I have been getting hung up over past couple of months about how I think I hit a plateau in BJJ.
Well, this past week I have noticed that I can see the other side of the mountain now. I have been trying to work different positions and submissions and it seems to be paying slight dividends this week.
I have been trying things that I would rarely or never really try to attempt. Everything from Darce chokes to guillotines. The reason I have never tried these techniques was mainly, because I never found myself in the right position or I just did not think I could finish the submission.
I have also been able to get some half guard sweeps and better positioning through reclaiming guard. That is one of my weakest areas is bottom half. I have been trying to work on moving and not just laying there when I am in bottom half guard.
I have also noticed I have been running out steam during several matches. I hope I can contribute that to two things:
1) My poor diet
2) Side effect of my new medicine
I am hoping to rule out the diet aspect as I have started to clean my eating habits up. I started to track my daily caloric value and food intake. And the medicine aspect? I am just going to have to keep enduring the shortness of breath from time to time, even if it is even the medicine causing it.
I think mixing things up during training is allowing me to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
How do you mix up your training to dodge those plateaus?
Balance your training with plenty of quality sleep, a clean diet, and restorative exercise (light-intensity stuff like swimming, tai chi, chi kung, deep breathing, etc.) I use swimming, mostly. People grossly underestimate the power sufficient sleep and restorative exercises can have on the body's natural sleep-wake energy levels. Diet can & will put a damper on your progress and performance, so you're right on with that one. As for the medication, you may get used to it. Have you checked to insure that fatigue or lethargy are side effects listed on its label? Either way, balancing training, & considering extra conditioning, with proper sleep & restorative exercise could help. Maybe talk to your doctor about it, too, just to get his/ her opinion.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's always been about how I think about training. I can see how vast Jiu-jitsu is, and I know that everything I do can be improved on. So I aim to improve in some way every day. It may be physical, technical, or conceptual.
ReplyDeleteI guess that's why I never felt that I've hit a plateau.
I commend you for that, Aaron. I understand that there would really be difficult when you’re starting a habit, nut, don’t worry it is just the adjustment stage, and you’d soon get the hang of it. Also, Ronnie has a point. Nothing can substitute a good sleep. At least with 8 hours of sleep, you have the ample energy to work and think right. :)
ReplyDeleteHugh Motz