This video is based off of one of my recent Instagram posts which was inspired by my experiences in my own life. Both on the mat and off the mat.
I can’t tell you how many times in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Wrestling or in other aspects of my life where this message rang true.
I believe this is the way it is for most of us. We’re our own biggest enemy.
There’s so much more inside of each one us but we can only realize it when we get out of our own way and make it happen.
Here’s the original post: There’s a special moment of relief at the end of a training session or competition.
As your coach gathers everyone together for one last huddle to finish class, or the ref raises the hand of the victor.
You realize. . . the struggle is over. You did what you set out to do and the white flag of your enemy has been raised.
But the enemy is not your opponent at the competition or your training partners. . . It’s yourself.
A battle had been waged and won that day, an internal siege had been lifted. As the army of your own anxiety, harsh judgments and laziness was beaten back.
Defeated were the thoughts of skipping training, sitting out another round or avoiding the upcoming competition because deep down you were afraid you’re not good enough.
Regardless of the outcome of that days training or competition. What matters is you conquered yourself.
And tomorrow the forces of your own shadow will reappear. As they do everyday. Ready for another battle and looking for a weakness in you.
But where there is a shadow there is a light.
And that light comes from the strength, intelligence and intensity inside you.
Embrace the suck, take joy in these daily battles, whether on or off the mat.
Because everyday you choose to follow your heart and take action is a day the enemy inside you becomes a little weaker, your light a little bigger. . . your shadow a little smaller.
I hope you guys enjoy the video!
-Chewy
—————– Free Ebook:
If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/enemywithing.jpg7201280Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2018-11-02 12:22:592018-11-02 12:24:46The Enemy Within
In 2007 I came to Derby City MMA. I left my previous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym and began training here.
When I started training here I met this young kid named Chad. I didn’t know it at the time but he would radically change my life.
Initially he was a young kid growing up in a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu gym.
Training and competing constantly. But he quickly grew into a young man that was possessed with gifts that many of us wish we had.
Both as a competitor and practitioner and as a teacher. During our time training together we sharpened each other’s abilities.
And on top of that. I learned a lot about myself.
While doing my best to try and help Chad along his own path I learned so much about myself. This isn’t goodbye as we will see him often enough. But it is definitely a new period.
For myself as a coach and for Chad as a man carving his own path in the world. I love my “little brother” that I promoted 2 years ago.
But I’m happy he’s growing. On and off the mats. He’s taking his own call to adventure. Finding his own path in his life.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-23-at-1.37.34-PM.png447420akatbreeziiehttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngakatbreeziie2018-10-23 13:38:452018-10-23 13:40:04All good things come to an end!
If you have all peaks with no valleys. You have with flat land.
If you have all letters with no spaces.
Youhavesentencesthatlooklikethis.
The ups are great. But the downs are a necessary part of life. I mean how do you know what up is if you’ve never been down?
When things are coming down as they do for all of us at times. Ride the wave down into the valley and prepare for the next opportunity to climb back up to an even higher peak.
And appreciate that the sour in life allows you to truly value the sweet.
Resisting the Valleys
I wrote this on IG yesterday. And I was getting at the idea of not resisting those times when you’re coming down. It’s something I struggled with when I was younger, hell I still struggle with it sometimes even now.
Because if you try to resist, it prolongs the process and you become stuck. But if you move with the downward slump it will push you right up to the foot of the next mountain you’re supposed to climb.
Turning Point as A Purple Belt
One big turning point in my BJJ came as a result of a downward trend in my game. Early on, I hated losing and hated having any situation where I thought I was “getting worse” or going down instead of up.
This caused me to be pretty good in the beginning as I focused only on a handful of techniques all the time. This direct gameplan gave me a clear road map to follow when I rolled.
But if you stay on the same road forever. You have a pretty limited view of the world. And my view of BJJ when I reached late Blue and Purple Belts was lacking.
Be Willing to Get Worse Before You Get Better
You have to be willing to get worse sometimes before you get better. Things have to be torn down before they can be built back up.
Going back to my peaks and valley analogy. I had been sitting on the edge of the peak resisting going down. As I looked across at the higher mountains in front of me. I wanted to be there. But I was reluctant to make the journey through the dip to get there. This reluctance slowed my progress.
