Sunday, February 6, 2011

Changing from Iron to Steel

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.Image via Wikipedia


One Easy Step to Getting Your Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu…

For those of you interested, I have to apologize for the delay in my first entry of 2011.  I sarcastically left a ‘cliff hanger’ ending for 2010 and promised that my first post of the New Year would be my one-step secret to receiving your black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  I sometimes joke that life has a tendency to get in the way of the things we’d rather be doing.  It appears that the ‘New Year’ turned into February before I was able to sit down and get my thoughts typed up.  Ironically, that is sort of the point of my entry today, and how it relates to my “guaranteed method” of getting your black belt.

I know many of you would pay hundreds, or maybe even thousands for this secret… you may want to put away your checkbooks until you finished reading.

How do You do It?

In over 10 years of training in BJJ, this is probably the most common question I get asked.  From time to time former students of our gym will reappear and promise, almost as if they are convincing themselves, that they are going to get serious and start training again to get their next belt.  Some of these people started when I did, or were even higher rank then me when I started.  They’ll look down at the belt around my waist and ask “How do you do it?”  “Do what?” I’ll ask…  “How do you train everyday?”  Puzzled, I’ll just shrug my shoulders and pause for a moment, trying to think of something profound and inspiring to say.  However, all I can usually come with is “I just do it.”  The next part of the conversation usually proceeds with the person telling me about all the obstacles they have in the way of their getting to the gym to train.  Sometimes they’ll complain about the ‘long’ 20 to 30 minute drive to the gym… or perhaps their job… or maybe school… or perhaps a combination of all the above.

I started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1997.  I had just graduated college and decided to return to school to receive my teaching degree.  It was during this time that I became addicted to BJJ and here’s what a typical week looked like for me:  I worked 6 days a week at a golf course, doing manual labor on the maintenance crew from 5:30 am to 2:00 pm.  I would come home, shower and change real quick, grab my gi and head out the door to drive in rush hour to try and make it to the gym by 6 pm.  Training was usually from 6 pm to 8 pm every night (I took Friday nights off).  On my "day off" on Sundays I worked for my parents at their restaurant.

During fall and winter I would split my time between work AND school, but still maintained my training routine.  I just did it.

I loved BJJ and was addicted to learning and getting better.  I trained everyday because I wanted to.  There was never a question of “if” for me.  Of course things happen and people may have to put their personal lives on hold to take care of personal business, family matters, or other things that are more pressing. I was fortunate that my time was my own and I could do with it as I wanted.  And I wanted to train BJJ, so I “just did it.”  Nike made millions off a simple campaign that told wannabe athletes to “Just do it.”  I guess that’s what they meant.

Changing from Iron to Steel

All of this came into perspective for me a few years ago.  I was reading an interview with multiple time world champion, and Jiu Jitsu great, Saulo Ribeiro.  In the interview Saulo talked about the change in his Jiu Jitsu that made him take the next step to elevating his competition game.  The following was his answer and something that I have kept with me for years:

“Iron is a common element: soft, malleable, and easily broken.  The fire is the years of hard work, and the dedication, and the daily routine of training when you get on the mat, or go to a tournament, even though you might not feel like it.  But when you stay in the fire long enough, it changes you without you really being aware of it.  One day everybody is tapping and then you realize that you’ve turned from iron into steel.”

After some research and reading it seems that I found the statement Saulo was quoting and paraphrasing to fit for Jiu Jitsu. A famous Yogi, Paramahamsa Satyananda, was known to say that his disciples learned nothing if their lives were easy and free from troubles.  An easy life is like pure iron, soft and easy to break down and with no growth.  However, steel is much stronger because of the impurities in it.  Like steel, we need to go experience the ‘impurities’ to make us stronger in life.  The impurities give us confidence as well as a strong mind and spirit. 

We do so many things during the day that we don’t even think of, because we know it’s a necessity… We just do it.  Jiu Jitsu was always the same for me.  It was something that I never questioned “if” I wanted to do it.  I just kept going, there was no thought behind it.  It became a part of my daily routine, like going to school or work.  For me, it was something I had to do.  There were definitely times that I was tired, sore, or injured, but taking time off just seemed unnatural to me and was never an option.  Those are the times that you must push through and drag yourself to the gym.  So, if I could give you one advice for getting your black belt it's this: Just do it... Don't quit.  You must be willing to not only face the impurities but welcome them and the impurities of training consistently.  

