It can be hard to leave your personal baggage outside the Jiu-Jitsu school doors. We’re all human and sometimes we just can’t shake off the day’s crud before we walk through the door. As a teacher who trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I’ve had many days where my mind was still in the classroom dealing with some unruly student or still annoyed that I had to work through my lunch break because I had to prep for the afternoon. But I’ve learned that BJJ is too demanding mentally and physically, and I can’t be dwelling on things like that while I’m in danger of being choked out.
Therefore, I’ve stumbled upon some tricks to help transition me from teacher-person to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu person:
1. Traveling: Use the time that you’re traveling to Jiu-Jitsu to center yourself. Forget about what got under your skin that day and just focus on the journey to the academy. Driving (or however you get to Jiu-Jitsu) can be dangerous enough, so simply focusing on the road and the other drivers is all you should really be doing anyway. In short, use the travel time as a sort of mental and physical bridge from work to Jits.
2. Getting Changed: When you’re getting changed into your gi or no-gi gear, use that as a moment to both mentally and physically slip out of your workday uniform and into your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uniform. I try and say to myself, “Okay, I’m no longer teacher-Chris, I’m now going to be Jiu-Jitsu Chris.” And on a side note, it’s kind of one of the reasons I enjoy gi-night a lot. The gi is really nothing like what I wear outside of the academy, so it helps me personally transition even more so than grappling shorts and a rash guard. However, if it’s no-gi night, that’s fine too. Regardless of what night it is, you should use the moment of getting into your gear as a transition from workday person to Jiu-Jitsu person.
3. Stepping On The Mat: Once you’re in your BJJ gear, step on the mat and start stretching. Make sure to just focus on your stretching and allow yourself to enter into the pre-Jits zone. Also, there is usually some small talk taking place, and often someone cracks a joke or tells a funny story. Embrace that time to laugh, which always helps get the lead out. Once you lose your sense of humor in life, you’re tapped out mentally.
4. You’re There Now, So Train: Sooner or later, class will begin. So whether it’s a technique night or a rolling night, just go with it and enjoy your training. Don’t forget, we train to add balance to our life—to enhance our life—so don’t take that away from yourself. You worked hard that day, so reward yourself with an awesome night of Jiu-Jitsu. And on another side note, I’ve found that if you tell yourself that it’s going to be a good night, then it will. Just something to think about.
Don’t get me wrong, I can’t promise you that all these “tricks” are foolproof. Some nights you just have a lot of things on your mental plate. However, give yourself over to your training as completely as possible, and your problems should dissipate more so than if you were just sitting on your couch stewing about whatever. If anything, remember this: You can only be in one place at a time. So if you’re at Jiu-Jitsu, then be at Jiu-Jitsu. Life’s headaches will be there once you get out. However, after Jiu-Jitsu class, you’ll be more focused and level-headed to deal with them. And that’s the amazing power of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that we all know and love. Happy training!
About the author: Chris Campion is the author of the novel The Jiu-Jitsu Bum published by Northampton House Press. He holds a blue belt from Gracie NEPA, Scranton, Pennsylvania. When not on the mat, he writes and teaches college writing and literature. Follow him on Twitter: @Campion23