It wasn’t until I was able to accept “getting worse”, going into the valley so to speak, that I was able to get substantially better. It’s like the old saying, “you’ve got to crack an egg to make an omelet.”
This happened following a conversation my coaches had with me as a Purple Belt and following several poor performances at tournaments.
Following this conversation I began to yield.
Instead of resisting the failures and screw ups in training as a negative. I just chose to accept them as part of the process and move with them. The yin and the yang or training. The sweet and the sour. When my mindset shifted, my BJJ game (and life if we are being honest) went through an amazing period of positive change.
It’s also part of what lead me to cling to the Half Guard style Renato showed me in 2008. I was hungry for new information. And this hunger to get out of this slump was what propelled me to an even higher level of skill.
Had I not been in a downward rut. I’m not sure that I would have truly taken in the information Renato showed, and it would have been terrible for my game as Half Guard has become a staple of my BJJ.
As I talked about recently as I launched my Half Guard Sweeper Series. The Half Guard was one of the 1st times I had a reliable bottom position to attack from that I was able to use successful in BJJ competitions.
But I would have never developed this system of sweep and attacks had I not been in a slump looking for new information and ready to receive it.
We all have frustrating times. And you can allow yourself resist them which means you’ll enjoy a longer stay in the valley, just go with change. Letting yourself look up to an even higher mountain and choose to make the climb.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/colley-4-man-comp.jpg403604Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2018-10-01 19:39:272018-10-01 19:41:49My BJJ Rut Made My Half Guard Better
I was asked recently, “Since you’re popular on Youtube now, does it make you more nervous to do Bjj competitions?”
I answer this question with a quick “No.”
In my younger days it would have. I remember being nervous several times when I had large crowds of my students there to watch me compete. It made me incredibly nervous. But now I’m in it for me. I compete for myself. By signing up, it’s a test I purposely create for myself. This focus on myself has made BJJ competitions a lot more fun and enjoyable.
True growth can only come through stress. When we are tested. When pressure is placed upon our shoulders. And we choose to look within ourselves for the inner resolve to overcome. Competitions (with all of their ups and downs) are merely a vehicle to continue this growth.
(I talk about this idea of needing to challenge yourself in order to discover who you really are and what you’re capable of in this video)
The Competition Yesterday
Yesterday during my match. There was nearly 40 years of grappling and competition collectively between us.
Before and after the match we were as friendly as can be, sharing stories of our humble beginnings in the martial art, how we got started and what brought us there that day.
But during the match we were there, locked in a contest against one another. Hearts pumping, sweat dripping, muscles firing as we grab wrists, necks and struggled to best the other.
Deep down I though I suspect we both know that these BJJ competitions, it’s about testing ourselves individually. I’m there for my own growth and he’s there for his.
The Beautiful Give and Take of BJJ Competitions
Anyone who has competed knows that Bjj competitions make you better. They test you in a way that is hard to do in the gym. To me this is the real value in them for most grapplers.
It’s kind of a beautiful thing really. We are all running on a organic machines with a finite amount of uses. The bodies we navigate the landscape of this martial art and world around us are in a perpetual state of decay and breakdown. So that match, on that day with out bodies the way they were can only happen ONCE!
What I’m getting at is that when you compete. You are locked in a dance of give and take with our opponents. You give a piece of yourself to your opponent and they give a piece of themselves to you. You give your best to them on that day and they do the same.
If you look at it this way, the utmost respect should be given to each other. You are voluntarily giving yourselves to the other to allow each other to improve and grow.
And one of the beautiful parts about Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is that after the dust is settled and the match is over. We can usually lock hands with our opponents in a sign of mutual admiration for the other.
When I compete. I don’t get off by standing overtop of another person. I’m not there to flex on someone, and I don’t compete to prove I’m better than this person or that person.
If you’ve watch my matches that are on Youtube. If I win. I calmly stand and accept the ref’s decision to raise my hand. I don’t yell, I don’t scream. I accept the nod. If I choose to celebrate, it will be among my teammates later on inside of our gym.
Because the win that I experienced was not about beating this person. I don’t feel some sort of joy by beating another human being. I was never there for them anyways, I was there for myself.
When I win a match I feel a sense of relief. It’s over. . . and once again I proved to myself what I am capable of. I prove to myself that my style works. I proved to myself that my drills leading up to the match were effective. But it’s always about proving something to myself. Not to another person.
