The “Dad Strength” Myth: Why Technique Beats Strength in Jiu-Jitsu
What really wins on the mats at Jewel JiuJitsu in Fayetteville, NC
You’ve heard it before—maybe you’ve even said it.
“That guy has dad strength.”
It’s the legendary power of the grown man who doesn’t look like a superhero, but somehow feels like an anvil when he grabs you. Thick grips. Heavy pressure. Weird strength that shows up out of nowhere.
And yes—dad strength is real… in a sense. Adults often have a different kind of power: they’re heavier, they’re harder to move, and they know how to lean on you.
But here’s the myth:
A lot of people think “dad strength” is the reason some people win in Jiu-Jitsu.
The truth is, strength helps—especially early—but technique is what makes strength work. And technique is what lets smaller, lighter, less athletic people survive and win.
That’s the heart of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And it’s exactly what we train at Jewel JiuJitsu in Fayetteville, NC.
Start here: https://jeweljj.com/
BJJ program details: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu
For families:
Teen Jiu-Jitsu: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Teen-Jiu-Jitsu
Kids Martial Arts / Kids Jiu-Jitsu: https://jewelbjj.com/page/kids-martial-arts
Jewel BJJ home: https://jewelbjj.com/
What people mean by “dad strength”
Most people don’t mean “bench press strength.”
They mean something else:
the ability to feel heavy, control space, clamp down with grips, and make everything feel hard.
But here’s the reality: if you feel “dad strength” crushing you, it’s usually not raw power.
It’s often position, balance, pressure, and timing.
In other words… it’s technique.
Strength is real—but it’s not the main thing
Let’s be honest: strength matters.
If two people have equal skill, strength can tip the scale.
If someone is much bigger, you’ll feel it.
And if you’re brand new, strong people feel impossible.
But here’s the catch:
Strength is unpredictable. Technique is repeatable.
Strength fades when you get tired.
Strength fails when someone knows how to redirect it.
Strength disappears when you’re off-balance.
Technique still works when you’re tired, nervous, or dealing with someone bigger—because technique is built on mechanics, not energy.
That’s why Jiu-Jitsu is so effective for everyday people. It’s not a “who’s the toughest” contest. It’s a problem-solving system.
Why technique beats strength (in plain language)
Technique saves energy
When you rely on muscle, you’re spending fuel constantly.
When you rely on technique, you’re using your body efficiently. You’re using leverage. You’re letting structure do the work. That’s why experienced grapplers often feel calm while beginners feel exhausted.
Technique creates control
Strength can push. Technique can control.
In BJJ, control wins because control gives you time. It gives you options. It lets you make decisions instead of reacting.
Technique makes you heavy without being huge
Pressure isn’t just weight—it’s positioning.
A skilled person can feel far heavier than they actually are because they place their weight correctly and remove your ability to move.
That’s “dad strength” in disguise.
The 3 places where technique embarrasses strength
You see this most clearly in three areas:
1) Escapes
A strong beginner gets stuck and tries to push their way out.
A technical grappler frames, creates space, moves their hips, and escapes with far less effort.
2) Balance and base
Strong people often overcommit. They drive forward and lean hard.
A technical grappler uses timing to off-balance them, sweep them, or take their back.
3) Submissions
Strength can crank. Technique can finish.
A clean submission doesn’t require brute force. It requires the right angles and control. That’s why smaller grapplers can submit bigger people when they’re in the right position.
Learn the fundamentals at Jewel JiuJitsu here:
https://jeweljj.com/classes/Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu
What this means for beginners (especially dads)
If you’re a dad thinking about starting, this should encourage you.
You don’t need to look like an athlete to train Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, a lot of dads do well because they show up consistently and learn the fundamentals.
But you also want to avoid the trap: relying only on strength.
Because if your whole game is “grab and squeeze,” you’ll plateau fast… and you’ll gas out against anyone technical.
The best version of “dad strength” is this:
solid fundamentals + smart pressure + calm decision-making.
And that’s learnable.
Start here: https://jeweljj.com/
For kids and teens: why technique-first training is so powerful
One reason BJJ is amazing for kids and teens is because it teaches a truth early:
You don’t have to be the biggest or strongest to be capable.
Kids learn leverage, control, and confidence in a safe environment. Teens learn calm under pressure and real self-defense skill.
Kids program: https://jewelbjj.com/page/kids-martial-arts
Teen program: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Teen-Jiu-Jitsu
The real takeaway
Dad strength is real—but it’s not magic.
What most people call “dad strength” is usually technique plus pressure.
And the best part? Technique is available to everyone.
If you’re in Fayetteville, NC and you want to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the right way—fundamentals, control, confidence, and real skill—come train at Jewel JiuJitsu:
Home: https://jeweljj.com/
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu
Teen Jiu-Jitsu: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Teen-Jiu-Jitsu
Kids Martial Arts / Kids Jiu-Jitsu: https://jewelbjj.com/page/kids-martial-arts
Jewel BJJ: https://jewelbjj.com/
