How To Play Your Mistakes The “Right” Way (Idea from Jazz & BJJ)
Today’s Sunday video (which is my not-so-BJJ videos) I share an idea I recently heard on the Lex Frimad podcast. It’s an idea about a situation that happened with some famous Jazz musicians.
I’m a big fan of comparing other forms of art to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and the combat arts. In many cases they’re littered with parallels. Jazz for instance dips heavily into improvisation which is something that happens with us in martial arts. In many cases we have to improvise on the fly.
And the lesson from the Jazz story in the video has a parallel that I find true for my BJJ training and life off the mats.
You can listen to the podcast episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC1Hs…
Thanks for watching and I’ll chat with you next time.
-Chewy
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Some BJJ coaches would see this as disrespectful (Here’s why I don’t)
Today’s BJJ video comes from a recent situation inside my gym. I share it because the core of what’s going on is something that helped me over the years with motivation and my ability to track my overall progress (which can be tough to do in BJJ).
Now it’s going to seem maybe slightly disrespectful to some and it might go against some of the motivational type stuff you’ve heard in the past. But I can tell you from my experience, from those of others and from countless biographies I’ve consumed. It’s a great tip for motivation and tracking your overall progress.
Hope the tip helps!
-Chewy
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Young MMA fighter wants to know the best job for training full time
Question today from a young lad who’s wanting to pursue a martial arts based career. . .
Here’s the question.
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Hey Chewy, I’m a fan from the UK, BJJ blue belt and amateur MMA fighter looking to turn pro in the future. I was wondering if you had any advice for the best jobs to work to support the training necessary for getting to a high level in jiu jitsu and MMA respectively (i.e. twice a day). What kinds of jobs best support this lifestyle and how did you balance work and training when you were coming up? Really appreciate the time and love all your stuff!
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Thanks for the question Henry.
Someone asked me the other day what BJJ and martial arts in general have taught me. And 1 of the most important lessons I’ve learned and really come to understand from BJJ, Wrestling, Boxing and MMA is this.
Knowing my priorities and staying focused on them even when I’m told they aren’t the correct thing to do.
Priorities are important but most people don’t give them much thought. People really never separate what are their own desires vs what’s been pressed upon them by society.
When I was younger I avoided doing a lot of the things my other friends were doing (getting credit cards, partying, buying brand new cars, buying expensive clothes, etc). I even turned down a high paying job because it interfered with my training.
Now to some this would seem a bare existence that they wouldn’t want. And that’s ok. It’s what I wanted. Big emphasis on the “I” there.
Now, I’ll admit, for a time I broke this focus and bought into all the material trappings that I was told I “should” want and with almost immediate regret went into reverse to get away from them to get back to “MY” mission.
Nowadays, I’m blessed, I make a good living doing BJJ and running a business. My vision didn’t play out exactly how I thought it would. In fact, it’s worked out even better than I imagined. And this happened because I kept my focus on what was important to me.
Rolling back around to you my British friend.
I think the type of job you do is less important than you maintaining your training priorities above all else. If it’s what you really want.
This means you might skip a better paying job because another one has a better schedule for training or avoid certain relationships because it interferes with your goals. You might wear cheap clothes and drive around in a beater of a car for a while. (I did all these things)
Oh and be prepared for people to try and cut you down and tell you you’re an idiot for chasing such a far-fetched goal (I know this all too well). But if it’s what you want, stay the course and be focused.
And this goes for anyone who has some goal that they want.
If you’re one of those people who has a goal that you’re chasing after that people don’t quite understand. That’s ok. Stay focused and let the results later speak for themselves.
And here’s something else.
Even if you fail. The simple act of chasing after something will make you a stronger person with qualities that can aid you should you have to pivot into something different later on.
Hope that helps give you something to chew on for today.
Talk to you tomorrow.
-Chewy
Oh and just a heads up. I’ll be in Florida doing a couple of seminars in March. If you’re interested check the details on the link below.
How to Balance Life and BJJ Training (Why I’m The Worst Person To Ask)
Today’s question is balancing life off the mats with our BJJ training on the mats. This can be a bit of a struggle as we all have busy lives that take away from our Brazilian Jiu-jitsu training. But, warning, instead of giving tips on how to maintain “perfect balance” in life and on the mats. Instead I share an idea of why being a bit unbalanced can be a good thing (if done right). This comes from the idea that balance isn’t how things get done.
Now keep in mind this comes from my own experience. So mileage may vary for you. But for me the information in this video has been incredibly helpful for being able to get things done and continue training for years. Even before I was a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu coach.
