Jiu Jitsu is an unarmed combat and needs physical training. It is more than a sport, it is a lifestyle that can benefit you in many different ways. These include:
- A great way to lose weight and get in shape.
- It is a form of self-defense, which will help you guard yourself if that time ever comes.
- Jiu-Jitsu is a great way to relieve stress. Any type of exercise will reduce stress and Jiu-Jitsu is a fun way to do it.
- When you sign up for any type of class, including Jiu-Jitsu, it is a really great way to make good friends.
- Any type of regular exercise, including Jiu-Jitsu, will help increase your energy level.
- Jiu-Jitsu classes will make you a more humble and a patient person.
- Jiu-Jitsu can help improve your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Belt Promotion
(Getting better +) Belt promotion is sometimes thought as the main goal in Jiu-Jitsu, just like in most martial arts. As you learn more and you get better, you work your way up. If you find that your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t improving, it can be very frustrating. This is especially true if you see the other students getting better and you seem to be at a standstill.
This isn’t uncommon. Some Jiu-Jitsu students find themselves stuck in a plateau, which can be very disappointing and can ruin your self-esteem. Fortunately, if you are able to figure out what is causing the issues, you might be able to get over the plateau and start improving so that you can move up to the next belt. Here are some of the most common reasons that your progress could be at a standstill.
#1 You Aren’t Training Enough
If you aren’t training enough, you aren’t going to get better and you won’t move up a belt. Many train once or twice a week and if you are one of these people, you should understand that it isn’t enough. Most trainers will tell you that having a seven day gap between sessions is too long and it is almost a waste of time.In the class, you will learn important things and if you wait for one whole week before you can work on these moves, you might have forgotten most of it when you go to your next class. When you learn something new, it is essential that you work on it for a while. This will give you the chance to make any necessary revisions and also put it to your memory. Training twice a week is better but it isn’t going to be enough if belt promotion is your primary goal. If you really want to see decent progress, you are going to need to train at a minimum of three days. The ideal number of training days per week is four. This is just right in between the area of too much and too little. Like any sports, some people will catch on faster than others and may require fewer classes than others. If you find that you aren’t excelling the way that you had hoped, you need to take more classes during the week. If you live a hectic life, it can be challenging to find the time to take extra classes. However, if you are really serious about getting your next belt, you may need to make a few sacrifices to take additional classes.
#2 You’re Training Too Much
While not training enough can be the reason that you haven’t earned your next belt, training too much could also be your problem. In Western society, there is something called “more is better mentality.” We think that if were are doing alright with four days of exercise, so we start training eight times a week, thinking that we will get better. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out like this. If you want to succeed and move up a belt, you need to focus not only on training but also on your recovery after an intense training session. If you don’t allow your body to recover, you are going to become over trained, which will impede your progress. Since everyone’s body is different, you will need to find a happy medium between training and resting. If you are training six or seven times a week and you aren’t doing any better, you could be training too much.
#3 Your Coach Isn’t Doing Their Job
This isn’t a problem for the majority of people. Most Jiu-Jitsu coaches are very committed to teaching their students. They are also very passionate. If your progress is lacking, don’t immediately blame your coach. Unfortunately, there are cases where it is your coach’s fault that you aren’t getting a belt promotion. Just because a person is an excellent Jiu-Jitsu competitor, it doesn’t mean that they are excellent teachers. Teaching Jiu-Jitsu isn’t for everyone. There are certain qualities that all teachers should have. If you aren’t progressing the way that you would like, and you think that it could be your teacher’s fault, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself. This will help you figure out if you are the problem or if your teacher is. The questions could be the following:
- When was the last time your trainer sparred with you? If your trainer isn’t sparring with you, taking the classes is a waste of time. You need a coach who is willing to get in there with you and show you their skills.
- When was the last time you got individual attention and gave you advice on how you can improve? If your coach isn’t giving each member of your class equal personal attention, you are working with the wrong coach. Everyone in your class will have their strong points and weak points. If your coach isn’t giving you individual attention, you will never know what areas you need to work on the most.
- How often does your instructor come to correct your form during drills? During drills, it isn’t uncommon to make mistakes, especially if you are learning something new. If your coach isn’t stopping you during drills when you are doing something wrong, you are wasting your time. You need constructive criticism if you want to get better.
