At some point I am going to present you with the mathematical formula for jiu jitsu success. It will be awesome. Until then, the process for solving any equation is to understand your constants and variables. Yes, I get that there is an intangible element here possibly being ignored. I’m just having a bit of fun, so go with it for now.
In simplest terms, there are physical and mental aspects of jiu jitsu. Your success will ultimately depend on both playing in harmony. You can’t have a broken leg and expect to do well. An extreme example, but makes the point. As well, your mental state too must not be broken. If you’ve been involved in jiu jitsu for any significant period of time, there are a lot of scenarios that play their mental highlight reel in your head as you roll. And for the most part, you’re not even aware of them. You just do them as a natural consequence from previous situations. I think this is where the saying comes from, a black belt is simply a white belt that never quit. It takes time to accumulate the experience necessary.
Look I told you before I don’t know shit more than the next guy, but from my own experience, I can tell you that I suck when I’m frustrated. The highlight reel stops and I revert to trying to muscle my way out of situations. And it NEVER works. Sure sometimes it gets me out of a bad spot. But I’m at the point now where I’ll just tap. Muscle my way out of an arm bar or kimora. No fucking thanks. My limbs thank me for it too. Something is not working, give it a new look. Which brings me to the Magic 8 Ball and back to the jiu jitsu formula.
I had the thought recently, assuming my physical state is constant, which for the most part it has been, any success I have had is purely mental. Mental in the sense of recognizing situationally what my options are. But also mental in the sense of putting the few basic skills that I have in my jiu jitsu toolbox to use to create new situations and glimpses of what just may be over the horizon. Like coach says to us, you can beat me, you just don’t realize it yet. Think about that for a second. It always stuck with me.
Let me give you a quick example, and then we can get out of here. Recently I connected A to B and to my surprise, I was 70% of the way to taking my opponents back. Rinse and repeat, I tried it again, and for the most part, same result. Has it been successful for me yet? No. But the Magic 8 Ball says ‘Outlook good’. In the meantime, I’ll keep trying. Keep fucking it up. If you’re afraid to fuck up for fear of losing, you never get those glimpses. You get mired in A or B and never connect the two to see that C and D are waiting just over on the other side. In the meantime, frustration sets in and well, that ain’t good. Have fun for fucks sake. Do something completely un-you once in a while. I guess that’s about it for now. Until next time.
Keep on truckin’ – JD