TFS#20: You Make Excuses, Excuses Eventually Make You

Making excuses is a natural human response.

…Especially when we’re caught off guard.

We are social beings, and we care what our tribe thinks of us.

Rather than face uncomfortable conversations and feelings, we tend to make excuses and avoid responsibility.

Those who make excuses may experience a moment of relief, they’ve avoided a bit of pain.

But we know that only exists in the moment.

In the long-term however they will be less fulfilled and can feel anxious or even depressed.

Done enough times, and the brain starts to wire itself to think in this pattern.

A few reasons people make excuses during Jiu-Jitsu are commonly due to fear, uncertainty, or lack of purpose.

It’s easy to tell ourselves any of the following to get out of a challenge:

“I don’t have time.”

“I’m out of shape.

“It’s hard to eat right.”

“They were just stronger than me.”

“I’m injured.”

I’m not saying these aren’t legitimate reasons for you to prioritize your personal life.

…But make sure you’re not using these reasons to avoid the challenge.

Whether it’s skipping class, avoiding competition, or simply not wanting to roll with somebody, just be honest with yourself.

No need to let pride get in the way.

Action Items

• Adjust your vision - When you start to take responsibility, you’ll realize problems are opportunities, not obstacles. Opportunities arise for you—problems don’t happen to you. Everything that happened in your training has brought you to where you are at this moment. You can either continue to build on top of your Jiu-Jitsu, or continue to make excuses.

• Find the learning lesson - Excuses help bury the objective truth. It muddies the details of the mistake and prevents people from determining what went wrong. Those that excel at Jiu-Jitsu will see their game objectively and will always look for lessons to apply for future matches.

• Don’t overthink - If you know you are someone who tends to overthink, try acting first and think after. Some times you need to take action before you have anything to analyze. You need experience before you can reflect.

• Set goals - Setting goals is the first step in turning the impossible into something possible. Working towards actionable goals forces you to create a future for yourself. Start with small goals and as you build confidence, set bigger goals.

Techniques To Explore

1. Chaining These 12 Simple Attacks Will Keep You Ahead
What I’m noticing in competitions is the return of closed guard. Not that it went away, but it has risen in popularity again lately. It’s most likely due to the current mobility of the passing game.

2. Easy To Learn Closed Guard System
Setting up your system is the key to properly executing your plan, especially in closed guard to avoid getting passed.

3. 3 Sweeps To Build Your Lead In Competition
An easy way to rack up points is to solidify your sweep game. This will build your confidence when playing from bottom and also demoralize your opponent when you flip the script on them.

Quick Tips

>> 7 benefits you’ll gain when you learn to control your thoughts

>> See how I keep my training in order

Closing Thought

Innocent or not, excuses can hurt you in the long run.

This is why many quit Jiu-Jitsu entirely and never come back.

Instead of thinking “I need to pause my Jiu-Jitsu training right now,” people will often think “I need to quit Jiu-Jitsu.”

Your motivation to train will ebb and flow.

But it’s up to you to adjust and stay afloat.

Make sure you know your reasons and be honest with yourself.