| For some people they have the perfect situation. | | | | training session you want to work on and work |
| They are trained by a black belt in Brazilian Jiu | | | | on it. This way you don't go in there and sit |
| Jitsu, a former Muay Thai competitor, former | | | | around thinking hey what should I work on today. |
| collegiate wrestler or judo champions are teaching | | | | If you do have an instructor and he teaches the |
| them takedowns and they have the time to train | | | | class you still should have a game plan for your |
| outside of class. | | | | sparring/rolling session. The goal is to always learn |
| For others that's not the case they don't have | | | | and improve. |
| that situation or they can't afford to train at a | | | | - Training isn't a competition. Too many people |
| regular academy, but they still love the sport and | | | | don't know what it means to not want to win |
| want to train all the time and improve. Here is a | | | | during a sparring/grappling session. They are |
| list of things to do to help you improve in | | | | always looking to be the best and get ahead. |
| grappling and mixed martial arts if you don't have | | | | While it is not a bad thing to want to win. It is bad |
| the ideal training situation. Here are some things | | | | to always want to win in training. These are the |
| that will help you stay focused and improve when | | | | people who don't improve and they have no clue |
| you don't have an instructor or a school to train | | | | why. There are times during your training week |
| at. | | | | that you should dedicate to competition type |
| - Buy books, instructional videos, and check out | | | | sparring/grappling. If you train four days a week, |
| the internet. Fortunately for us there is an | | | | then at least three of those days should be |
| extensive amount of material on the different | | | | dedicated to 100% learning and the other should |
| martial arts of mixed martial arts, so you're not | | | | be a more intense training session. |
| completely left out in the dust. | | | | - Always go to other places to train, and try to |
| - Do your best to find someone who is as | | | | train/spar/grapple with different people. This is |
| interested in the sport as much as you are and | | | | especially important for the people who don't |
| wants to train just as hard as you. This is | | | | have access to an instructor or better training. |
| obviously really important. I'm sorry to say, but | | | | While you may do well with your training partners, |
| without a training partner your progress is going | | | | you may not do well with others. It will also keep |
| to be severely lacking. | | | | your mind healthy when you're the one learning |
| - Constantly drill the moves you have learned | | | | new ideas from new people. |
| through your resources over and over. This | | | | - Always keep a positive mindset. Remember |
| should even be the case with people who train at | | | | you're on the mat and doing something about it, |
| a good academy | | | | while someone else is home, sitting on their couch |
| - If you are the best one in the group. Many | | | | and wishing they were even close to where you |
| times put yourself in uncomfortable situations so | | | | are now. |
| you can improve on them. If you're bad at | | | | - Don't be afraid to give up positions and go for |
| escaping triangles (even though it may not happen | | | | stuff in training. That is the time you need to |
| a lot). Then let your partner triangle you (with out | | | | mess up. If your afraid of messing up in training |
| them knowing) | | | | and don't take any chances, you are going to |
| - Always teach your partners the techniques that | | | | slow your improvement down a lot. |
| work for you best and tell them to look out for | | | | - Your imagination is one of the greatest tools |
| them. This is one of the most important tips, | | | | you can ever have. If you have an imagination |
| because it makes everyone better. Your partner | | | | then you always have an option. The reason I |
| learns how to defend them, and when he does | | | | say this is because you will always be able to |
| you now have to do something different. This | | | | come up with some idea on what to do in any |
| results in everyone's game improving. | | | | situation. Even if it is a situation you've never |
| - If you are better then your partner. Pick one or | | | | experienced before. If you see something hanging |
| two things you are going to go for in sparring and | | | | out there and you think you can do something |
| let them know about it. Now it will make it much | | | | with it, then try it. Your not going to get |
| harder for you because they know what's | | | | anywhere by just thinking about it. If you think |
| coming, so you may have to react different. | | | | about it, all of the new techniques that have |
| - Drill, Drill, Drill. I don't mean just the dead pattern | | | | come along and even the development of all |
| drilling. I mean practice the technique with your | | | | martial arts was developed first through |
| partner to get familiar with the mechanics then as | | | | someone's imagination. Never be afraid to be |
| you go have him/her add some movement so | | | | creative. When you are imaginative and you can |
| you have to react a little different. Then have | | | | make things happen, that is when your opponent |
| them add more movement and resistance. Then | | | | will not know what to do with you. |
| when you roll, try to do the technique that you | | | | - Always try to meet new people who are |
| were drilling. To many people think drilling is | | | | interested in grappling/mma. This way you can |
| partnering up with someone and just going | | | | build up the amount of training partners you have. |
| through the technique. That is not the case, the | | | | Go on internet sites and try to meet people who |
| best drilling in my opinion is trying it during your | | | | are in your area who would like to train. Go to |
| sparring/grappling session. That is what builds your | | | | schools that are not to far every once in the |
| timing, experience, and lets you know truly what | | | | while and pay their mat fee to train with them |
| will work for you. When you do this, try to | | | | for at least the one class. |
| execute that particular technique during your | | | | - Don't get discouraged if you feel like you're in a |
| sparring/grappling sessions for at least 2 weeks, | | | | rut. Even people who train with the best teams in |
| by then you should know if you should add it to | | | | the world go through ruts. It doesn't necessarily |
| your arsenal or not. | | | | have anything to do with you not having a formal |
| - Do conditioning out outside of your training | | | | instructor/coach. That is the time you need your |
| sessions. As they say, "Conditioning is the | | | | imagination most. Like stated before the |
| strongest hold". I'm not sure who first said this | | | | imagination is important. It keeps you interested |
| statement, but I agree with it 100%. If you are | | | | and it is one of the greatest teachers. |
| not conditioned you will never be on top. When | | | | If you have the will to learn, nothing can stop you. |
| you get tired and fatigued, your mind doesn't | | | | You will get it done and succeed. Don't give up |
| work as fast and your reaction time is greatly | | | | and make sure you keep training. Many people |
| hindered. | | | | have started out being self-trained, and training in |
| - Don't skimp on the sparring. Just like you need | | | | little clubs and have done well. It is always good to |
| to drill a lot, the same goes with sparring. Sparring | | | | have good instruction, but it is important to |
| is where you see what works and what doesn't. | | | | always train right when that good instruction is |
| It's what tells you what you need work on and | | | | not around at the moment. |
| what techniques are actually working for you. | | | | "Often times the roughest road may be the best |
| - Have a game plan. When you go to train you | | | | way to get where you want to go" - Anonymous |
| need to have a game plan. Know what it is each | | | | Thanks for reading! |