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Shift in approach or new focus
1 year(s) ago • 1117 views • 8 replies
MBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
Hy,
Did you guys ever had a shift of your Jiu Jitsu approach, priorities or stopped training certain parts?
I am training, learning and teaching grappling on a recreational level the last 15 years (the 10 years before I trained other combat sports and martial arts). So overall on the mats for 25 years now.
Also as a LEO I have been a professional DT/arrest+control tactics instructor since 2008, served SRT/cell extraction team for a long time and overall on duty more than a quarter century now.
Big part for me was always learning and teaching self protection/self defense, too.
But because of stress disorder I got from duty over the years, i don’t enjoy training and teaching the „self defense“ aspect anymore and it gets me in a negative mood….
I love and enjoy the grappling, sparring and rolling part, it’s positive for me mentally and I feel great after training.
I decided to not invest any more time in teaching the „self defense“ aspect, because I really don’t enjoy it and it’s not what I want anymore.
BJJ helped me a lot on duty when the shit hit the fan and when I got attacked and of course in relation to control tactics, but in 48 years of age and 25 years on duty I have never been attacked with knives, shanks or at gunpoint, only got attacked with haymakers or „entangled/ clinch situations“, where I used simple and basic „old school BJJ“.
So you can argue, well , self defense is a huge part of the curriculum of the affiliation I have been part of, even against weapons/ knives and sticks, besides of the Jiu Jitsu stand up, clinch, takedown and ground game.
But I asked myself honestly why should I train and teach Selfdefense in the first place, if I don’t longer enjoy it, if it doesn’t suit my needs and If I feel it isn’t good for me mentally anymore….
The probability in Germany for example to get attacked with a knife or get robbed at gunpoint, statistically is very, very low (although numbers are rising and of course theoretical It could be possible), to maybe have to use it in reality.
So why should I train and teach it ? Only for tradition, because it is part of a curriculum? Only to train it to pass a belt exam although you are not feeling good about it? No, i don’t think so.
So I came to the point and decision to quit my affiliation membership and I don’t teach and train that content anymore and want to set more focus on what I enjoy and is more positive for me: the grappling and rolling part of it.
I am at a point now where I think (although working LE professionally), better to enjoy the grappling part (stand up, clinch and ground of course ) , rolling, everything what is positive for me and invest only time in that in my free time, than training content i don’t want to teach, don’t enjoy and maybe never have to use in real life…..
Sad I parted ways (in a good way) with my Coach because of that, but it just made no sense for me anymore under the given circumstances to stay affiliated and follow and teach the curriculum 🤷♂️.
Did you guys ever had a shift of your Jiu Jitsu approach, priorities or stopped training certain parts?
I am training, learning and teaching grappling on a recreational level the last 15 years (the 10 years before I trained other combat sports and martial arts). So overall on the mats for 25 years now.
Also as a LEO I have been a professional DT/arrest+control tactics instructor since 2008, served SRT/cell extraction team for a long time and overall on duty more than a quarter century now.
Big part for me was always learning and teaching self protection/self defense, too.
But because of stress disorder I got from duty over the years, i don’t enjoy training and teaching the „self defense“ aspect anymore and it gets me in a negative mood….
I love and enjoy the grappling, sparring and rolling part, it’s positive for me mentally and I feel great after training.
I decided to not invest any more time in teaching the „self defense“ aspect, because I really don’t enjoy it and it’s not what I want anymore.
BJJ helped me a lot on duty when the shit hit the fan and when I got attacked and of course in relation to control tactics, but in 48 years of age and 25 years on duty I have never been attacked with knives, shanks or at gunpoint, only got attacked with haymakers or „entangled/ clinch situations“, where I used simple and basic „old school BJJ“.
So you can argue, well , self defense is a huge part of the curriculum of the affiliation I have been part of, even against weapons/ knives and sticks, besides of the Jiu Jitsu stand up, clinch, takedown and ground game.
But I asked myself honestly why should I train and teach Selfdefense in the first place, if I don’t longer enjoy it, if it doesn’t suit my needs and If I feel it isn’t good for me mentally anymore….
The probability in Germany for example to get attacked with a knife or get robbed at gunpoint, statistically is very, very low (although numbers are rising and of course theoretical It could be possible), to maybe have to use it in reality.
