Staying Motivated for BJJ

So you've been training for awhile now and the honeymoon is over. The excitement of something new has tapped out to BJJ now being fully-integrated into your normal routine. Then, combine that with the fact that you're a White Belt--so you're most likely getting smashed fairly often--and you've got a deadly combination that could lead to you going DOJO MIA.

Those of us that have been around awhile have seen that happen before; it's normal. But it doesn't have to be. There's a saying that goes: "Jiu Jitsu is for everybody", and I think that's mostly true. I say "mostly" because while it may be for everybody, it may not be for everyone right now. Some people may be too overweight to enjoy it, smokers, or have some other health restraint that stands in the way of them really enjoying  Jiu Jitsu like the rest of us. But one of the more beautiful things about Jiu Jitsu is its ability to resolve those issues by sticking it out. I've seen Jiu Jitsu beat obesity & help people lose weight, I've seen it help people quit smoking, too. Now I'm now silly enough to call it 'the cure for what ails ya,' but if you think back to the emotions you had flowing through you that first day, after that first class, then you know it can be beyond motivating--it can be therapeutic. But what about when you run out of motivation? How do you deal with the valleys that (undoubtedly) come directly after the peaks?

The first step in staying motivated is keeping yourself focused. In Jiu Jitsu, you're your own worst enemy. Your own self-doubt is going to be the devil on your shoulder that you're going to have to A) Ignore, or B) Shut up. That self-doubt won't stop at class either. It's the same self-doubt that's been following you around your entire life telling you that 'you can't/shouldn't.' But you can. You have. You've walked through the doors to your gym before, not knowing ANYTHING about Jiu Jitsu and persevered because you told that self-doubt to 'shut up' and you pushed through. And look at you now: grown as a person, more knowledgeable in our sport, You're already so much better today than you were when you started. You're more competent--you don't (completely) suck like you think you do. And if you still feel like no matter what you do  that you're still in a valley, then that's just all that it is--a valley.

Peaks and valleys. We've all been there. One week(s) you're good, doing everything right, and walking out of the gym on top of the world. Then--as if the Jiu Jitsu Gods saw you smiling--the next week you're getting smashed into the ground by everyone at the gym (in front of your instructor, no doubt) and you've suddenly went from the top of the mountain to the lowest of the low without warning. These valleys can be discouraging. They're hard to get over/through and, worst of all, that self-doubt creeps back in. These times are good times to hit what I call "The Reset Button." You need to step away from the current situation, step out of yourself, "hit reset" and then go back to work doing what you know how and want to do. I really feel that this is where the modern age of the Internet helps leaps and bounds over more traditional methods. More specifically, enter Stuart Cooper / Stuart Cooper Films. If you don't know Stuart by now, he's--more or less--a guy who loves Jiu Jitsu and shows it through videos. Personally, I find them to be the "reset button" I need to refresh myself and remind myself what makes Jiu Jitsu so special and why I love it. I feel like after I watch one I can get back to work and shrug off whatever self-doubt I have, and push though. Here's an example of Stuart's work.

A lack of promotions can also get you down--understandable. But you can't dwell on promotions, or the lack thereof. Nobody wants to get stuck in their belt forever, but you can't be motivated by the next stripe or belt promotion. Yes, the whole idea of this blog was to help you through the White Belt phase and on to blue, but the "Survival" aspect of this blog is the focus. Believe in yourself and have fun with Jiu Jitsu. If you're not getting the promotion you think you deserve when you think you deserve it, then, relax; use that hiccup of time to expand your game, develop your style, contribute to the community in some way (like a blog, or design some clothes, homie!). Keep your love for Jiu Jitsu alive and well by going the extra mile off the mat in hopes that it'll translate to on-the-mat love. You shouldn't dwell on, well, anything really. But dwelling on not getting your next stripe will drive you crazy. And it's something you can't control. Your instructor will promote you when they want to--it's that simple. Let the promotions come when they come and enjoy the ride the rest of the time.

My Friend Luca Supporting Me the Day I Became a White Belt Survivor

My Homegirl, Ellie G, & Some of Her Friends

Training partners become your best friends, that's just a fact of life. They know you better than anyone. They know your personality, your physical limits, and what your body parts smell like--in the nicest way possible, of course. Keeping friends at the gym (and not being a jerk) is perhaps the best way to beat the lack of motivation. Friends will send you texts, keep you off your ass on the couch, I love going to training to see my friends. I love helping them get better, drilling stuff, and (of course) laughing when I get to choke them out. But I also enjoy keeping them motivated. I lean on my friends, too. when I need a shot in the arm. Making friends at Jiu Jitsu is natural. Having a positive attitude and keeping your friends is a process, but I really feel like it's important to your progress to have an accoutabil-a-buddy at the gym. So, help your friends dammit!