If I feel some sort of joy rise up after a big win. It’s only because of what the whole thing meant to ME, not anyone else.
Don’t Compete in BJJ For Someone Else
I receive so many messages from people new to competitions. And they send messages about how they’re out there to prove their skills to their coaches, training partners, etc.
And these people will find, just like I did when I was younger, that prove what you will to whomever you wish. It will never be enough. You can use the idea of proving yourself to others as short term fuel but it will never truly satisfy you. Eventually you have to look inward and realize that YOU were what made all of that possible.
Rack up all the medals and submissions you want. You eventually have to come to the realization that this is about you.We are a part of teams and organizations. But when you compete it’s a test to YOU, it’s a chance for YOU to grow.
I use to walk on the mats with my mind on my coaches judging my performance, on what team my opponent was from, on the crowd watching me and so on. And this is a terrible way to go at the whole thing. Your mind should be in the moment and only concerned with your performance because of what it means to you and your game.
Create Your Own Path
You are the creator of your own path. And being being worried about everyone else will only pull you away from the path you’re meant to discover.
I share this because as I’ve become older, and maybe more wise, the focus on myself has relieved a lot of the nerves, anxiety and made Bjj competitions a lot more fun.
Everyone’s approach is different. I know others look at competitions differently. But this is the way I choose to see them and the way that has been most useful for myself. So, I hope the idea is useful to you as well. And I believe by focusing and building up yourself. You can serve yourself and those around you in a far more profound way.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/chris-post-match.jpg450800Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2018-06-17 10:32:092018-06-17 10:36:42Make BJJ Competitions Fun By Focusing On Yourself
P.S And thanks to all of you who send the super cool messages and gifts. They’re very appreciated. It helps fuel me to attempt to do more for you.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_1729.jpg21921242Spartanhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngSpartan2018-05-21 10:38:582018-05-21 10:38:58This Twitter message made my morning!
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People are driven by all sorts of different motivators when it comes to BJJ. Often, what we learn through years of chasing goals is that. . .
It’s never enough. You’ll never really be satisfied by any exterior goal.
There is machinery in your body that helps motivate you and push you towards the attainment of a goal. And once that goal is reach.
Well. . . it turns off and then kicks back on with a new goal.
I found this out as a young man chasing medals and MMA. Moving from 1 medal or fight to the next expecting some sort of respite from the feelings of inadequacy that burned inside me which pushed me early in BJJ.
But no matter how cool the jiu-jitsu medal or how exciting the MMA fight win. The wins provided only a temporary salve for the feelings to push myself even further.
And so I’ve come to believe that if you’re going to do this stuff for the long haul. Eventually you have to find a transcendent goal. Something that overshadows all others. . . and it has to come from inside you.
Exterior goals will change, but something inside you. That’s special.
I’m sharing that with you because recently I uploaded videos of me training with some of my friends.
And in these videos you’ll see me training hard. But I was wasn’t training for anything other than my love for training.
Why Don’t I Compete More?
I also get asked from many of the people that watch my videos why I don’t compete more.As I told one of my students. I’ve been competing with a tournament at least every 3 months from 14 years old to 31 (I’m 32 now.)
When I started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I was competing to prove something to myself about who I was. To find myself. This is an expedition we all have to take at some point in our lives if we are to grow as people.
If not through BJJ than through some other worthwhile challenge.
As I got older and had been to battle so many times. That drive to PROVE myself to myself had left me. I still have room to grow of course. That never ends. But the NEED to prove who I am to my own self was gone.
I had proven myself. Both through my own abilities, and through the impact I’ve had on others around me. My body has the deformities and scars to show my years of development.
If I compete now. It isn’t to prove anything. It’s merely a test to myself to see what’s working in my game. Maybe for a little of nostalgia. To step back into the fray and feel The Butterflies. They’ve become like old friends as I’ve grown accustomed to them since I was 14 years old.
Now, when I compete, I do it because I WANT TO. I do it when I feel like it.
Chewy with no beard (Circa 2012)
Why I Still Push Myself
I love figuring out new techniques and moves.
I love lying in a pool of sweat with my friend knowing that we just gave one another each other’s best. As a martial artist. This is the highest form of respect to me. I gave you my best, which forced you to give me yours.
