The constant improvement of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an overwhelming task. It is a sport with natural ups and downs, and, as a result, athletes see their abilities as either increasing or stagnating. Many feel this is demoralizing and feel they have no control over the process.
Here are 10 strategies to get you through the tough times and help ensure your performance continues to improve
1. Join Training
It's extremely difficult to get better at Jiu Jitsu without regular attendance to Training. There is too much to learn, and the rate you advance, especially in the initial days, mostly depends on how frequently you attend Training.
Later on, when you've learned the vast majority of the movements and techniques, the process of refining calls for a wide range of drill partners as well as the guidance of a knowledgeable instructor. Both can be easily found during the Training.
2. Train Gi and No Gi
Contrary to the claims of Rorian Gracie or Eddie Bravo, one of the training clothes is not superior to one - they're just different and aid in developing an entirely different set of abilities.
The Training without the gi can allow you to learn a new grasping technique, causing your offensive skills to increase and enabling you to try new techniques in an environment that is more accepting. The gi's presence can force your defensive and escape skills to develop, strengthen your foundation, and expand your knowledge about leverage.
3. Scrib things out
A journal can be a useful tool to train with regardless of whether you're going through a time of improvement or stagnation. Journaling down what you have learned in Training, what was successful for you, and what didn't prompt you to rehearse your thoughts and analyze everything a second time.
This forces you to go through everything you learned during Training and examine things from fresh and unique perspectives. The ideal time to record things down is right following Training. In this situation, mental rehearsal will have the most effect when the Training is not as fresh in your mind, and you must reflect on the things you've done.
It doesn't matter that you do not look back at the notes you've written again. The act of writing documents is more useful than the record itself.
4. Challenge yourself
To improve, you need to decide on a plan to improve your performance. When starting BJJ, you're always working on something while still learning the abilities to make it through a class and compete against your teammates. Once a certain amount of fundamental skills has been achieved, you can compete with many people without advancing your abilities.
You camp in your current position with your weaknesses ignored and focus on your strengths. Avoid this mentality if your goal is to keep up the process of Jiu-Jitsu development. The ones who experience an improvement in their performance are those who are working to eliminate their weaknesses and build new skills.
They are the ones who challenge themselves. The 'challenge' could be any form, from trying to execute certain techniques during sparring to limiting yourself to the most difficult submissions or beginning in your weakest position on each roll.
5. Use some private
Private instruction with your instructor is a great option to move beyond a plateau, solve any issues you are having during your roll or determine which best position and technique is most beneficial for you to focus on the next time.
A one-on-one or small group class lets your instructor concentrate on what you want and desire without the distractions that come with the class. Privates can result in rapid improvements to your game and, in some instances, an entirely new sport - and are often an under-used tool for developing a grappler's skills.
6. Change Your Eyes
It is a form of martial arts. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is extensive; however, it's easy to imagine it as being made of three main categories (or categories):
Shots
Clinch work
Ground Fighting
And be capable of communicating this in three ways.
Sport Grappling
Vale Tudo & MMA
Self Defence
Many of these fields may be - or in some instances- an art of combat or martial sport on their own. There is overlap; however, the strategies and techniques you focus on will vary based on the specific categories and expressions you focus on.
Because of necessity, you may concentrate on one or two of these areas at each time. When you feel like there is a lack of progress, changing your concentration can lead to improvement in the new direction and the ones you believed to be exhausted.
7. Compete
Ronaldo "Jacare" de Souza famously stated that one contest could be worth 3 months of practice. Competition helps you sharpen your skills and helps you find escape routes, and assists you in making an effective strategy for your game.
The competition also exposes you to various styles and individuals of Jiu Jitsu - people who are as ignorant of your style as you of theirs. You'll be able to compete against other people who don't have the same techniques, yet you'll be able to learn nothing about them.
Competition exposes your weaknesses and forces you to look at and analyze your game in a way that playing with your teammates isn't able to.
8. Have fun!
The most enjoyable and efficient method to learn. In nature documentaries, you do not see tiger cubs line up to practice paw strikes, but they engage in ways that closely resemble their natural hunt and fight. Fun and play are two essential elements to continue technical development.
We are more inclined to try new possibilities and experiment with new techniques when we are playing. When we're having fun, we will be more likely to recall and be adept at reproducing what we are doing. Play is the medium that inspires creativity, a fact that is not considered often in our education.
9. Work hard
It may seem contrary to what we have said; however, work is equally important as playing in terms of growth. Working helps us stay effective and efficient. Work helps us play at an increased level, and the more we play, the more we can learn. Play and work must be balanced to achieve optimal results.
Too many hours of work and our imagination is slowed down, our capacity to learn diminishes, and our growth slows to a stop. Play too much, our productivity diminishes, our creative thinking slows down, and our progress again slows down.
10. Join us for the Training
I've posted this repeatedly. Being consistent in attending Training can make a significant difference in your progress. In addition, most of these methods aren't practical without attending classes infrequently.
Insufficient, irregular attendance can lead to slow, irregular development. Marcelo Garcia, Saulo Riberio, Dustin Hazelett, and Dave Meyer all got their black belts in under 5 years. What they have in common is their dedication to learning.
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