We all have busy lives, and many things we can be doing with our time. If you're like me, you are squeezing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training sessions when you can. Therefore, it is very important to make the most of your time on the mat.
Unfortunately, the way many of us approach training, we're wasting much of the opportunity being presented to us. Sure, we're getting some exercise, and learning a beautiful sport and effective self-defense technique. But if we're one of these four types of people, we're missing out on the best of what our time can be.
1. The Competitor
Usually, the Competitor comes from a serious athletic background, and is still in tremendous physical condition. He believes that his strength and aggression are the key to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu success, and therefore, relies on those traits almost exclusively.
The Competitor is missing out on two key aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Primarily, they're making it difficult for their training partners to comfortably and safely learn new techniques. When presented with a new move, we need to move slowly, to make sure we understand how our body has to work in order for the technique to be effective. By grinding too hard, the Competitor not only blocks us from learning, but himself.
When it comes time for sparring, the Competitor really flexes his muscles, often times earning "victories" during his grappling sessions by overpowering his partners. But in trying to win, he's missing the point. Rolling sessions are a time to take new techniques and strategies and try them in a controlled environment against a friendly opponent. To avoid injury, sparring should take place at 75% effort; no more. By going all-out all the time, the Competitor is missing an opportunity, and risking the health of himself and his training partners.
2. The Pacifist
The Pacifist isn't exactly the opposite of the Competitor. I've met Pacifists who are just as physically fit and powerful as anyone. But they seem not to understand the point of the sport, and that misunderstanding leads to a 180-degree difference.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is, by its nature, a contact sport. You're going to be using your weight, leverage, and strength against another person to control their position. In any grappling match, whether it's sparring or for real, you're trying to hurt your opponent to make them quit. And when learning and practicing a technique, while not trying to injure anyone or make them submit, you need to make it hurt enough such that you know you're doing it right.
The Pacifist seems to be allergic to contact. I'm a big guy: 5'10" and over 240 pounds. I have trained with several people who do everything they can to avoid putting any weight or pressure on me. It's completely OK; I can take it, and I'm more than happy to let you so that you know you're doing a technique correctly. If you're stepping on the mat, you will make someone uncomfortable at some point, and be in some discomfort yourself.
But by looking to take it easy, the Pacifist is learning the move, with no idea whether or not they will actually work when necessary: in a real self-defense situation, when their personal safety is at risk.
3. The Social Director
I believe very strongly that at a good martial arts school, you'll feel a kinship with the people training around you. A love of the sport will lead to some meaningful friendships, relationships more important than any skill you may develop on the mat.
But when you're hanging with your new-found friends, don't forget why you're there once a training session begins. You're there to work, and to learn. If you want to hang out, great...call your friends and meet somewhere else. Chatting and laughing can distract everyone else there to take advantage of every moment they have.
4. The Quiet One
After we're shown a new technique, we should all be working to get a good set of repetitions in. During this time, we are most likely to make mistakes, and we are most susceptible for those mistakes to become habit. Even the most observant instructor will not see everything and be able to correct what you're doing wrong.
It's up to us as training partners to look out for each other and point out if one of us is not following the proper steps. You should follow the rules of your martial arts school first; if an instructor wants silence, then don't talk between you during practice. But if you feel yourself making a mistake, or see your partner making one, go out of your way to ask the instructor to observe and correct. Staying quiet will allow the mistakes to continue and become ingrained.
We're living in a golden age of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. There are more schools open than any time in the history of the sport, but the lineage back to the Gracies remains fairly undiluted. The percentage of quality instructors is still very high, and our opportunity to take advantage of this is greater than it may ever be again. Be the kind of martial artist who takes advantage of it.
Paul Herzog and his son Christopher have been taking judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction at Petushin Martial Arts since the new Rosemount, Minnesota facility opened in 2010. In addition to receiving some of the best grappling instruction in the Midwest, Paul has lost 30 pounds, and Chris has gained strength and self-confidence. If either of those sounds appealing, please contact the academy at 612-991-9116 or go to http://www.petushinmartialarts.com/ to arrange your first visit!
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