Practitioner FAQ

CurriculumPractitioner FAQCommon questions about the InGrappling curriculum — how long foundations takes, when to learn heel hooks, what to do if your gym doesn't use this…

Common questions about using the InGrappling curriculum, grouped by topic. If your question isn’t here and you think it should be, that’s a signal the content should expand — the site is version-controlled and open to suggestions.

I’m brand new to no-gi submission grappling. Where do I start?

Read the tapping culture page first. Then read How InGrappling works to understand the three-layer model. Then start the foundations curriculum at stage 1. Do not skip ahead — the sequencing is load-bearing.

No. The site is a reference, not a textbook. Read enough to understand what you’re supposed to be doing in your next few sessions — usually that’s the current stage of the foundations curriculum plus a few technique pages. Come back to the site to look things up, not to memorise it.

Yes. The site explains mechanics and sequencing; video shows motion. The two are complementary. The site will not replace a visual demonstration of a technique.

Look at the foundations completion criteria. If you can meet them all — including the elevated-risk criteria like tap-early culture and the invariants vocabulary — you can skip ahead. If you cannot meet even one, fill that gap first. Most experienced grapplers who look honestly find at least one gap worth patching before moving to developing-level content.

Typically 6–18 months depending on training frequency, athletic background, and coach availability. Criteria are criterion-based, not time-based. A student training three times per week with a competent coach should complete foundations in under 12 months. A student training once a week may take 24 months or more.

6–24 months beyond foundations. Developing is where the student builds a connected game across the position families — it takes more time than foundations because the material is deeper. Most grapplers spend longer at developing than any other level.

When you have a primary system you run against resistance, and you can articulate what your A-game is in one sentence. Proficient level is the transition from curriculum-led learning to self-directed development. If you still need someone to tell you what to work on, you are still developing.

Can I be foundations in some areas and developing in others?