The last month or so has been tough for me in regards to training. I've only been making one class a week on average and I've been feeling in somewhat of a slump. A typical week is me getting wiped out from work on Monday and getting home a little later, then missing class. Come Wednesday I'm super psyched and I rush off to Gi class.
Last nights class just wasn't working for me. The several people I normally train with weren't at class and it seemed like everyone I drilled with was either way too intense or trying to go too far ahead and forgetting the finer points of what we were currently drilling. It had put me into a sour mood until I paired up with one of the newer guys. Daniel (I think) has been coming to the gym for a few weeks maximum and is probably in his late 30s or early 40s. I'd paired up with him earlier that night and he was having some trouble with the movement we practiced so I'd helped him out as much as I could before asking the coach to come and supervise.
The second time we paired up we were drilling the knee to elbow mount escape. I could see that Dan was having trouble with the last part of the technique which required switching onto your other hip and retaining guard. I stopped drilling and went through the movement with him a few times and then he nailed it. I could see that he was super excited at having finally got the escape and his eyes were sparkling and he couldn't stop thanking me. It was that moment that reminded me where I was - I was learning Jiu Jitsu!
Seeing how eager and excited this guy was really reminded me of how good learning Jiu Jitsu makes me feel. Every time I'd do the escape I'd see Dan's eyes light up and he'd make a comment about how I make it look so easy and I'm so great at it. I'd brush it aside and go through it again with him and come the end of the session he had the movement infinitely better than when we started. As we wound up the class and we all thanked each other, I came across Dan who gave me a solid handshake and simply said 'thank you'. It meant a lot at that moment. I'd had a average week and a crappy class and he had been able to pull me out of my mood by being enthusiastic and excited. It doesn't take much to make someone feel good, and Daniels attitude improved mine a thousand fold.
Sometimes you get caught up in a bad mood and it takes you over to a degree. It wasn't until last night that I realised I'd not been feeling my normal self and I'd instead been focusing on the stress and monotony of everyday life. It's people like Dan who remind you to take a big breath, relax and smile. Jiu Jitsu makes me feel many things. It makes me feel cool, powerful, humble and above all else it makes me happy. The last few classes I've been worrying so much about getting better during the small time I'm in the gym, but what I need to do is have fun. Regardless of how much I can get to the gym in the next few weeks, I'm going to try to go in smiling and have fun. I hope you guys do the same!
/Anthoney.
Last nights class just wasn't working for me. The several people I normally train with weren't at class and it seemed like everyone I drilled with was either way too intense or trying to go too far ahead and forgetting the finer points of what we were currently drilling. It had put me into a sour mood until I paired up with one of the newer guys. Daniel (I think) has been coming to the gym for a few weeks maximum and is probably in his late 30s or early 40s. I'd paired up with him earlier that night and he was having some trouble with the movement we practiced so I'd helped him out as much as I could before asking the coach to come and supervise.
The second time we paired up we were drilling the knee to elbow mount escape. I could see that Dan was having trouble with the last part of the technique which required switching onto your other hip and retaining guard. I stopped drilling and went through the movement with him a few times and then he nailed it. I could see that he was super excited at having finally got the escape and his eyes were sparkling and he couldn't stop thanking me. It was that moment that reminded me where I was - I was learning Jiu Jitsu!
Seeing how eager and excited this guy was really reminded me of how good learning Jiu Jitsu makes me feel. Every time I'd do the escape I'd see Dan's eyes light up and he'd make a comment about how I make it look so easy and I'm so great at it. I'd brush it aside and go through it again with him and come the end of the session he had the movement infinitely better than when we started. As we wound up the class and we all thanked each other, I came across Dan who gave me a solid handshake and simply said 'thank you'. It meant a lot at that moment. I'd had a average week and a crappy class and he had been able to pull me out of my mood by being enthusiastic and excited. It doesn't take much to make someone feel good, and Daniels attitude improved mine a thousand fold.
Sometimes you get caught up in a bad mood and it takes you over to a degree. It wasn't until last night that I realised I'd not been feeling my normal self and I'd instead been focusing on the stress and monotony of everyday life. It's people like Dan who remind you to take a big breath, relax and smile. Jiu Jitsu makes me feel many things. It makes me feel cool, powerful, humble and above all else it makes me happy. The last few classes I've been worrying so much about getting better during the small time I'm in the gym, but what I need to do is have fun. Regardless of how much I can get to the gym in the next few weeks, I'm going to try to go in smiling and have fun. I hope you guys do the same!
/Anthoney.