And I say that because like our techniques. What works for me may not work perfectly for you and you will probably have to adjust things a bit.
But if you’re struggling with BJJ and life balance then I hope this video is useful to you.
-Chewy
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Why I don’t let students say “I suck” in training
One of my favorite chapters inside a book is chapter 2 of Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.
In this chapter he outlines the basic idea (that flows throughout the whole book) that one of the most powerful things human beings can do is. . .
Tell fictional stories that create an imagined reality we all agree upon.
In times of old these were things like myths, legends and the birthright of kings. Today, these are things such as corporations, the idea of nation states and citizens and even the worth of paper money (or numbers on a screen these days).
All of which was created and exists in our minds via stories we agree on.
Now these stories are in a constant flux, changing as new events happen and new pressures force them to adjust.
But this idea that stories create an imagined reality, which if we agree on it exists a force on reality is a powerful idea for your life on and off the mats.
I know this from personal experience.
When I was younger I used to tell myself stories of who I was that were far smaller than the truth. (This is why I don’t allow students to say “I suck.” It’s a bad story that isn’t true.)
I carried around a certain level of guilt, shame and feelings of being unworthy that weren’t based on reality, but my perception of reality and the stories I told myself.
These days, it’s a completely different situation.
Through the simple process of taking action in certain areas, exercising a little discipline and using things like affirmations the stories that float around in my noggin are much different.
And these stories contribute to all the success I’ve had on and off the mat.
Here’s a few takeaways from the Chewster about stories. . .
- Stories are important. Since the stories you tell yourself become a kind of reality, they’re really really important. You should be aware of them and exercise control over them consciously.
- Stories are completely changeable. Just like everything in life, change is the constant. They’re not set in stone and you should work to change the stories that have a negative impact on you.
- If you want to change the stories. It’s not just something you do with just thoughts. Action is needed. It’s hard to keep up the story if you keep piling up evidence that proves otherwise.
If you’d like to check out the book, below is a link to it on Amazon.
I could go on for a long time talking about this idea. But I think you catch my drift. Just an idea to chew on and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
-Chewy
Want to Get Better at BJJ Faster? Try Training With This. . .
BJJ Question from Adolfo. Here’s what he asks. . .
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Chewy, sometimes online I hear Black Belts suggest, “Train with intention” what exactly does that mean to you? I’m never really clear what that means.
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When you hear a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black Belt say train with intention it’s very simple. It just means stepping onto the mat with a purpose or focused on something.
Oh and for the record, 9 out 10 Black Belts will probably agree that it’s a damn good suggestion. The 1 that doesn’t is probably McDojo. Now the intention could mean a ton of different things. . .
Your intention could be to hit the new technique you’ve been working on or to avoid getting smashed from a position you struggle with. Your intention could be to not get frustrated while your stuck in an uncomfortable spot during a roll.
Heck, it could even be to make sure you roll with the tough guy that you avoid during rolling because you’re scared of losing.
Just depends on what you’re focused on at the time.
For me, when I roll with a focus on a specific technique, my intention always starts with grips. I ask myself, “what do I need to make this technique work?” and I work for those specific grips.
And whether I’m competing or rolling I’m hyper focused on getting the grips I need. Because if I get the grips, I get the techniques. That’s the way it works.
I mean, when you breakdown BJJ to a granular level, it’s all about the grips and body positioning. Every technique begins with grab this and this. It’s the reason a person that controls grips wins the roll or match.
This is why I put together a course all about grip fighting. #1 to give you specific techniques to break and dominate grips. But just as importantly to get you to adopt the mindset of a grip fighter.
A grip fighter is someone who doesn’t accept someone’s grips and fights for their own. Just this mindset can give you a skill boost to any position.
And if you’d like to give your grip fighting skillz a boost then grab onto the link below and check out my Get a Grip course.
www.Chewjitsu.net/Grips
To wrap this one up
Set an intention for your next training session. And if you can’t train BJJ right now then set an intention on your next lift, run or whatever you’re doing to stay in shape.
Talk to you next time.
-Chewy
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If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.
I’m a big pile of steaming hot failures
Was dabbling around on Instagram yesterday responded to a young guy.
He said,
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“Why do people get caught up on if they get tapped in practice lol that’s the point”
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Now it’s easy to wag the finger at someone who’s struggling with failure. But we all go through it at some point don’t we? I know I sure as hell did.
My response to this message was . . .
Because we are conditioned to believe that if we aren’t successful at something then it was a waste.
But success is usually built upon a pile of failures.
And this is an important lesson on and off the mats.