I love the camaraderie than comes from the closeness created through training.
I love pulling myself and my students forward. If I get better, they get better. And I’ve dedicated myself to them in order to help them develop themselves through training.
And at the end of the night after everyone has left and I’m closing up the gym. Before I turn off the lights I have this odd habit of just staring off to the mats and appreciating the days work that was done. Because it was special and there will never be another like it.
I know this was a little all over the place. So, heres the 2 take aways.
1. Find a transcendent goal. Something that comes from your heart and pushes you to do better regardless of any exterior sources. Because as we said, the exterior goals will come and go.
2. Everyday that you’re on the mats is a good day. There are only a finite amount of them. You get only so many times to step onto the mats. Appreciate each one and be grateful for that opportunity.
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The speech and BJJ Black Belt promotion starts at 3:20 . But feel free to watch it all the way through if you enjoying listening to me ramble.
This video came from our promotions last night and was by far one of the most powerful and meaningful moments I’ve ever had as a coach. Promoting not only a crop of tough people to Purple and Brown Belt. But also promoting my “little brother” Chad Hardy to Black Belt.
I’ve known Chad since he was 11 years old. I’ve had the pleasure of removing his original White Belt and have had the pleasure of tying on the belts he’s received after. I’ve also had the pleasure of getting to know him incredibly well over the last 10+ years. We even lived together for a while.
As a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu coach there is no more satisfying a feeling then to see the fruits of your labor realized in front of you. I’ve watched Chad grow as a person. From a young kid to a surprisingly mature young man.
What Makes The BJJ Black Belt Meaningful
The BJJ belt is, itself, just a piece of fabric that has been dyed a particular color. But the long arduous journey that had to have taken place is what makes the BJJ Black Belt so meaningful.
In Chad’s case. He’s battled and won more competition than I can count. As a competitor he’s always been amazing to watch and an inspiration to the people inside the gym.
And as an instructor and a fixture in our gym he’s turned into someone that is all about building up those around him. Something equally impressive and admirable.
This will certainly not be one of my more popular videos but it is a glimpse into our gym ( Derby City MMA ) and what we are all about.
We all love competition. But at the end of the day we are in this because we feel apart of a team and want to grow with each other.
And for those of you who follow me. I know I ramble on in my videos a lot. As I do in person. But you can at least be sure that anything I say in the videos is what I believe. Regardless if you disagree with my philosophy in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I assure you it’s 100% genuine.
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I recently read A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. One of the chapters he wrote immediately made me think of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. The idea he lays out is simple but powerful. See if you see the parallel to BJJ.
“The first part happens fast. You throw yourself into the narrative, and you’re finally out in the water; the shore is pushing off behind you and the trees are getting smaller. The distant shore doesn’t seem so far, and you can feel the resolution coming, the feeling of getting out of your boat and walking the distant beach. You think the thing is going to happen fast, that you’ll paddle for a bit and arrive on the other side by lunch. But the truth is, it isn’t going to be over soon. The reward you get from a story is always less than you thought it would be, and the work is harder than you imagined. The point of a story is never about the ending, remember. It’s about your character getting molded in the hard work of the middle.
At some point the shore behind you stops getting smaller, and you paddle and wonder why the same strokes that used to move you now only rock the boat.”
“The shore you left is just as distant, and there is no going back; there is only the decision to paddle in place or stop, slide out of the hatch, and sink into the sea.”
“I think this is when most people give up on their stories… they get into the middle and discover it was harder than they thought. They can’t see the distant shore anymore, and they wonder if their paddling is moving them forward. None of the trees behind them are getting smaller and none of the trees ahead are getting bigger.”
“they go looking for an easier story.”
“It’s like this with every crossing, and with nearly every story too. You paddle until you no longer believe you can go any farther. And then suddenly, well after you thought it would happen, the other shore starts to grow, and it grows fast. The trees get taller and you can make out the crags in the cliffs, and then the shore reaches out to you, to welcome you home, almost pulling your boat onto the sand.”
Have you’ve ever experienced the “middle” with your BJJ training? The point where you are training hard but feel like you’re just not getting any better. If so, I imagine the chunks of the book I have quoted above probably speak to you.
