TFS#26: Constant Losing And Measurable Progress

Every instructor harps on this idea: Consistency is key to progress in Jiu-Jitsu.

But what if you’re consistently losing?

Losing in regular sparring rounds is forgivable, but what if you’re consistently losing in competition?

…You can never seem to make it past the first round.

…There’s the same person you always lose to.

Those consecutive losses are demoralizing and makes it difficult to maintain the same positive attitude going into class.

The more sustainable way to maintain the right mindset is by becoming more output oriented than outcome oriented.

Output vs Outcome

By measuring your progress with wins and losses, you’ve tied your success to an outcome.

You’re allowing many uncontrollable variables to dictate how you define your success.

You don’t have control of how talented your opponents are, or you might not have gotten the best sleep, or maybe you ate something funny for breakfast…and the list goes on.

If you’re looking to change this approach, the first step would be to change the way you set your goals: set output oriented goals.

Your goals can look more something like this: I will compete four times this year. Or, I will go to five classes a week. Or, I will ask one question a class.

This way, you goal is focused around have complete control of your efforts.

It becomes about what you do, not what you obtained.

One easy way to measure progress

One of my buddies shared his process with me which was asking himself a series of questions to stay in check.

Here’s the list:

• Did I go to class?

• Did I try my hardest during the warmup?

• Did I do the technique/drill more than everyone else?

• Did I ask any questions?

• Did I use open mat time efficiently (ie. roll throughout)?

• Was I able to survive/escape from bad positions?

• Was I able to maintain/submit from dominant positions?

If you can answer “yes” to four or five of these questions, consider your day a win.

Or one question I always like to ask myself: Can current me beat me from two months ago?

Resources You Might Like

1. 7 Proven Ways To Get Over The Jiu-Jitsu FOMO
Whether you’re nursing an injury or tending to life’s responsibilities, don’t let missing class bum you out.

2. The Effective Counter To The Leg Weave
Getting your legs stuffed after you pull guard isn’t funs o give yourself the opportunity to recover and hit a sweep.

3. Learn To Transition From DLR To X Guard
With the modern competitive scene using so much De La Riva Guard, we need to learn how to transition out of it if it’s not working out.

4. Build Input Combinations And Your Success Is Infinite
Develop your own game plan and stick to a strategy you’ve designed to "solve problems in real time."

5. 4 Drills For A Killer Cardio Routine
BJJ conditioning should focus on developing aerobic capacity, lactic capacity, alactic capacity and grip endurance.

Closing Thought

Too often in life we are more focused on what’s happening to us rather than how it’s happening to us.

As my friend once said:

“Measuring your progress in a combat sport is objectively based on comparing yourself to someone else.

At the end of the day, being "good" will not make you happy. (In the short-term it might.)

But it's a fleeing feeling because you are only as good as your opponent is bad.

In my experience, enjoying the grind, staying curious, and bonding with your teammates is significantly more valuable than tracking progress.”