What is an obstacle you had to overcome in order to improve your jiu jitsu?

What’s up everyone in BJJ land. I’ve been thinking and that can be dangerous but in all seriousness. I was wondering. Do you isolate techniques, and perfect them individually or do you work on the what ifs? And then do you drill them, connecting them into a system? What’s worked best for your game?

I know for myself. When I started it was one move. But watching the upper belts destroy me consistently there had to be a trick. Right? A system…

 But what it turned out for me was journaling, recording myself, and asking them questions all this helped. But it wasn’t everything. 

So I took my fav submission and worked backwards and forwards till I uncovered all the strengths and weaknesses. Putting myself in the most vulnerable positions and not so vulnerable.

Eventually or organically it all fit together into a flow. But that was one position and there are so many out there to make our own. 

What’s something that has been a struggle to deal with in life that Jiu Jitsu has taught you to be better at when applying it outside of Jiu Jitsu?

For me, I’ve always struggled with asking for help to avoid disappointment or allowing my pride and/or ego to prevent me asking. Very interested to hear other perspectives. I find it impossible to progress in Jiu Jitsu without needing and wanting the help of others. 

Life lesson: Asking for or needing help is not a sign of weakness but one of strength to display vulnerability and the willingness to be better.

2 part question; 

Seems like there are 2 types of people, those that love drilling and those that hate it. Which one are you? 

2nd question….what’s the technique you know you should be drilling but just haven’t been? 

What is the biggest pieces of advice and coach/training partner gave you that made a difference in your game?  I have many, but first one that comes to mind was from an upper belt training partner.  I think about low-mid blue, I was having a hard time getting better and how to escape from side control, especially against the bigger opponents.  I was told to take two months and just start every round from bottom side and get as many reps as you can.  He said he did they same thing and you just needs the reps to build the escapes/frames/movement/calm needed when being smashed.  I use this method a lot and still to this day when trying to new things and just commit to a time period to work on them.  

Question of the week.  If you could only choose one style to train would it be Gi or No Gi?  

Here’s a simple question for this week…

What made you start Jiu Jitsu?

For some, it was a specific goal, losing weight, getting active, or improving health. For others, it may have been encouragement from friends, or a desire to learn self-defense.

Take a moment to reflect and share your story. It’s always powerful to look back at where it all started.

Weekly Question Time… 🥋

What is your interpretation of a Black Belt?

Some of you are working toward it, some of you are not focused on rank, and some of you may not care about belts at all, and that’s perfectly fine. But regardless of where you stand, we all carry a certain vision, expectation, or feeling about what a Black Belt represents.

Take a moment and describe what a Black Belt means to you, in a few sentences.

What is in your jiu jitsu bag?

I carry extra stuff like a rash guard, spats, and pants. All things I have forgotten. They've also benefitted a training partner or 2.

Coat hanger in case the string needs to be put back in pants. Underrated accessory.

First aid kit, electrolyte mixes, a protein bar, mouth guard, extra deodorant and usually a toothbrush. 

What do you value more during a roll, control or the submission? 

I’d rather be in complete control the entire roll with no submission, than catching a lucky submission in the first minute. 

I’m talking in a training session.. in competition by all means catch that lucky submission and conserve energy!