So why should I train and teach it ? Only for tradition, because it is part of a curriculum? Only to train it to pass a belt exam although you are not feeling good about it? No, i don’t think so.
So I came to the point and decision to quit my affiliation membership and I don’t teach and train that content anymore and want to set more focus on what I enjoy and is more positive for me: the grappling and rolling part of it.
I am at a point now where I think (although working LE professionally), better to enjoy the grappling part (stand up, clinch and ground of course ) , rolling, everything what is positive for me and invest only time in that in my free time, than training content i don’t want to teach, don’t enjoy and maybe never have to use in real life…..
Sad I parted ways (in a good way) with my Coach because of that, but it just made no sense for me anymore under the given circumstances to stay affiliated and follow and teach the curriculum 🤷♂️.
Edited 1 year(s) ago
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Sounds like you're still doing self defense training to me :)
MMircoOP
Brown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
Sounds like you're still doing self defense training to me :)
Yes and no… maybe like Chris Haueter always says: think street, train sport, practice the art…
But I think you know what I wanted to say, don’t you?
But I think you know what I wanted to say, don’t you?
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Of course! As you know more about my training history you know that I have done that a while back. Best is to do what makes you happy.
MMircoOP
Brown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
Of course! As you know more about my training history you know that I have done that a while back. Best is to do what makes you happy.
Yes Vince, absolutely! That’s the point where I feel I am right now🤷♂️….
JCPurple beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
When people ask me which martial art is the best one for them I always tell them it's the one they will do. They may hate BJJ, karate, and krav maga, but love taekwondo. The physical fitness and body awareness gained from TKD are more useful for them than sitting on the couch doing nothing even if the art itself isn't necessarily as well rounded or appropriate for their particular needs. If they like it and stick to it long term it's better for them than the others that they quit after a few months.
The same applies to training within an art. We should all have a good working knowledge of everything our chosen martial art has to offer, but forcing yourself to work on something you don't like or need isn't really useful for sporting purposes. Your time and effort are far more effectively used on something that brings you joy than on something that brings you sadness. That's not to say you shouldn't venture into those areas occasionally, you just shouldn't force yourself to spend so much time on them that you lose your love for the art.
So yes, I've changed my training focus many times to make sure I stay happy. A few years ago I needed to improve my open guard skills, so I worked on that pretty hard for a while even though it's not my game. Once I got somewhat proficient with a few techniques I could incorporate in my game I went back to normal. Right now my focus is just to be on the mat. That is success to me right now and what brings me joy, while maintaining the expectation of being the grappler I was a few years ago and trying to force that level of performance from a body that can't do it any more just brings frustration and dislike of the art.
The same applies to training within an art. We should all have a good working knowledge of everything our chosen martial art has to offer, but forcing yourself to work on something you don't like or need isn't really useful for sporting purposes. Your time and effort are far more effectively used on something that brings you joy than on something that brings you sadness. That's not to say you shouldn't venture into those areas occasionally, you just shouldn't force yourself to spend so much time on them that you lose your love for the art.
So yes, I've changed my training focus many times to make sure I stay happy. A few years ago I needed to improve my open guard skills, so I worked on that pretty hard for a while even though it's not my game. Once I got somewhat proficient with a few techniques I could incorporate in my game I went back to normal. Right now my focus is just to be on the mat. That is success to me right now and what brings me joy, while maintaining the expectation of being the grappler I was a few years ago and trying to force that level of performance from a body that can't do it any more just brings frustration and dislike of the art.
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I think you will initially miss the relationships forged with your former association, coaches and friends there more than anything else. You will find your new path soon.
MMircoOP
Brown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I think you will initially miss the relationships forged with your former association, coaches and friends there more than anything else. You will find your new path soon.
Of course, Vince!
On the other hand I must admit I kind of feel relieved at the moment I not have to follow a „strict“ curriculum i had to teach with content I didn’t enjoy teaching…
Now I enjoy training and learning again since leaving…. Onwards and upwards! 😉
On the other hand I must admit I kind of feel relieved at the moment I not have to follow a „strict“ curriculum i had to teach with content I didn’t enjoy teaching…
Now I enjoy training and learning again since leaving…. Onwards and upwards! 😉
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
the only way is forwards my friend