- How committed does your teacher seem to be when it comes to the improvement of your skills and the development of your class as a whole? If your coach doesn’t seem to care if you and the other students in your class are moving up in belts, it is a problem. Belt promotion is the main goal in Jiu-Jitsu, and if your coach doesn’t seem to care whether you and the others in your class are progressing, it might be time to find a new instructor.
If you had negative replies to one or all of these questions, the problem could be with your instructor.
#4 You Aren’t Conditioned
Every athlete needs to be conditioned. Whether you are playing football, running tracks, or studying Jiu-Jitsu, you are going to need to be adequately fit. If you are weak, inflexible, or have very little stamina, you can learn all of the Jiu-Jitsu moves but you aren’t going to be successful. When you are properly conditioned, you will learn faster, you will move better, you will recover more quickly, and you are less likely to get injured. Training four or five days in Jiu-Jitsu isn’t enough. You are going to need to spend time training in the gym as well. You don’t need to spend 40 hours a week in the gym, but you will need to get to the gym a few times a week. Weight training and cardio exercises are essential if you want to become more balanced, stronger, and fitter. This is very important if you want to be successful in getting your next belt.
#5 You Haven’t Set Goals For Yourself
Jiu-Jitsu is just like every other area in life. If you don’t have goals, you will have no direction. Most people set goals for their careers, which is essential in moving up in the company. You also need to have goals in Jiu-Jitsu. You can train four times a week, but if you haven’t set realistic goals for yourself, you could become stagnant. Every few months, it is essential that you sit down with your coach and analyze your progress. You need to figure out what are your strong areas and also the weak areas that you need to focus on. This will allow you to set a realistic goal regarding your belt promotion. When you know what you need to work on, you can focus on that. This type of evaluation will help you work on the issues that you are having, so that you are able to master the techniques allowing you to move up to the next belt.
#6 You’re Starting To Get Bored.
As much as you love your Jiu-Jitsu classes, it is possible to get bored with it. There are two reasons that this could be happening. First, you can learn all of the techniques in the world, but if you don’t practice each one enough, you won’t get enough understanding of each technique and your ability won’t progress. When you learn a new technique, you need to practice it a lot if you want to master it.
The second problem is that you could be getting too comfortable with just a few techniques. If you are going to keep on getting bored with Jiu-Jitsu, you are going to need to push yourself more. If you aren’t seeking out for top training partners and if you are avoiding the challenge of competing, you are going to get bored. No matter what level you are at, there is always room for improvement. If you are happy with where you are, and you aren’t seeking new methods and techniques, you are going to get bored. This will seriously impede your ability to move up to your next belt. You need to push yourself always if you are going to stay interested in Jiu-Jitsu.
#7 You’re Letting Your Losses Get To You
Many people believe that their Jiu-Jitsu skills should get better with each practice and competition. This isn’t the case. You are going to get better, then your progress will slow down, and then get better again. If you find yourself tapping out to a lower belt during a competition, it doesn’t mean that you are failed. It just means that you are on one of the flat parts of the curve. If you get into your own head about this, you will become disappointed, and you will lose your desire to improve. It is essential to understand that these stagnated periods happen to everyone. You could be on a stagnated period while your opponent is moving up on the curve. The best way to keep your losses from getting you is to try competing with yourself. A great way to do this is to question yourself every year, on your birthday. Every year, ask yourself if who you are today would not have been the same you a year ago in a match. If you are sure that you have improved, you are in good shape. If you are unsure, it is time to start thinking about the reasons listed above why you aren’t improving the way that you would like. Many Jiu Jitsu students don’t understand this, but your mental attitude is just as important as your physical health and ability. If you have it in your head that you are failing, things are only going to get worse. At the end of the day, it is yourself who you should be competing with.
If you are going to be successful in Jiu Jitsu, you will need to do more than train. You need to be strong and healthy in both the mind and body. If you have a good coach, they will understand this and they will instill this into every class. If you aren’t progressing the way that you had hoped, the points listed above can help you take personal inventory and figure out where the problem lies. When you figure out what is causing you lack of progress, you can make the necessary changes now before you feel so defeated and give up Jiu-Jitsu.
