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We started wrestling practice last night, starting very basic, building a solid base so we can move from a good foundation. A move or technique is presented to the room, the kids split up to go practice it, and coaches roam the room to assist. I was watching the room, noticing that coaches were deviating a bit from the move that was shown. The base of the move, the meat and potatoes of it, were still the same, but they would change hand positioning, or feet positioning based on their individual knowledge. Now, all these coaches are very experienced wrestlers, they all know what they are talking about. How could they all have some sort of deviation from the initial technique. I have experienced this is martial arts more than any other sport I have coached or competed in. I remember being taught something one way by a teacher, only to be taught another way the next class by someone else. Both were convinced that their way was the best. Which way is the best? THE WAY THAT WORKS FOR YOU! Figure out the base of what you are trying to accomplish. Understand why the base works. Then make whatever changes you need to based on your body size, strengths, and weaknesses to accomplish the technique. It will take years, and the way you do things will evolve and change as you change. You will find shortcuts, you will find better ways, but you need to always be open to learning.

I have had a great few weeks of training. I have learned more in the last 3 weeks than the last 6 months combined. Little nuggets, little details of things that I could apply and use. Always have an open mind, you can learn from anyone. Pay attention to things you don’t like or wouldn’t use, don’t throw anything out, absorb everything.

Also, a question…..Would you rather learn from someone who was great at something but didn’t have to try hard, or someone who was good, or even mediocre at something, but had to learn every little detail and work hard to gain that accomplishment?

The BJJ advancement system requires you to earn 4 stripes on your belt prior to testing for the next belt. I have been a member at the gym for 2 years and 2 months. Over that period of time I have slowly earned 3 stripes my belt. Stripes can be earned by attending class regularly, being a good team mate, competitions, and completing one mandatory stripe test. Last week I completed the stripe test, gaining the 4^th stripe for the white belt.

My enjoyment and appreciation of BJJ has really increased. Every move or attack has a counter, and every counter has a counter. It really is a physical chess match, you are constantly problem solving. I try to focus on technique, and not muscle and power. I still get smashed on a weekly basis, but I am able to see little improvements, and I am happy with those little victories. I don’t focus on the submissions I am able to get, or not get, but the positions, the mistakes, the application of proper technique for the proper situation. I am definitely in better condition than I was when I started, yet it is amazing how much my technique drops off during an hour sparring session. The muscle memory isn’t where it should be all the time, and I have to start thinking, and when I think too much, I make enough mistakes to put me a bad positions. I truly need to drill basic concepts and positions more, but I am starting to understand what they are, and I can see that they do work.

During my journey with BJJ, I have tried not to focus or be concerned with rank or advancement. The coaches that I have are great about their expectations, and understand that all people will advance at their own pace. They understand that we are all there for our own reasons, and allow us to train and explore BJJ with their guidance. Everyone I have worked with has been extremely helpful, and genuinely cares about our advancement and understanding of BJJ. I am thankful for all the people that have helped me along this journey, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with them.

I often have some sort of cut or scrape on my hands from doing jobs around the house, and I often get mat burns on the top of my feet and toes from BJJ sparring. I have tried to tape these in the past, and it takes a long time to tape, and it never lasts during a training session when it gets all sweaty. Lately, I have been using New Skin, a brand of liquid bandage. It has a small brush applicator, and I have been applying a few thin layers to the cut, and it works great. I have even used it as a preventative measure, applying to places on my foot where mat burn has occurred in the past. I think there are several different types of liquid bandage that would work.

This is a phrase I have used many times when coaching kids.  I have used it during conditioning, explaining and breaking down techniques.  I have also used it when discussing being prepared for competition, getting a good night’s sleep, nutrition, hydration, etc….

Putting yourself in a position to succeed extends outside of athletics.  You can apply this concept to anything in your life i.e., work, education, even personal relationships.  I think that there are many times that we are short sighted in what we are doing.  You need to set goals for yourself in all facets of your life, and move towards them.  Some goals will be short term, others will be long term, and growth can be uncomfortable, even painful at times, but we need to continually challenge and push ourselves, with the mindset of being prepared, and putting ourselves in a position to be successful.

I have been doing some tabata training over the last couple of months – 20 seconds of activity, 10 seconds of rest, for a total of 4 minutes. I have been doing burpees for the activity, and I can tell my cardio has really improved.