In closing, don't get too caught up in the doldrums. The best medicine for Jiu Jitsu valleys is to go to Jiu Jitsu. Don't skip class. Don't stay home. Don't be the guy who no one likes because you're a jerk. Be like "Dori" from Disney's Finding Nemo, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming!"

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Setting Goals for the New Year

The years of 2014 is now a thing of the past. As a new year starts, you know that it's common for people to set a New Year's Resolution. Among the MOST POPULAR Resolutions are: lose weight, get fit, eat healthy foods, manage stress, and volunteer to help others. What's interesting about that is, those resolutions crack the top of the charts and all of them can be accomplished/met through Jiu Jitsu.

Your overall health plays a huge factor in Jiu Jitsu. With some obvious exceptions--to physical limitations--I'd say that anyone can start training. But in order to get better, to improve, hit new levels and not plateau, your overall health needs to be improved upon and maintained as well; and that includes your mental state as well. Eating correctly, losing weight/keeping it off, eating foods that provide sustenance and energy will all go far in improving your performance. Think I'm wrong? Try eating a 1pd burger, milkshake, fries, and a slice of pie before training versus fruits, grilled/raw veggies, and water. And we all know that the physical act of Jiu Jitsu is the best stress relief ever--especially when you're performing well. Additionally, when you're doing well people will notice and it will give you the opportunity to help others. Personally, I love sharing info, teaching training partners, helping training partners learn, and all that comes with it. But that's me; everyone's Jiu Jitsu is different. Everyone has their own goals and desires for where they want to take their game and their idea of how to get it there. That's why I took to Twitter to ask some of our AWESOME Followers what their BJJ Goals for 2015 were.

It's my hope that their goals will help inspire you to adopt their goals and/or serve as an inspiration to develop your own. Also, any time you put your goals 'down on paper' in public, it helps you achieve them now because you're committed because it's 'out there.' So here's some of our friends and their 2015 BJJ Goals!

@JiuJitsuJournal : I'm looking to get promoted to the next belt in both BJJ and Judo

@XIn_AngerX: Get my purple belt and more competitions

@NicholaSzeto: Get my purple belt

@Rreuben: Get a take down in competition! Get on the podium as a blue belt!

@JSteaveMMA: Start doing more accomplished grappling tourneys and reach my purple by summer

@Sars_29: To understand it, and get my first stripe on my white belt

@LucaCarol: Getting my purple belt and dominating the tournament scene










As I think it would've been safe to assume, promotions are a huge part of this year's goals. That shouldn't come as a surprise--the idea IS to progress and get better, after all. But do your best not to get too hung up on not getting promoted. Your instructor has their reasons for when they promote. Some people advance faster than others and sometimes your instructor wants to see you improve in certain areas before you get that next stripe. Maybe you're a white belt who submits every blue belt you roll with, but you might not ever play closed guard--thus, you're not as well-rounded as you could be, or should be, and that might result in a delay in promotion. But that's a topic for another day.

Looking into 2015, there's a year of opportunity ahead. There's competitions approaching, new white belts coming into the gym, and areas all over for you to improve yourself AND your game. If you haven't made any BJJ GOALS for 2015 yet, take some time in the coming moments to consider it. Maybe jot down what you want to get better at. Even if that area doesn't directly relate to being on the mat, indirectly it's going to help. As the legendary samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, once said "once you understand the way, you see it in all things." Even the smallest improvement in your self will translate onto the mat and into your BJJ; and the improvements you make with your BJJ ultimately will improve your self.

So in the spirit of accountability, my 2015 BJJ goals are to maintain a weight loss and 'walk around' at my competition weight. Additionally: Push through when I'm tired, dedicate more time to reading (daily), continue to compete, and KEEP THIS BLOG GOING :)

So, now that that's out there, what are YOUR BJJ GOALS for 2015? Tell us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WBSurvival or in the comments section below. Good luck to everyone this year with their goals, and THANK YOU to everyone who responded on Twitter with their goals (I really appreciate that, and you).