A Guest Article By: Timmy “Mission” Almeida
“He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.”
~Sun Tzu~
In the last two weeks I have trained Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a total of two days. In the two weeks prior to that I was able to train seven times. If the definition of consistent is to be unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time, then by all means my training over the past month has been inconsistent. How do I feel about this? Well, I’m not really sure, but my goal is to find some clarity through the written word and to also provide some tools that might help you to keep your BJJ game sharp, even when you’re not on the mat.
For many of us, time is an inescapable illusion that often restricts us from doing what we love most. For me personally, the challenges of raising kids, working full time, running my own business, trying to “make it” as an artist and writer, often stand in the way of fulfilling my inner desire of wanting to train everyday. I mean, let’s face it, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is addicting. To abandon all sense of adult responsibility in order to train 24/7 and feed our habit to the greatest martial art of all time, is something we all fantasize about from time to time. (And if you don’t, you have no soul.) But still, the realities of life are many, and leading one that is balanced and fulfilling is important. If you are like me and sometimes find yourself feeling like you are missing out on training, then perhaps there are things you can do to make up for that precious time you are unable to spend on the mat. Here are a few tips on how to continue to improve your craft and reap the benefits of being consistently inconsistent. For another insightful article on drilling in BJJ, Eric Fletter’s recent article may have you interested.
Skip Break Time and Get Some Work In:
My work hours are from 7 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. I am afforded a 45-minute lunch break every day, which usually lands around 1 o’clock. Anywhere from two to three days out of the week, I will bypass the opportunity to sit down on my break, and instead put on my running shoes and hightail it for the park located near my job. Because my break is 45 minutes long, I know that I have enough time to get in a solid half-hour workout and make it back in time to eat something, change back into my work uniform, and finish out the day feeling good. Fortunately for me, the park is equipped with a complete workout station that includes pull up bars, dip bars, rings, etc., and I am able to complete a nice routine of exercises that benefit my Jiu Jitsu game. Other days I opt to run a mile or two, add in some wind sprints, along with a couple rounds of shadow boxing, and I make sure to mentally envision the parts of my game that I want to improve on. You’d be surprised how much you can learn about Jiu Jitsu when you allow your mind to flow through it independently, away from the mat. I also make sure to always keep some equipment in my car, like a set of light dumbbells and my jump rope, that way I can mix things up if need be. Of course, on days when the weather isn’t cooperating, I will take my scheduled break to eat something and figure out a way to squeeze in my home workout at some point later in the day. (Usually after all homework is done, everyone is fed, and the dog is walked. It’s all about priorities my friends.)
Bring the Game to You:
If you are lucky enough to live in a home or apartment, then chances are you can figure out a way to find some mat space. It doesn’t have to be a huge space. Just enough to fit a portable roll up mat. The mat I have is 4 feet by 10 feet, and I can store it in my garage or basement, but many days it sits right in the corner of my living room. If I know I am going to have a busy week and driving over to the academy to train is going to be tough to fit in, then I will make some calls to a few of my teammates and see if anyone has time to come by and work some drills or some light rolling. I can guarantee that you will almost always find someone willing to come by for a little bit, and there is something fulfilling about training the “awesome art,” (I think we should call it that instead of the “gentle art”), in the comfort of your own home. Of course, if you have room for more mats, then by all means, indulge in every Jiu-Jitsu practitioner’s fantasy and create the ultimate training facility right in your own backyard, but please keep in mind, it can get pricey, and if your married your significant other might not take to kind to grown men and women sweating and rolling around in the backyard at all hours of the day. Do yourself a favor and create healthy boundaries by establishing when you will have people over to train. And now I sound like a marriage counselor. Forgive me.
Let’s Go to the Videotape:
Let’s face it. The introduction of social media platforms has made the world a fascinating and complex place. Everyone seems to be a professional at something, even if that means knowing how to take the most interesting selfies, which could probably pass for an oxymoron. There is no shortage of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu content that you can delve in to on any particular day, and if you can find the right channels you will see that there is a wealth of knowledge to be seen, heard and read. We have all watched the videos of people demonstrating flying arm bars and Omoplatas, complex chokes and magical sweeps that look amazing but don’t always translate to practicality, and while there are people athletic enough to pull these things off, many of us need to stick to the foundation and try not to break our necks.
With that said, there are also thousands of videos that provide solid, practical instruction that can help you keep your mind sharp and your creativity flowing. Add to that fact, that at any given time you can watch the best BJJ players in the world in competition videos, technical tutorials and the likes, and you really can learn so much about the art and sport at any given time. Remember, being a solid Jiu Jitsu player is only partly physical, and the true masters are the ones who obtain and share their knowledge of the game.
Make the Best of Your Time on the Mat:
The phrase “quality not quantity,” perfectly puts into perspective the essence of training on a limited time schedule. On the days you are able to make it to class, do your very best to arrive early and stay a little later if possible. Try your best not to let your training session turn into a social setting where you discuss how annoyed you are that you haven’t had time to train more because the dog fell down the steps, the kids are all sick and the kitchen flooded. Of course, it is a wonderful feeling to go to class to catch up with your friends and create those bonds that make us feel like we are all in a secret club that the rest of the world only wishes they could be in, but try and save the bulk of your conversations for the locker room and after class. Instead, focus on bringing as much positivity into your practice at that particular moment. Push yourself to maximize your time on the mat. Appreciate the value of being fortunate enough to have the capacity to train this amazing art form.
Make it a point to focus on the particular aspects of your game you want to improve on, and consciously make the decision to work on them. Remember that even though you may feel like you are missing out some days, you really aren’t so long as you remain proactive in your never-ending search for Jiu Jitsu enlightenment. Above all else, have some fun and be thankful that your body still functions and your brain still generates. The great thing about the secret club is that anyone can be a life long member, so long as you stay involved in some way, shape or form. Until next time my fellow BJJ Amigo’s and Amiga’s, desire true freedom and be the real change.
Timmy “Mission” Almeida
Soca BJJ
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