How to get better “faster”
As the popularity of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu continues to skyrocket, there’s a growing urgency that I hear from students who are looking for some kind of cheat code to Jiu Jitsu: “How can I get better faster?!!”
My first inclination is to say, “Chill out and enjoy the journey!” Everyone grows and improves at different rates, and you shouldn’t spend time comparing your journey to others. But I realize that many people, while passionate about their growth in Jiu Jitsu, also are balancing work, family and other life obligations. So how about we reframe the question to ask: “how can I learn as efficiently as possible?”
BJJ is an incredibly rewarding practice. But it can also be extremely frustrating. One minute you feel like everything is clicking and you’re progressing, and the next minute you feel stuck in a plateau. When students are able to tap into more efficient ways to improve, we see greater engagement and motivation to keep training. And as coaches, one of our biggest goals is to simply keep you on the mat.
Now, there is a lot of debate about the role that methodology and coaching play in the development of students. You will see some coaches claim they (and only they!) have the magic sauce. And while methodology and coaching approaches clearly play important roles, not one single method or coach is going to have all the answers.
The truth is, how a student approaches their own learning is just as important, or perhaps more so. In my nearly 20 years of coaching I have observed that the students who progress the fastest and stick around the longest are the ones who take ownership of their learning. But what exactly does that mean? Here are some active steps that any student can take to improve and develop skills efficiently in BJJ:
1. Consistency is king (or queen)
If there is any “magic sauce”, this is it. Be consistent and train as much as your schedule allows every week, month and year. There is no substitute for hard work and discipline. You must make the choice and create the habit to train as often as possible. And although the number of classes you can commit to may vary on an individual basis, you have to show up with regularity. Even if you’re injured, by showing up to observe class, take notes, and remain mentally engaged, you’ll see improvements. A helpful trick is to also have a "training buddy", ideally a peer who will help keep you accountable, brainstorm and troubleshoot with you, and motivate you to keep coming.
2. Be intentional
Not only should you show up consistently, but you also must show up with intention. Take an active approach to your training and set the intention to improve an area or areas of your game. Don't expect your coach to spoon feed you ideas of what to work on, take ownership of your journey. Set short-term and long-term goals, like working on a specific technique or position for a week or two, or focusing on improvement in broader BJJ principles, or targeting a particular competition. Your intentions should help you address holes in your game and challenge yourself, as opposed to strictly playing to your strengths.
3. Do your homework
You should also be taking time to reflect on the various problems or challenges you are encountering on the mat. Try to solve these problems by being curious and reflecting on your own, testing out potential solutions, researching online instructionals and high-level competition footage, and eventually brainstorming with a peer, senior student, or coach. BJJ is all about problem-solving and you must train yourself to look for solutions in an active way. That’s not to say you should stubbornly refuse to listen to anyone other than yourself! It’s also critical that you’re willing to listen, be coachable, and value the expertise of those who have put in the blood, sweat and tears before you. But coaches also like to see that you’re putting in the work and not just being the baby bird waiting to be fed..
4. Be a positive influence for your training partners and school
Although the head coach and other coaches will set the tone for the culture of your gym – which should be supportive as opposed to absurdly competitive – you should always come to class with a positive attitude. Exercise self-control, work hard, be humble, courteous and respectful to everyone regardless of how well you "performed" in training. Be grateful for your coaches and training partners. And if you set the intention to help others, even if you feel you don't know much, they will reciprocate and help you work through challenges, brainstorm techniques, and accelerate your development.
5. Keep it playful
Don’t take yourself (and your ego) too seriously. You should feel comfortable experimenting with new techniques and approaches, and not stress about always “winning” in training. Real-time problem solving and effective implementation of a variety of strategies and solutions against a resisting opponent is the highest expression of BJJ. By adopting a playful attitude, you give yourself permission to fail in the short-term so you can improve and succeed in the long-term. Training tools like positional and situational sparring can relieve the stress of failure when trying new techniques by forcing you to focus on the process of executing moves effectively, rather than simply beating someone up. Immersing yourself in the process of learning can bring joy to your training and help you avoid frustration and burnout.
Remember, you are the most important person in your BJJ journey, so take ownership and enjoy the process! There is no cheat code or short-cutting the hard work and determination that is required to become proficient at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. And at the same time I hope this list feels empowering and exciting because all of this is within your control! These tools can help you learn as efficiently as possible, and I have no doubt that if you take this on, it will be one of the most rewarding journeys of your life.
