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Become your own TeacherTo excell in any sport, namely Brazilian Jiu jitsu, requires the right formula. A great instructor, hard work and dedication, specific goals and the right training partners are just a few of the keys to success. Many practitioners, however, are very content just coming to class and training hard while focusing little on specific improvement and "out of class" training. To become your own teacher you need to be very smart about your training and find the best way to make Jiu jitsu work for you. In the beginning you will need to focus on the fundamentals of grappling, so your coach will be the biggest influence on your progression. Learning and understanding basic positions and submissions will give you the foundations to progress further.However, there is SO MUCH you can do to make this phase of your training more valuable. Pay close attention to your instructor(s) and try to learn as much as you possibly can. Take notes and really make an effort to understand why techniques work from certain positions. Get in shape outside of the gym. Work on breathing, balancing and recovery excersises(sprints, yoga, core exercises, etc...)so you can train longer and therefore spend more time focusing on the basics. Fatigue will render you unable to focus on technical improvement the way you should so make sure you make fitness a high priority. As time goes on and your skills and cardio improve, you should focus on your specific strengths and weaknesses and search for your own answers to your problem areas. This can be accomplished by working with your coach and by using your own understanding of Jiu jitsu to solve your problems. For example, if you are great at getting reversals from your guard but your guard passing game is weak than you should be very focused on strengthening this weakness. But, rather than just saying " I need better guard passes, get specific as to exactly why you have trouble and what you can change RIGHT NOW to improve. The answers to these problems do exist, it's just a matter of doing your homework and always working to improve through trial and error. Sometimes the answer is better leg flexibility, more hip pressure when passing, better grip control, shrugging your shoulders or keeping the elbows in. Other times it may be more specific such as timing on certain techniques, combination moves offensively and defensively, or tournament strategy. Work with your instructor to correct your mistakes and be sure to make note of specific improvements you make in your training. Make a Jiu jitsu plan. Before you walk into the door of your academy, try making a specific plan of action for that day. Whether it be improving upon a weakness, expanding upon a certain technique or just to spar without rest, know where you want to improve before class begins. Sure, work the techniques and always listen to your instructor, but remember, set your sight on your goals and strive to improve a little every day. Enter class with a plan of improvement and only leave class knowing where you have improved and where you need more improvement. Training this way won't take any of the fun out of BJJ, I assure you. In fact, you will have much more fun because of how much faster you will improve. Imagine having an instructor you can take with you every hour of the day, yourself. You have the ability to help your grappling game more than you probably know. By using your own mind to help fix the problems ahead of you you will always reach the next level always ahead of schedule.
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