Note: I started teaching 1st grade and it has me completely exhausted. I’m also doing a lot more jiu jitsu a lot more consistently. This is my current excuse for not posting more. :/
As a language teacher and student, I observed that the most improvements were made at the beginner stage. You go from zero to 1 and you’re already MILES above where you were. The language opens up opportunities, conversation trees, and possibilities. Where a lot of the frustration comes in is in the intermediate level. The gains are all of a sudden much smaller and less noticeable. As you improve, this gets more and more true.
The same is true in jiu jitsu. I’m now nearing my 7 year anniversary! (woot!) I’m a solid intermediate, and I don’t see daily gains or even monthly gains. HOWEVER, since I decided to compete in July, I have seen some big differences that are helping me, a solid intermediate, improve:
I AM SELFISH WITH TRAINING PARTNERS
I now run to choose the best-for-me training partner. I don’t wait in the wings. I put my training above that brand new person’s experience and grab the highest belt I can, or the most athletic partner I can. One of my favorite training partners is a guy I’d avoid in the past. He is a wrestler, athletic, 22, and very competitive. As a lazy grappler, he was a nightmare partner. As someone trying to compete, he’s perfect – he has the stamina and energy and raw athleticism and I know I’ll get a lot out of doing reps with him. More so than if I’m having to explain a lot to a new person, or if I’m working with another lazy grappler. I also grab grapplers I think will be helpful or a challenge to grapple with.
I HAVE LOST A LOT OF MY TIMIDITY
Today I really noticed this. We had only one other person in class – a different wrestler, and the black belt instructor. We were doing an activity where you spar until a person scores one point – this way we get more familiar with the rules of competition. I noticed I was not at all timid in approaching them, even when standing. Before, I was fairly nervous about doing ANY kind of standup, and nervous about wrestling with new people.
I AM MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE
I can’t say I’m not lazy – this is simply not true. But I actively seek submissions now. I attack more. I go for takedowns. I am on the offensive more. I FIGHT for positions, whereas before I would mostly open up my wallet and hand them my pocket change.
I was the cat. “This is my life meow.”
These are by no means BIG gains, but I do think they’re important and substantial small gains. I also think they come from changing SOMETHING up and not simply doing the same thing half-assedly. You have to WHOLE-ass it.
[youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-HalherjQ”]
Jiu Jiu’s Question: Assuming you are an intermediate or advanced in (insert activity here), what have you been doing to improve? Where have you personally seen gains? What did you change to start seeing some results?
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This is great. I also just finally listened to your show on Dirty White Belts podcast. You spoke of embracing the mindset of “I’m happy to eat paste in the back, and just showing up is my big win”, which like you, is how I am able to push myself out of my comfort zone now that I’m “old & fat”. This is what you, me, and others do to protect ourselves from embarrassment and say “%$#@ it im doing it anyways”. With that, I’m so so happy to read THIS post, where you have hit the wall of your self-limiting set of beliefs, and you are making conscious decisions to again step out of your zone to improve. Bravo.
I am still a bit in the “Hey look I showed up YAY!” stage, but am becoming mindful that I don’t want to stay here. I’ve begun to shoot for attacks despite knowing 99% of the time Im going to fail. Im doing it just to not be a blob stuck to the mat. Julie you are a breath of fresh air in the BJJ scene. I enjoy a few bjj related podcasts and they all have something for me, but just like you said in your show how you felt when you discovered Val Worthington, your blog has shown me that I am not alone.
For me, nothing has really changed in terms of my approach to improving, despite passing the decade mark now. I’ll pick a couple of techniques and a particular position, then try to keep working on that for several months/years. Lots of drilling, lots of specific sparring.
The main change has been teaching, as that cuts into my drilling and sparring time a fair bit. To counteract that, I’ve made sure to have lots of open mat time in my school schedule. Of course, that does also mean I need to not be lazy and go with that tough blue belt who jumps all over me. ;p
Another problem I’ve run into is the gnarled hand of age: lots more injuries these days. Attempted solution to that is more strength and conditioning to try and injury-proof myself. It’s helped a lot in terms of reducing neck and back issues, but I’m still working on fingers.