Curriculum

How the curriculum works

InGrappling teaches no-gi submission grappling through three interlocking layers. The curriculum gives the sequence — what to learn, in what order, and why. The concepts layer explains how positions and techniques connect — guard systems, dilemmas, gripping sequences, submission systems. The technique library covers the mechanics of individual techniques. Underneath all three sits the invariables framework — the mechanical principles that make every technique work.

New to the site? Read How InGrappling works first. It explains the three layers in detail and shows how to read a technique page in the context of your current curriculum stage.

The three sequencing principles

Every decision in the foundations and developing curricula follows from three principles:

• Invariable precedence. The mechanical principles precede the techniques that depend on them. A student who understands the invariable has a framework; a student who only knows the technique has a movement pattern.
• Defence before offence for elevated risk. For any technique that carries elevated injury risk, the escape is taught before the attack. This produces safer training and better attackers.
• Position before submission always. Submissions are taught after the positional prerequisites are established. No armbar from mount before the student can maintain mount under pressure.

Ability levels, not belts

InGrappling uses ability-based progression. Foundations covers roughly the first 6 to 18 months of training. Developing typically spans 6 to 24 months beyond that — building a connected game across the primary position families. Proficient is the transition from curriculum-led learning to self-directed game development. None of these are time-based — they are criterion-based, and the criteria are spelled out on each curriculum page.

The progression frameworks page explains the full six-level model (from Foundations through Elite) and why ability-based progression is more honest than belt-based progression.