Now perhaps you have a better track record than the Chewster and success has just come effortlessly to you. But it didn’t for me.
I didn’t get serious about the business side of running a gym till the gym almost folded back in 2010. It was a nice smack in the face to wake me up.
My first videos on Youtube sucked and didn’t get watched.
On the mats I lost my first ever grappling match. Got smashed for years in high school wrestling and struggled early on in BJJ.
And each one of my best techniques was sharpened with 1 failure after another.
Like my highest percentage takedown. The arm drag to inside trip.
I started using the technique with a little success. Then people figured it out and it started failing. I didn’t give up on it though. Instead, I kept adjusting and making mistakes till I developed a new setup that worked like crazy.
In fact, if I can get the particular wrist control I use I’ve only missed the takedown once in competition. Not bad if you ask me.
And if you’re a member of my Wrestling for BJJ course. I just added this stealthy “thumb up, thumb down” setup to the arm drag to inside trip inside the “Chewy’s Takedown System” section yesterday. So roll on over and check it out.
If you’re not currently a member and would like to get your grippers on the setup along with the other tried and true takedowns specifically for BJJ then press ze link below.
To wrap this one up today. Treat failure as a normal part of growth so you can learn from it and crack open the lessons to be had.
Just an idea to chew on.
-Chewy
The Special Story Behind The Red Square On My Blue Mats
There’s a story behind this red square of mats in my BJJ training area. Most people see this and think I ran out of money or didn’t order enough mats. But that’s not it.
You see, I grappled and rolled on those red mats for over 10 years. Much of who I am today was forged through the difficulties of BJJ and MMA training on those red mats.
And I keep that little piece of red mat to remind me everything from, all the difficulties I experienced during my early years of BJJ training to the countless hours spent developing myself and our gym so that it would be something special to the students inside, to being so broke when I first started coaching full time that I couldn’t afford my own place and I either couch surfed or on plenty of nights those red mats became my bed.
I keep memories like these in my back pocket so I don’t forget them.
They give me contrast and remind me of how lucky I am and keep me grounded so I don’t ever think I’m too good to answer a simple question. Because I remember I struggled with those same questions.
Even when we get through this mess (which we will get through this). Keep these experiences in your back pocket. Remember them. So that when life returns to it’s comfortable norm you don’t fall back asleep and take everything for granted.
Instead stay awake for your life, remember that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and that safety and security is an illusion. Be grateful and appreciate the beautiful moments you experience and the amazing people you meet because they won’t be there forever. They may not be there tomorrow.
Appreciate the hell out of them and that everyday you have a chance to enjoy existence.
Hope you guys are well out there. Stay strong, take care of your neighbors and take a moment to appreciate something small in your life today.
-Chewy
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Failures are a different type of growth (read and you’ll understand)
I want you to think of a tree.
Imagine it’s root system dug deep into the earth, the trunk climbing to the sky, branches reaching out further and leaves to rest on the ends.
Got the image in your head? Ok good, save it because we’re going to use it in just a minute.
So in yesterday’s email I talked with you about a powerful tip. A simple idea that changed my game.
Just do techniques to the weak side.
But I wanted to follow up on the idea with you today because as simple as that idea is, it was hard for me to implement years ago. As it will be for you if you try.
Know why?
We don’t like going down.
When I started doing techniques to my weak side I failed a lot and it was tempting just to go back and do them to the strong side where I knew I could be successful.
You see, when things are going well we expect them to always be or to get even better. We associate growth with UP and expect it to continue in a steady march.
But we hate the idea of things not going so well, of failure and mistakes which we associate with DOWN. We see any descent as a bad thing.
And I’m just as bad as anyone with this. Maybe another time I’ll share more about my past neuroticism with this. But for today I’ll share an idea that has been a game changer for me.
Going back to that tree. . . does a tree just grow up? No, right? The tree is growing up but it’s also growing down and around. If a tree never thickened at the trunk or grew it’s roots deeper, it could not support continued growth.
We aren’t so different. When you fail, make a mistake and get put in a descent. It’s not a terrible thing. It’s a chance for you to grow your roots and strengthen your foundation so that you can support growth in the future. And so if you decide to take on the challenge of doing techniques to your weak side (or any new endeavor off the mat).
Be ready for a descent and don’t see it as bad. View it in the way we spoke about today. A chance to grow in a different way.
Talk to you tomorrow.
-Chewy
P.S If you’re interested in going deeper with me in learning tips to benefit your technical, physical and mindset development. Then I invite you to join me inside The Chewjitsu Vault. It’s currently at a nice discounted rate, but only until this Friday.
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