5 Things Nobody Tells You (But Should Tell You), When You Start Jiu Jitsu
Consistency Over Intensity
Too much intensity is a sure way to kill your progress, whether it’s through an injury, burnout, or the lack of people wanting to train with your crazy ass (you’ll need those people to ultimately help you get better).
Hygiene Matters
Nobody wants to train with a smelly rat. Wash your gi, belt, and body. Brush your teeth and please gargle with some Listerine if you smoke cigarettes in your station wagon before class. Also, don’t roll with 18 sweaty dudes and then sit down at a restaurant. Take a shower right after training and use some soap (to prevent skin infections and embarrassment when the table next to you gets up and leaves because of the stench).
You’ll Suck For At Least 6 months
Don’t expect to rely on your athletic abilities and background to carry you right away. You’ll probably spend most of the time getting smashed. It’s okay, focus on the fundamentals and key concepts and keep showing up. Winning, in the beginning, is simply about not quitting when it’s difficult.
Learn to Breathe
It’s hard to breathe when you are going 110%. People will tell you to slow down, but what they should be telling you to do is breathe. Speed isn’t bad, but being a chaotic Tasmanian Devil and then burning out in 20 seconds, isn’t a winning strategy.
Stay Safe
This means focusing on recovery (eating, sleeping, stretching) so you don’t get an injury. This also means tapping early so you don’t tear the ligaments off your shoulder. This also means don’t be an asshole to your partners and accidentally hurt them with your lack of knowledge and technique. Stay safe, and stay humble
Thanks for reading this weeks’ Mastery Monday.
This one was just for kicks, so don’t take it too seriously.
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Tim
