Bouncing back and making changes after a strategic or technical loss in Jiu Jitsu is logical. Strategy and technique have a concrete feel to them with near-immediate feedback. Attitude and mentality are the most frustrating ways that I have lost matches. There is this hard to grasp quality about them. It seems like I can
Jiu Jitsu Strategy (Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown. (Pt. 1)
I have lost more tournaments than I have won. Lots. Most of the tournaments I have lost have been because of either my strategy, attitude, or mentality. I have repeatedly made strategic mistakes. The most common strategic mistake that I made was trying to approach a match holistically as if there was some honor in
Jiu Jitsu Self Image
When I was brand new I took cues from my training partners. Because of my slow initial growth, they felt that I was an easy roll and wasn’t going to be tapping anyone anytime soon. I accepted that. My Jiu Jitsu self-image was that I just wasn’t going to be very good at Jiu Jitsu.
Doing Versus Thinking In BJJ
In my mind, I finished the sweep and passed effortlessly to side control. I was going to win. But that isn’t what was ACTUALLY happening. That was my imagination separating from the realness of the moment. That was me projecting how I wanted things to go by playing a movie in my head that wasn’t
Jiu Jitsu Style – The Style Is Always Greener On The Other Side
Style in Jiu Jitsu is one of the strongest intangible pathways to improvement. I consider style to be how body type, personality, movement style and training environment all come together to create a series of effective techniques that someone implements as often as possible because of a proficiency. Just because someone has my body type doesn’t neccesarily mean that I should play the same style as them.
What To Do When You Are One Of The Best Grapplers On The Mat
Getting squished and overcoming adversity forged my improvement. When I was at the bottom of the heap I could see and feel all the ways I needed to improve. After years of being one of the worst grapplers on the mat, I finally became one of the upper belts. The way I focused on improving my
The Worst Grappler On The Mat
I don’t think I submitted any of my training partners for my first year of live rolling. My gym was very “sink or swim”, and I was sinking like a cannonball. Today I am one of the highest ranked belts at that same school. I realize now that being the worst grappler on the mat
Stop Trying So Hard To Be 100% Awesome
I don’t know where I got the idea that I should feel 100% awesome on tournament day. This false conviction seemed to branch off the myth that the other competitors weren’t nervous, that they felt READY and I should too. This type of “supposed to” caused me extensive grief. I end up spending significant time
Performing Vs. Learning: Failure On The Mats Leads To Success
We are encouraged to play it safe in life. Comfort is reinforced over and over. “Don’t take that risk.” “Don’t let them see you sweat.” “Look before you leap.” “Be an adult.” If we aren’t instantly good at something we dismiss it as “not for us.” The things we are good at we feel pressure
Don’t Quit BJJ – “The Other Side Of The Wall”
Within their first few years of training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, most people will hit the “Wall,” and consider quitting BJJ. Some people quit their first day trying out class and maybe Jiu Jitsu just isn’t for them. Everyone who makes it past their first day is at risk of quitting eventually. Perseverance is the trait that