Your Jiu Jitsu Comeback

We were talking about coming back to Jiu Jitsu after a break the other day. One of the lads was back on the mat after a work-related break from training, and he was sucking on fumes in the last few rounds. Of course I was laughing at him. You can laugh at someone in that situation when you’ve experienced it yourself.

Coming back after a break goes through several stages. This is true for whether you’re coming back after injury, returning after a few months or years of laziness, or you just got out of the habit and now want to get back into Jiu Jitsu. It goes like this:

YES! I’m going back to Jiu Jitsu. Let’s go!

BUT! When I get there I will be out of shape. Oh no.

AND! Everyone I used to train with will be much better now. Oh dear.

SO! I will get a bit fitter first and then go back. (Never happens)

And so the returning person never actually returns, and then you go back to the beginning of that cycle.

So what do people who successfully return do? Well, the same steps, with a slight change in perspective.

YES! I’m going back to Jiu Jitsu. Let’s go!

BUT! When I get there I will have to accept I will be out of shape. Okay.

AND! Everyone I used to train with will be much better now. That’s life.

SO! I will be back up to speed in a few weeks.

Let’s go!

The difference between starting for the first time and returning to training is that when you start, there’s no expectations. Everyone knows you won’t be any good at this, particularly you. But when you come back, you and others will have some expectations that you’ll at least know what to do.

So in some ways, it can be harder than starting for the first time, I think.

But if that sounds like you, just get on the mat and start again. You will not regret it, even if some of your old team mates rip into you for a few sessions. you can do the same to them when it's their turn.

See you on the mat,

Barry