I found this article that has some great looking exercises that I am going to try and add. Some of these might takes some work to get up to, but I am sure they will help with explosive movement – https://bjj-world.com/10-strength-condition-bodyweight-exercises-jiu-jitsu-tutorial/?fbclid=IwAR1mkBlG4-NgkrUZdYU7yi0VdOIC16689v3sE4WmOnIaW8kJFIXO3xakXj8

One of the guys I train with is a larger guy, over 6ft, over 250. I am always amazed at his explosiveness, when he decides to go, he goes hard and fast. I am hoping these movements will help me get to that level.

I am always amazed at where words of wisdom, or little nuggets of advice come from.  Last week, after class, one of my team mates was trying to get more people to agree to come to the no-gi sparring class.  I haven’t been able to make it as much as I would like, but told him I would try.  He then went on to explain that he was going to as many sparring classes as he could, because it was increasing his cardio and stamina.  Then he dropped this nugget on me, “There will always be people better than me, but if I am making mistakes because I am tired, then I am beating myself.”  I thought about that statement a lot. 

That statement is applicable to almost anything you do.  You are your toughest competition, you are the only person you ever need to beat.  Be prepared for everything, do everything you can to get better, you are in control of how good that you can be.  There will always be someone better, you don’t have control over how good they are, but be the best that you can be.

The last month has been better for me training wise.  I changed my diet a bit, started doing some calisthenics after wrestling practice 3 nights a week, and have been trying to attend BJJ class more.  The results are starting to show, during sparring a couple weeks ago, I was able to catch some upper belts with kimuras, and I feel like I am rolling better, with more stamina.  During yesterday’s sparring class, there was a bunch of big, strong guys there, but I didn’t feel like I was just getting destroyed.  I was able to defend some subs better, and fight more for position.

Changes –

1. 3 times per week – Sprints, pushups, situps.  I have also been throwing in some kick work outs, it feels good to kick again.  200 kick work outs with a variety, front, round house, side, spin, etc…
2. Diet – I cut out carbs and sugar for 10 days, and then re-introduced carbs slowly.  I have lost 10 lbs. and have kept it off.  Going forward, I plan on going back to a low carb diet.  I found I was eating a lot more vegetables when I cut them out. 
3. With the heavy work schedule I have right now, it has been hard to get to the noon class, and the evening class is out of the question with wrestling practice.  One more month of wrestling, then I should be able to make 3 or 4 classes per week.

I don’t know if I have really made that much progress, but I feel better, and that perception is driving me forward.  My mind seems to be in a better place, and I am energized to train more.  Now, if the snow would just stop falling and the weather warm up…..

The last few times I have been to a rolling class, I have been tapping like it is a bodily function.  During one 10 min. roll with a brown belt, I bet I tapped at least 6 times.  At the end of one session, I looked around, and everyone in the room had made me tap.  I even tapped to a couple of palate chokes, I had never been choked like that before.

I will be the first to admit that my training attendance is not as regular as it should be.  I try to get to BJJ at least 2 times per week, and try to make a rolling class at least every other week.  Most of the guys that train at the gym are there much more than that.  That being said, my rolling lately has not been good, and I have been getting beat more than I used to.  It feels like I am getting worse.   It is incredibly humbling, and a bit frustrating.  So, I have decided to address it, and come up with a plan to change it.

1. Try to get to class more, try to roll more.
2. I am not as good at defending chokes and submissions as I used to be, I need to focus on defending myself better, protect myself.
3. Accept the losses as learning, try not to get frustrated. ( much easier said than done)
4. Daily work outs – I need to accept the fact that I need to work out daily away from class, calisthenics, some cardio and physical training.  These younger guys are in way better shape than I am.

I know it was a while ago, and a different martial art, but I used to be one of the top guys in the room.  My ego is having a hard time getting past that.  

Have you experience a similar wall or set back to your training?  How did you address it?

A couple weeks ago we were working on leg and ankle locks.  I felt OK after class, but the next day my ankle was definitely sprained.  I am trying to follow the RICE recovery (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), but soccer season just started.  Coaching 2 teams, I have to be on it and running.  I missed a couple weeks of BJJ, but started attending this week.  My ankle is still sore, but I need to train.

You have to know your body, become aware of what injuries you may encounter, and what the protocol for recovery is.  If you ever have a question about it, see your physician.  Once you start to train any martial art, you are going to be sore.  Soreness and injuries are not the same, and there are going to be times when you have to train at less than 100%.  Everyone you train with will understand, and will respect your requests to go easy if you need to.  We all have jobs, and we all need to be healthy to work.

Push through, keep training.