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- TFS#78: When It Clicks
Quitting is a popular topic when you’re a white and blue belt.
And there is no shame in quitting.
But this newsletter is designed to encourage you to continue training, regardless of your hardships.
What determines whether or not you quit is if you’re patient enough for your understanding of Jiu-Jitsu to “click.”
What is the “click?”
It’s when you start to see Jiu-Jitsu less as an apply-this-technique-to-that-problem and instead more of understanding the broader concepts.
Techniques are used for specific problems and situations.
But the thing with Jiu-Jitsu is that there are a lot of grey areas.
"Grey area" is just a term I use to describe the movements of scrambling or the moments where no specific position is established. Moments of transitions also fall under these grey areas.
Your ability to do well in these grey areas is based on your understanding of movement, potential threats, and priorities.
When you begin to understand how to move in Jiu-Jitsu, those techniques start to click into place.
And when you start to develop the appropriate body motion, all the other techniques will begin to connect to one another.
The first click is most rewarding…
Once you have your first big click or “ah-ha” moment, you probably feel rejuvenated and motivated to train some more.
Your enthusiasm is high again and you feel like you’ve fallen in love with BJJ again!
The good news is that there will be more clicks to come.
The bad news is that there will also be more lows to come.
The crash after the click
Experiencing your highs will eventually lead to lows.
The thing is, these lows are only relative.
Because you’ve gotten used to things clicking, you now expect everything to click.
And when they stop clicking, you feel like you're stuck or you've hit a plateau.
Plateaus exist at every step along the way.
They are what allows you to rise to the next level.
To learn to build the resilience for a long journey.
Summary
If you feel like your Jiu-Jitsu hasn’t clicked yet, be patient with yourself.
For white (and blue) belts, continue to focus on your movement.
Are you transitions clean?
Are you maintaining the right frames when transitioning?
Is your movement efficient?
Don't skill warm ups. Do your shrimps, bridges, and rolls.
Prioritize your top spins, windshield whips, and hip switches.
(And on a side note, that's why purple belts skip warm ups. Those movements are already ingrained in them so they find those warm ups a bit boring.)
Closing Remarks
Everyone is capable of becoming a black belt.
But not everyone will want to.
I’m not shaming anyone who quits.
But in reality, getting your black belt is more about sticking around long enough than anything else.
Hey, give yourself to do anything for 10 years and you will be better at it than 95% of the population.
If you don't feel like you're good at Jiu-Jitsu, just remember that you are.
The best way to avoid quitting is to be consistent.
And the best way to be consistent is to be durable.
Durability is what keeps you on the mats.
Long-term success is found in durability.
P.S. Focus on fundamentals more than anything else because it's what seals the cracks in your game.