Finding purpose in your own training

[adonis]

When I fist started training I had a hard time as alot of beginners do. With the new movemens, the tough rolling and just trying to remmeber what ever you learned from in class.

As I progressed in my training I have hit a alot of road blocks from moving around alot to having to find new schools or instructors, if none were around at the time at least new training partners. Since I am in the military I have moved around alot. Over time I hit a lot of road blocks where I wouldn't train much at all at times. However I wanted to get better at Jiu-Jitsu. So started developing a way to coach my self. I invested in diffrent instructional DVD's to help me along my way since I didn't have an instructor at all at diffrent times. So below are some tips and ideas that have helped me find a purpose in my training.

[adonis]

I have had a passion for training and Jiu-Jitsu and I wanted to get better. Its pretty frusterating when you don't have a coach so at times you have to coach your self. I used web resources, instructional dvd's, private lessons, and tips from training partners that were more advanced then me.

One thing I had to develop was the ability to coach my self. Through my journey I discovered alot of good web resources, that gave me ideas on how to do this. I used to be in Karate and taught classes alot along time ago. I really enjoyed coaching and I looked at diffrent programs from diffrent coaches accross the country. So here are some tips that I hope will help others out.

[adonis]

Private lessons: Tip for private lessons is when you first start out wait a little bit before you start on them. Have a few training sessions in and work with a partner after class or outside of class, as well as get tips on techniques from higher rankers before you start jumping into private lessons. This will maximize your time and save you money in the long run.

When you get private lessons to better help your game out focus on 1 or 2 maybe 3 techniques that you have a hard time with or that you want to get better at. To much technique instruction and you will forget the details of how they work.

Also bring a note book, you may learn good stuff but you may end up forgeting bout it later. If you have a video camera ask to see if you can video tape the lesson, some instructors will let you do that some won't. However it never hurts to ask. This way it can help you as a refrence later on. After a private lesson get with a parnter and drill on what you covered some time that week.

Private lessons definetly help some people think why bother? I can just get it from class or other students the info I need. The problem with that is the class structure is designed for the whole group. You may not get the same attention to detail and structure that is desgined for you. Class structure isn't designed for an indvidual but designed for the whole group. Where Private lessons will help sepifically you and your game plan, giving you the details that will jump your game up to another level alot quicker if you take private lessons.

So thats my tip on that.

[adonis]

Finding purpose or a game plan in your training. Some people will roll and not ask the parnter after wards for tips. Definetly ask for tips this will help your game out. Especially if you were on the recieving end of getting tapped. Defiently make sure you ask for tips before switching partners or at least at the end of class.

Also going back to privates as well as drills and techniques to focus on. Rolling is a test of what you drilled on before it also shows the holes in your game. Some people want to take privates or work on techniques that are the "flavor of the week" focus on techniques that will work on your game right away you will see better or quicker results. For example if you roll and your parnters keep passing your guard, or they mount you or have you in side control. It won't be as beneficial to you to do privates or train on armbars from mount most of the time if most of the time while your rolling you rarely end up in top postion. Its better to work on your escapes, and guard repostioning, and sweeps first so that you can get to the top postion to work on a move you want.

So if you take a note book (I highly recommend) and write down what you get caught in or stuck in the most. This would start off a good resource as what to drill on. For awhile I had a hard time escaping side control, and variations of it like scarf hold. However I really liked x-guard or some other cool technique. Until I switched and focused on what I really need to drill at the moment I didn't see much progress in my training. Once I started focusing on those deficencies I was able to take my training to a diffrent level. Now I am able to escape side control very well either regain my guard or get to my knees or some neutral postion.

SO for this tip focus on what you NEED to work on and not the flavor of the month technique. This way you can see faster growth in your training.

[adonis]

Drilling techniques: There is a couple of saying I got that has helped me out. I know drilling moves can be monotenous and boring. However is the key to improving techniques. Rolling is the fun part however Rolling is more of a test. I seen some people say they learn more from rolling and get better quicker. You can to some degree but I disagree in general. Especially at the sacrafice of drilling.

