It isn't self sabotage; it's just a natural occurrence of growth. Sometimes when you grow, you have to extend your roots downward in order to have a stronger foundation to grow upward. With that being said, it might feel as though you are regressing or running in place, but this is a surefire sign that you are at the threshold of a new opportunity. These moments must be taken advantage of because they show the light to the weaker points of your game and also what you need to focus on to improve. It isn't an easy task to face yourself, but as you may have heard several times before, your main opponent in jiu jitsu is yourself.
If you think about it, you put the most stress on your growth. Whether it is the struggle to stay motivated to keep working toward your goals or a standard you hold in yourself that your aren't living up to, it is crucial to remind yourself that this is a normal part of the journey. Jiu jitsu is a cyclical process that naturally builds you up and breaks you down like a wave; keeping you honest and your ego in check. Staying positive tends to be the real challenge during these lows, but it honestly pays off to grind through them.Consistency and perseverance will be your savior. Nothing lasts forever and neither will this struggle. I believe that the act of struggle breeds success because of the human nature to always want to improve. Nobody fully enjoys staying mediocre and just scraping by in life, so why would it be any different with your jiu jitsu? The first step to beating your negative mindset is realizing that you are your number one priority.
How am I my biggest opponent? Simple. You probably have a habit of expecting too much out of yourself or tend to compare your progression to another team mate. While it's important to have goals, setting your standards too high can quickly reduce your confidence. Make sure you give yourself realistic goals to work towards. When starting out, work on survival and escapes, not necessarily submissions. You should be taking these weak areas and using them as an outline on the areas that need to be addressed to improve. If you dwell upon an aspect that isn't "up-to-par," it won't be long until you start to become discouraged. Just remember that if we always succeeded, we would be blind to our flaws and unable to fix them.
I mentioned earlier that jiu jitsu is an art of self-improvement, so why would we ever compare ourselves to another person's progress? As human beings we have a strong competitive nature to be the best and always prove ourselves to our peers. These primal instincts should be harnessed in such a way to help us work toward the goal of self-perfection through self-reflection and correction. Now that is a lot easier said than done to be sure, but that fact must be known in order to start correcting the mindset.
Give yourself an adequate understanding of the problem(s) you are facing. Ask yourself what you could possibly do to correct these issues... Simple solutions come from simple questions. For example: I keep getting my guard passed as quickly as I pull it. If that's the case, stop pulling guard! If you are forced into guard, maybe you should work on some alternative methods of guard retention. What is the person normally doing to pass your guard? What are you doing to prevent their passing? Why is what you're doing not preventing the opponent from passing your guard? By analyzing the situation and asking yourself the right questions, you are more likely to come up with better solutions and a solid game plan to fix your problem(s). If you cannot figure out what you need to do to improve these aspects or even what you are doing wrong, ask your training partners or your coach! Since they train with you the most, they will have a solid idea of what you have been doing, whether it's the good things or the bad ones. Never be afraid to ask your team for their help; that is why they are part of your team! Constructive criticism and feedback are the keys to identify these problems and ways to solve them.
Once you have identified the problem, it is time to build a plan to fix it. If you are stuck in a certain position, start to work on more positional drills or as your partners to start in that position when you roll. Find a couple moves to work on to escape that position and stick to them. Repetitions are where you'll see your biggest improvements. Let it be known though that you must remain technically aware of your movements; drilling the move the wrong way could create bad habits that you'll eventually have to address. Try not to make too much work for yourself and ask your partner if you can set up a camera to film your roll. You can also ask another training partner who isn't rolling to watch your roll to analyze your movements and provide feedback after the match is over.
The most important thing about facing yourself is going to be persevering. There will be ups and downs throughout your life, not just your jiu jitsu journey, so staying positive is the first step of the goal of improvement. With your positivity in the forefront of your mind, work with your team to identify your weak areas and your strong areas. Always work to improve your weaknesses and solidify your strengths. After identifying the area of concern, ask yourself simple questions of how you can fix it. Do your research to find the best approach and application of a solution. Put in the work through repetitive movements and analyzing the product to give yourself any adjustments that are apparent. Let time take its course, and reap the benefits (not the knee, unless it's legal). Wherever you may be in your journey of jiu jitsu, there is always room for improvements. Stay consistent and persistent, and the rest will follow suit. A good attitude is one of the most powerful tools that you can use for self-improvement. Once you can face yourself in the mirror with confidence, you will know that you are on the right path to victory. As always, keep training.
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