THE POWER OF PLANNING IN YOUR JIU-JITSU JOURNEY
By making and sticking to a plan, you can see satisfying, continual progress in your Jiu-Jitsu!
I want to talk this week about the power of planning. I want to be straight with you upfront: training in Jiu-Jitsu will be one of the most continually challenging endeavors you ever take on in your life. With that great challenge comes a massive host of amazing benefits that you won't find in almost any other activity. It will make you the best version of yourself, without a doubt. It is worth the struggle, but you need to have a plan if you're going to succeed, and you have to learn to love the process.
1. Scheduling Your Regular Training Hours
Routines make large undertakings digestible. By making your training hours a part of your permanent schedule, you can clear out distractions and reserve time exclusively for focusing on your Jiu-Jitsu.
- Set Boundaries: Let friends and family know that time is reserved for your training so they do not inadvertently distract you with life's endless series of tasks.
- Prioritize: Just as you would not miss a meeting at work, give your training times that same priority. If you train on Tuesdays from 6:00–8:30 pm, you don't schedule other activities in that time slot. If it's 7:30 pm on a Tuesday, you're in class investing in yourself.
2. The Beginner’s Blueprint: Fundamentals vs. Core Focus
A plan I recommend for beginners is to choose two or three days per week. Come to Fundamentals, and stay for Core Focus in each of those sessions.
- Fundamentals: Covers basic Jiu-Jitsu, often focused on a real altercation with an inexperienced opponent. It covers basic positions and attacks with very little in the way of complex setups.
- Core Focus: Jiu-Jitsu designed to beat Jiu-Jitsu. This includes setups, attack series, strategies, and opportunities to develop sophisticated movement.
You need a healthy diet of to succeed early on. Eventually, you can move out of Fundamentals and focus mainly on Core Focus, but many choose to keep Fundamentals in their schedule long-term to refresh their basics.
3. Incorporating the Stand-Up Game
As you become comfortable with Fundamentals, it is time to make room for takedowns and wrestling. Nearly all conflicts start on the feet; therefore, you need takedowns. Wrestling and Judo have many skills to add to your repertoire. Whether in a real-world conflict or a competition match, the ability to dictate the transition to the ground is vital.
4. Training with a Specific Objective
Once your schedule is lined out, start coming to class with a specific plan.
- Zero In: Perhaps there is a guard sweep series you want to be proficient at.
- Drill and Apply: Focus on developing those specific skills during your drilling and try to work that series into your rolling.
- Positional Sparring: You will still work on the techniques covered in class during positional sparring, but having a personal "mission" during live rolling is the best way to get better faster.
5. The Importance of Live Rolling
Once you're cleared for full live rolling, you need to stay for live rolling every class. * Crucial Development: Live training is where you actually apply what you've learned. It is also the most fun part of training!
- Support the Team: When you skip rolling, you deny your partners an opponent, hindering their progress as well. Together we rise, so show up for your partners.
- For Beginners: If you aren't cleared for live rolling yet, use that time to get extra drilling in or perform supervised positional sparring.
Follow the advice above, and I can guarantee you will advance at a satisfying, reasonable pace. Mat time is crucial, but what you do with that mat time is equally important. Have a plan and follow it for success!