Getting Out Of the Middle In BJJ
Unfortunately, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu doesn’t follow a linear progression, it’s not a video game where you rack up a reliable number of experience points and skill gain. So while I can’t offer a surefire way to escape the dreaded middle. I can offer some tips that have worked for me personally, for the students I’ve coached in BJJ, and may help you.
Mix Things Up
I think people hit plateaus most often because of complacency. They get stuck in the same patterns using the same moves with the same mindset over and over again. In order to spark new progress in your game and grow in new areas, sometimes you have to mix it up and get out of your comfort zone.
Change the way you roll –I have personally experienced no better way to dig myself out of a rut than focusing on different areas of my game. Assess yourself, be honest, and think of areas you could work on improving. This often involves you getting out of your comfort zone. If you are a sweeper from the bottom, try being more submission oriented. If you are a wrestler with a great passing game, pull guard. Maybe you have a weak guillotine and you’d like to make it better, limit yourself to that one submission when you roll. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea. Experiment with different areas of your game that aren’t you’re bread and butter.
Go to a seminar and attempt to learn new techniques – I’m not always the biggest fan of BJJ seminars because I feel like I get mentally assaulted with so much information that I cannot retain anything. But I will say that I’ve also been to several seminars that have been game changers. Even if you’re only able to walk away from a seminar with just 1 BJJ technique that you can use well, its worth the money. To better retain the information. Right after the seminar, while the techniques are still fresh in your mind. Record yourself with a partner going over the techniques. This works way better than a note book!
BJJ Videos for motivation – One thing I’ve always done, and continue to do whenever I get stuck in a mental rut is to use videos for motivation. Highlight videos and documentary types are my favorites. I remember the first time I watched the Renzo Gracie documentary Legacy as a brown belt (if you haven’t watched it, it’s a must see). Immediately after it was over, I was so pumped up that I called up a few buddies and we had an impromptu training session.
Compete – Some people don’t like BJJ competitions, I get it. But as a coach I’ve seen so many people make giant leaps in their game either before or after a competition. This is one of the reasons wrestlers are such good grapplers. They’re forced into competition over and over again, there is no choice. The idea of competition looming over someone often leads them to train harder and after a tournament they typically have a better insight into their game with plenty of things to improve.
Drill – If you find yourself being unable to pull the trigger with your techniques or you’re just a second too slow. If you’re not already doing so, start drilling your techniques. I mean really drilling them. Knock out at least a few hundred reps every week. This will get rid of that hesitation. Drilling your techniques is sharpening your weapon before battle. The sharper the weapon, the smoother the cut.
Take time off from BJJ – If you’re starting to get frustrated on the mats. Try taking a week off from BJJ with the intention of coming back the next week. So rest, relax but make sure to keep your diet in check. I personally like hiking and camping when I take time off from Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Along with the time away from the mats, being in nature seems to have a restorative effect on me mentally and physically. Sometimes a small break from the mats has a way of renewing your appreciation for being in the gym and allows you to decompress and come back mentally fresh.
Last Piece Of Advice For A Tough Problem
The last tip is simple and something that you’ve probably heard before.
Don’t stop. Even when you don’t feel like you’re making progress in your BJJ training, and a lot of times this will be the case. You are. If you’re stuck in the middle at a current point in your BJJ training. It’s ok, we all get there sometimes. Have the presence of mind to recognize this and, sticking with the snippet from the book, keep paddling. Because I promise sometimes right when you feel like you’re at your worst is when you have the next jump in your game.
Remember, it’s not a race to the finish. You don’t finish Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
‘
Have you ever experienced being in the middle with your training? If so, what was it like and how did you deal with it?
As always, thanks for reading.
Chewy
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Do you have any jitters before a match? Do you get nervous or second guess yourself? Do you deal with BJJ tournament anxiety every time you compete?
You’re not alone.
Even the guys at the highest levels have jitters and negative thoughts before they compete. But one of the marks of a seasoned competitor is having the presence of mind to counter these negative feelings.
During the video Buchecha and Braulio touch on several important ideas of how to deal with BJJ tournament anxiety.
Thinking about all the work you’ve put in to be here.
Visualizing and thinking about what YOU are going to do rather than focusing on your opponent.
Going over the strategy you intend to use during the match.
Nervousness and the anxiety before a match is necessary and is simply your body preparing for the match.
Check out the video if nerves are something you deal with or if you would just like to hear the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu touch on pre tournament anxiety.
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