These are the situations that create an opportunity for learning and growth, and take you through the fire of changing you from iron to steel. 
Enhanced by Zemanta

31 comments:

  1. Great post.

    It takes time to become an expert and a good chunk of that development is showing up, taking the lumps and internalizing it all.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ecorptrainings.com provides DOJO in hyderabad with best faculties on real time projects. We give the best online trainingamong the DOJO in Hyderabad. Classroom Training in Hyderabad India

    ReplyDelete
  3. This post is very informative for everybody. I would like to appreciate your work for good accuracy and got informative knowledge from here.......................Oracle R12 Financials Online Training

    ReplyDelete
  4. Excellent post has been created.through this how you will be
    expertise in the post we can know.
    thanks for sharing wonder full training.
    oracle fusion procurement online training

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi,
    this is excellent post. Thanks for sharing such a nice post.
    oracle fusion HCM online training.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey Really Thanks for sharing the best information regarding product transformation,hope you will write more great blogs.

    Oracle Fusion HCM Online Training

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for sharing such a nice and interesting blog with us. I have seen that all will say the same thing repeatedly. But in your blog, I had a chance to get some useful and unique information.

    Oracle Fusion Financials Online Training

    ReplyDelete
  8. All given info was wonderful and it's very helpful for everyone. I read your post is very nice thank you.
    We Have Top Rated CALFRE Search Engine to search about all different courses in Al Karama, Dubai Locations. For Example Search a particular course like Oracle ASCP Training in Location Dubai Know More Click Here

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your given most of the usefull information, i read your post is very nice thank you.

    We Have Top Rated CALFRE Search Engine to search about all different courses in Al Karama, Dubai Locations. For Example Search a particular course like Oracle DBA Training in Location Dubai Know More Click Here

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice article and explanation is good,Thank you for sharing your experience on this aricle.you have clearly explained about the process thus it is very much interesting and i got more information from your blog.
    Oracle Fusion HCM Training in Institutes in Hyderabad

    ReplyDelete

  11. Hey, Your post is very informative and helpful for us.
    In fact i am looking this type of article from some days.
    Thanks a lot to share this informative article....best regards.
    websphere training in hyderabad

    ReplyDelete
  12. An astounding web diary I visit this blog, it's inconceivably magnificent. Strangely, in this current blog's substance made point of fact and sensible. The substance of information is instructive.
    Oracle Fusion Financials Online Training
    Oracle Fusion HCM Online Training
    Oracle Fusion SCM Online Training

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks, Experience with various technologies and businesses this is generally helpful.
    selenium online training
    selenium oline courses

    ReplyDelete
  14. Welcome to Softcore Technologies, The Best Training Center for your requirement of Software Programming Courses, Computer Basics, MS Office, Accounting Courses like Tally, Tuition for all subjects starting from 10th Standard (SSC) up to Post Graduation like MBA.

    Best MS Office Training in Hyderabad
    Best Spoken English Training in Hyderabad

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you for sharing such a nice and interesting blog with us. I have seen that all will say the same thing repeatedly. But in your blog, I had a chance to get some useful and unique information. We are also providing the best services click on below links to visit our website.
    Oracle Fusion HCM Training
    Workday Training
    Okta Training
    Palo Alto Training
    Adobe Analytics Training

    ReplyDelete
  16. thanks for nice post https://snowflakemasters.in/

    ReplyDelete
  17. wordpress design services agency Need professional WordPress Web Design Services? We're experts in developing attractive mobile-friendly WordPress websites for businesses. Contact us today!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I loved the information given above, I appreciate the writing. Are you a Class 12 student seeking expert guidance in Accountancy? Join Ziyyara’s online home tuition classes designed exclusively for 12th standard Accountancy.
    Book A Free Demo Today visit online tutoring sites for class 12

    ReplyDelete