Nothing is more frustrating then hitting a “wall” in your training. The sad realty in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that most people quit long before they ever earn their very first belt promotion! And, the stats for drop outs are even more staggering after the blue belt level! Why is that?
I think there are several reasons. First, it seems that today’s society is, by and large, lethargic and generally apathetic. They’re not use to having to put hard work into anything. And, as you BJJ enthusiasts know, becoming a great grappler requires hard work and dedication!
Assuming your already a hard worker, another potential pitfall competitors experience is hitting a training “wall.”
I’ve been training in BJJ for over seven (7) years now. Throughout those seven years I’ve felt numerous times that my game wasn’t getting any better. I found myself frustrated and upset that some of my classmates appeared to be getting better (and even surpassing me) while I was stuck making the same mistakes over and over again.
So, how do you push through these inevitable plateaus? Step 1, don’t quit! It sounds simple in theory doesn’t it? That’s because, in theory, it is. It’s a matter of making up your mind and vowing to NEVER quit!
Step 2, find an alternative informational source that offers valuable insight into training routines. Sometimes, simply finding an outside info source to supplement class instruction can drastically improve your game and mindset.
I personally use http://www.bjjschool.com for additional training info. I find they take all the basic bjj concepts and break them up into easy to understand, step by step moves. Plus, they allow you to try it out for your first 30 days free. In my opinion, it’s a no brainer.
I hope this quick blog on training walls has helped. As always, remember to keep on pushing through the press…in the end, hard work always beats talent when talent refuses to work hard!
See you on the mat!
David G Reilly 