How To Get the Most Out of Your Training

How To Get the Most Out of Your Training

Not everyone has the privilege of being able to train full-time. Most of us have jobs of some kind, and other responsibilities outside of training. Regardless of how much time you have in your schedule for training, you can make your time on the mats count. I’ve talked to moms who work full-time, take care of their kids, and maybe have an hour a day to train, but are still able to compete and win at the World level. They can do this because they make their training count. Here are some tips for making the most out of your training.

Have a very specific goal when you come in. There are times when it’s good to flow and see what happens, but if you have limited time, it’s smart to pick a specific move to focus on. Maybe it’s a pass you’re working on, or even a basic principle like controlling the distance between you and your partner. Be very intentional about the way you approach every opportunity to drill or roll, and you will see results. 

Don’t waste time with talking and socializing while you’re on the mats. Don’t get me wrong, I think that communication and socialization is really important. We need that human interaction and time to check in with each other. Do that before or after training. When it’s time to train, focus on the task at hand. It can be fun, you can laugh, but let your training be the focus. 

Set aside your other worries and responsibilities. We all have lots to do and stressors in our life. Let training be that one hour when you can forget about your worries and just focus on choking the crap out of your training partners. Your to do list will still be there when you get done.

Ask questions. Ask about a specific problem you’ve been having, or a detail you don’t quite understand. Try to learn something new every day.

Try to take away concepts. There are thousands of moves to learn in Jiu-Jitsu and sometimes it can feel overwhelming to keep track of them all, especially early on in your journey. However, if you can understand basic concepts, such as posture or tightness, you can take them and apply them to every area of your game. 

Seek out training partners who will push you. Sometimes it’s good to have rounds where you can try new moves and sharpen your attacks. However, you need tough rounds with people who will expose your weaknesses and drive you to improve. Iron sharpen iron.

Let your partner’s strengths help you improve. No matter who you’re working with, he or she has something to offer. Instead of smashing the two-stripe white belt, let her play her best guard and sharpen your passing. If he has killer takedowns, try playing on the feet for a while.

By

Nikki Sullivan