Here's How to Make The Best of Your Jiu Jitsu Time

Your time on the mat is precious. before you get out the door, you have to organise work, study, family, food, and travel to the gym.

That's unless you're like the guy I spoke to in the new gym on Friday who walked across the road to sign up. But the rest of us need to commute.

So you want to make the most of your time on the training mat. I've got a few hints on how to do so that I've picked up along the way.

Train Jiu Jitsu Intentionally

That phrase I got from Yoga. I followed this youtube Yoga programme for a while, and at the start of each session, she would say "Take some time to set your intention." At first, I thought thie was new-age rubbish, but as I went on I began to understand that if you step into a session thinking "I need to focus on my hips today", you would get so much more out of it.

So when you step on the mat to train Jiu Jitsu, decide what you're going to do. Set an intention. If you have none, follow the intention of the class. Your coach will let you know at the start of the class what the focus of the session is.

You'd be really surprised how little intention, and as such attention, people put into training. It's a small thing that makes a big difference.

Step on the Mat Ready

Of course, you'll be in your Gi, and you'll have your belt, but how many times do you have to go off to get a plaster for a cut, a pice of tape for your fingers, or water, or go to the bathroom. I think that's probably the most irritating thing for a coach- to have people leave the mat in what's a relatively short session.

What is worse is that usually people walk off to get this stuff during the breaks, when the coach is describing the next drill. When the student returns, you can hear them ask "What are we doing?" to their partner.

Total focus and total immersion in Jiu Jitsu for the time you're there is the best way of learning, and a little preparation for that is going to help you a lot. Then they get a shorthand version from a partner who was only half listening anyway!

Arrive Early (and try to leave late)

You never know what you might pick up in those moments before and after sessions when everyone is sitting around waiting to start. Probably the best tips get shared in the moments right after training while it's still fresh in your mind.

So if you only get a chance to get to Jiu Jitsu a few times a week, take the extra few minutes to ask questions from your coaches and team mates in those spaces. You'll be surprised what you learn.

Hope those help!

See you on the mat,

Barry