Training Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most enjoyable activities in life. It’s a great tool for personal evolution, you improve your body, mind and spirit.
But like all activities, a life of the Gentle Art has its ups and downs. Periods that you feel more tired, times when your technical level doesn’t grow at the same pace as it once did, and who’s forgetting injuries…
All of this is normal, but you can’t let these setbacks hinder your progress in the sport. So check out these tips to keep your motivation up while you’re on the mats.
Staying Motivated in Jiu-Jitsu
Set a Goal. Having a goal is the best way to keep motivated, even on your most difficult days. Whether it’s looking forward to a competition you’ve booked, or focusing on a specific technique.
Once you’ve established a goal, look to separate it into parts. Make weekly and monthly goals. Maybe it’s learning a new guard pass or losing those extra pounds that you gained recently. Keeping it small can keep you motivated.
Try to find a friend to be your training partner. Especially if you have similar levels and the same goals. One will always motivate the other in difficult times.
It may seem to be counter-intuitive but if you feel that your body is asking for a break, listen to it. A few days off will not hinder your progress, and you will come back more motivated than ever. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Take care of your diet. In some cases, the lack of energy comes from a diet with high amounts of fats and sugars. Your mood can change dramatically with a balanced and healthy diet.
If you train after work, try not to miss training and get home before going to the gym. The comfort of home can be tempting on cold days, or if you’re already feeling discouraged, a comfy sofa only strengthens that feeling.
Never slip into your comfort zone. Easy rolls and your A game isn’t going to challenge your Jiu-Jitsu. Seek out the hardest training partners and if you’re training with someone who is at a lower level, work on new positions.
Just remember a day without Jiu-jitsu is a day your competitors and training partners are at Jiu-jitsu getting better than you. Use that a motivated to keep training hard.