• back exposure systems

Your body type matters.  Your personality matters too.

-Some people naturally like pressure.
-Some people naturally like movement.
-Some people are patient.
-Some are aggressive.

Your game should feel natural to you.

FINAL THOUGHT

A lot of people think improvement comes from collecting techniques.  It doesn’t.

Improvement comes from solving problems repeatedly and building depth in areas that matter.

Don’t just ask:
“What move looks cool?”

Ask:
“What move will actually make me harder to deal with next month?”

Happy training!

-Bao