How to Get Back Into Jiu Jitsu

How To “Get Back On The Horse”

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or any grappling martial art, how do you get back on the proverbial horse after you have fallen off? It has happened to the best of us. An injury or life event gets in the way and we lose our consistency with getting to class, getting to the gym, and training in general. As time off the mats grows longer, negative momentum builds up, making it harder and harder to get back to the routine. So what happens if you find yourself stuck in a pattern that keeps you from reaching your training goals? Today we will explore 3 easy ways to get back on the BJJ horse!

Technique #1: Hold yourself accountable

Some of us are better at this than others. I have friends who float through life unaccountable for their actions, and though they are happy, they are not really pushing themselves to improve and be the best version of who they really are. I have other friends who set daily goals, write things down, set goals, focus on accomplish the tasks they need to do, and reflecting on their failures. This growth state of mind comes from a person who has better discipline over their behaviors.

So what are some ways to hold oneself accountable? A daily journal is a great way to track your progress and your failures. Write down what you want to accomplish daily. Write down what you want to accomplish weekly. Keep track of how many of these tasks you achieve and how many you fail. Deep down inside, you know you want to get back on the mats. You know how great it feels to struggle through a difficult jiu jitsu class and come out the other side, sweating and exhausted. Get this feeling back into your life! Write it down, and recognized that if you are still failing to get to class consistently then you are failing at one of your self imposed goals. Remember, a little discipline goes a long way and it only takes one small decision to reset your momentum towards more positive behaviors.

There are going to be highs and lows in your jiu jitsu training. Sometimes what can help break the down spell is learning some "grappling hacks".

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Technique #2: Have others hold you accountable

Some of my best friends and training partners are the ones who call out my bullsh*t. Yes, it sucks to have someone rub your failures in your face. That is a good thing! Nobody wants to feel like a failure. Having a group of friends from class who ask you what’s up when you have gone missing for a while is a great motivator when it comes to training consistently. Of course, we are there to help one another on the mats, but again, that growth mindset extends to all aspects of our lives, so we should be there to help each other when one of us falls off. I can’t even tell you how many times I have gotten a text from one of my friends and mentors asking how training is going, and I have had to admit to someone I greatly respect that I have had lapse of discipline and stopped going after my goals. I want to be the person who does what they say they are going to do, because it feels good! So tell your training partners you are going to be in the next class, that way they keep you in line if you get the urge to bail.

Technique #3: Listen to great motivators

There is a world of great men and women out there who are pushing themselves every day to be their absolute best. There are a few men that immediately come to mind when I need inspiration. Joe Rogan’s “Be The Hero of Your Own Movie” never fails to get my blood pumping. TAKE THIS IN!

Jocko Willink is one of the most bad ass mother f**kers walking the planet. If this man fails to inspire you then you must not have a pulse. Take his advice NOW!

Ultimately it is up to you to decide to take action. Sure these great men will motivate you in the moment, but if you do not actually take action you will just be getting high off the feeling of wanting to take action. Do not push your goals off for another day. Find some sense of discipline and take action.

There are going to be days where you just do not feel like training. I get it. We have all been there. I can tell you from experience we all know what the right decision is in this moment. We all know how satisfied we will be when we do something we thought we could not do. I truly find this to be one of the greatest experiences you can have in life. It is so satisfying to overcome and obstacle, be it mental of physical. Now quit finding excuses and get out there and train!

As a bonus, are you looking for some practical things you can do right now if you do not feel like training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Have a look at one more video from Jocko called “How to SMASH DAYS When You Don’t Feel Like It” (an excerpt take from JOCKO PODCAST 49). Since you don't always feel like getting after it, here's how to deal with those times...

Dean Lister is one of the toughest grapplers on the planet. He's been a coach and training partner of Jocko since he was a blue belt. Dean Teaches You How To Surprise and Submit Your Opponents On the Mat, in competition and in the cage. His leg locks and grappling hacks DVD is the absolute necessary for the toughest submission hunters.

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