There are many ways of drilling techniqes, from cominations to single techniqes, with no resistance from your parnter, to partial and full resistance. Some people think drilling is just goiong through a move a bunch of times with no resistance from your parnter. There are other ways to drill that will help you do the technique when it comes time for full out rolling.

Especially for begginer or if your learning a new technique it is improtant to drill with out resistance to get your own movement smooth. When your able to do the technique smooth and flowing, while staying tight and controling yoru opponent then its time to add in resistance from your parnter. You don't want to rush through it take your time and develop your technique. You don't want to be the guy who is sloppy and has low percentage moves. Rolling is important also but I think people place to much importance on it over drilling.

Here is a couple good sayings that I like about drilling. (These aren't word for word quotes. I am taking what they say and parts are in my own words too.)

Technique is like having a mortgage payment on a house. You really don't own it. But each time you make payments to eventually you do own it. Reps or drilling is your morgage payment for your technique until eventually you own it.

- Lloyd Irvin

"You got to find that magic number its all about the reps until you can make the technique work. -Eddie Bravo

[adonis]

Thats it off the top of my head. Hopefully they help others out.

[Oneiros]

A good read...
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Firestone And Tire Controversy (http://www.ford-wiki.com/wiki/Firestone_and_Ford_tire_controversy)

[slideyfoot]

Here are my top five tips for noobies:

1. Relax

The biggest mistake most new people make is treating every spar as life or death, clinging on desperately trying not to 'lose', or using as much muscle as possible so they can 'win'. Save 'winning' or 'losing' for competition: in class, just concentrate on improving your technique. Doesn't matter if you get tapped along the way.

It also helps to avoid injury: if you're so focused on 'not losing' that you don't tap, you're liable to hurt yourself. Relax, tap and start again, instead of holding out until something breaks, putting you out of training for weeks, months or even years.

2. Ask questions

Don't be afraid to talk to people. If you're confused by something in drilling, find the instructor and ask them to help you out: after all, you're paying them to teach you. Similarly, after sparring, if you don't understand what you did wrong, ask your partner. They're in a great position to tell you.

3. Find a good training partner

Following on from the previous point, if you find somebody is particularly helpful in drilling, provides useful advice after sparring, and/or generally stays controlled and technical when rolling etc, stick with them. Good training partners will have a hugely positive effect on your progress.

Of course, a good training partner will normally be more experienced than you: someone who spouts off without knowing what they're talking about becomes irritating rather than helpful. Having said that, it is possible to learn from anyone, so don't be close-minded.

4. Maintain good hygiene

I can't emphasise this enough. Not only is it extremely skanky to train with an unwashed gi (or rash guard, t-shirt etc), its also dangerous. There are lots of nasty bacteria waiting to jump all over your skin in sweaty grappling sports, and infections can even be fatal (MRSA, staph (http://slideyfoot.blogspot.com/2006/10/bjj-beginner-faq.html#staph) etc).

Stay safe by taking a shower after training, then wash your gi (http://slideyfoot.blogspot.com/2006/10/bjj-beginner-faq.html#washingthegi) once you get home. I would advise owning more than one gi, meaning that you can wash your gi after every session you train. No-one wants to train with the stinky guy/girl, and if you come in with infections (be that fungal, like ringworm, or the really dangerous stuff mentioned earlier), you're quickly going to become very unpopular.

5. Keep training

BJJ is a difficult sport, and that means there is a high turnover of white belts. Lots of people start, get frustrated, then quit. Accept that the first few months are going to involve a lot of you getting squashed under somebody else. Stay consistent, and eventually you'll get the hang of things.

[adonis]

Good tips! I need to get better at writing so I can get my point accross in one post. LOL!

Number 5 stood out the most to me. I seen alot of people get frusterated and quit, because they can't see there own progress after awhlie. So many highs and lows in training. One day can feel like your doing great and improving alot. Other day get crushed by every one. Some times those highs and lows can go on for days or weeks. Thanks for posting! Awesome post!