You'll suck at jiu-jitsu if you don't do this...
A quick reality check
Have you ever finished a training session and felt like you are absolutely trash at jiu-jitsu?
I wouldn't say that I'm gifted at jiu-jitsu, but I've developed a good understanding of the sport, which allows me to learn new things quickly.
That being said, I sometimes struggle, just like everyone else. For example, I didn't get good at defending against ankle locks until recently. Right now, I'm having a hard time with snap downs and using leg entanglements to get to outside camping or take the back.
It can be frustrating because failure doesn't feel good and can make you think you aren't making progress. In reality, though, it's exactly the opposite.
Progress is the result of many mistakes and failures over time, so if you don't fail much, you're holding yourself back.
I remember some training sessions a while ago. I was doing great: passing every guard, taking the back, and submitting everyone. I left training feeling like a king. Did I get better? I'm not so sure.
It's funny because I was doing specific rounds and putting myself in bad positions. But at the end of the day, even in those scenarios, I was working on the skills I already had.
I'm really good at escaping the mount, even with underhooks. However, if my partner crosses his ankles together and wedges my hips hard, then I struggle. I consider myself elite at attacking the back with arm switches. But I still could improve at my retention. I could also try new ways to finish, like forcing my partner belly down. I could give more examples all day.
The thing is, if I'm doing back rounds with a guy I can usually submit with arm switches, but if I only try to finish with him belly down, he might escape every time at first. That can be hard on your ego, and I know I can be prideful.
But sometimes, you just have to eat your vegetables, you know? You have to accept some losses and leave training sessions feeling like trash.
If all your training sessions feel perfect, know that you're setting yourself up to be terrible for the rest of your life. At the end of the day, jiu-jitsu is like everything else in life. You have to step outside your comfort zone, fail, and get embarrassed a lot. Only then can you grow stronger.
But what do I know? I'm just a 17-year-old blue belt who likes Gordon Ryan.
Anyway, that's all I have for today. It's kind of a short post, but I'm really busy this week, and I don't want to miss any more days. I'm also experiencing this right now, as I mentioned with the snap downs and leg entanglement stuff. So, I thought it would be a good idea to write about it.
Thanks for reading! Have a great day!