In all things there is a time to relax, work, heal, learn and grow; as with everything else in life so to is BJJ training and learning. Now the off season has arrived for many competitors but now is not the time to relax, hang up your gi and allow your game to soften and slow. Now is the time to prepare, strengthen, plan, research, rebuild and reflect.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu like many athletic endeavors, planning and precise practice can take vast amounts of your time and effort in the gym for a scant few minutes of competition annually. When I was in college I spent more than nine months training and preparing for as little as 60 minutes of total competition for a season of sweep rowing. In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu our preparatory work can be far greater in comparison. If the average competitor competes in just six events each year and ends up losing in the first round of each event, that competitor would have spent a year planning and practicing for 30 minutes of competitive mat time and that’s only if every round reaches 5 minutes (an average Masters Blue Belt match, Adult matches may go 6 minutes or more depending upon rank). If the same competitor won all of his tournaments in six rounds he would spend just 150 minutes in competition for his year worth of training.
Although the competitive season may come to a close during the holidays, there are always opportunities to grow. Now is the time to watch, review and learn new techniques to add to your game plan for next season. Now is the time to perfect a few new takedowns, sweeps and attacks. Without the pressure of making weight and pulling together a plan for each event and potential known competitor you may face next season. Now is the time to reflect on highs and lows, doubts, challenges and perhaps even weaknesses in your game and prepare for a new challenge in 2009!
We are all constantly learning. What worked as a White Belt may have little to no chance of affecting a wiser more tenured Blue Belt, what once worked with Purple Belts may need to be refined to work with Brown Belts. And there are always your basics to readdress and perfect over and over and over again.
This season my gift to myself is knowledge. I picked up a few DVDs I have long wanted and look forward to studying them in detail. I plan to review what I see and practice with my instructor and team mates to fit what works for me into my plans for future events in 2009. Now is the time to grow, think and expand what I know.
I invite my friends and competitors in BJJ to join me in our quest to gain ever more knowledge in the sport we love. I encourage you all to work your precise practice of new techniques into your daily training regimens. These advances will pay large dividends with a little luck next season.
Happy Training to all and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Best Regards,
KK
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment