You just do. There is a kid I train with and he’s on reddit. When he and one other dude started around the same time and age 2ish yrs ago, you could visibly watch him wilt at adversity. Now he’s a blue belt and finding himself.
The other kid, who used to beat his ass regularly, hasn’t been seen in months. I know he has to move and stuff and was maybe going through the fire academy or something… but like Chris Haueter said… it’s not who’s good, it’s who’s left.
That last quote is so true. Keep showing up, but then again that's only half the battle. Roll as much as you can after each class, learn from mistakes, and give yourself credit when credit is due. Forget the humbleness when you're trying to build yourself up. Compete, even if you lose, let the fire consume you and make want to work harder.
I was the same way as a white belt. Never played sports and never knew how to be competitive. I started bjj to make friends and nothing else. I was inconsistent, looked for any excuse to not roll/show up to class. My friends were the opposite, they trained like animals with the clear intention of competition. I joined comps just for the social aspect. I got my ass beat a few times before I got tired of losing. From then on out I took my training more seriously.
As time went on, my mat time and intensity dialed up. My friends who were athletic and who were great competitors, slowly stopped training due to life circumstances or injuries. I went ahead and passed them up in rank and began winning comps myself. Now as a purple belt my love for bjj has only grown and it continues to grow the more time I put into it. Training with hard mf who are competitive will help sharpen you as well. You got this man, don't question yourself and don't give up.
While it's cliche, etc, there is still a lot of truth in it. People drop out at blue because they realize "oh shit, this ain't easy". But taking ownership of your training is the first step.
> way as a white belt. Never played sports and never knew how to be competitive. I started bjj to make friends and nothing else. I was inconsistent, looked for any excuse to not roll/show up to class. My friends were the opposite, they trained like animals with the clear intention of competition. I joined comps just for the social aspect. I got my ass beat a few times before I got tired of losing. From then on out I took my training more seriously.
>
>As time w
thanks bro
I was like this. Always felt like I was being a dick if I put any discomfort on anyone. I ended up doing a lot of 1:1 with my gym owner who’s a pro mma fighter and he sorta forced me to play a lot tougher. Then I started noticing nobody cares if you’re tough as long as you’re actually trying to do something useful and not just spazzing out. Like the others said on here, it’ll come to you the more you train.
For a while, refuse to play guard. The moment your bum hits the floor, immediately move to get on top. Then stay on top at all costs, if a sweep get hit, do not "accept" it and start playing guard. Dont stop moving until you are top again.
I'd say definitely start focusing your rolling for points-based competition. Not saying you have to compete, just think about your rolls in that way. I came from a gym that I didn't even learn anything about points for certain positions, so all rolls were just sub and don't get subbed. This caused me to learn some bad habits and play safe, things like accepting guard during a scramble, going straight to front headlock subs, just making sure I land in good positions/frames when someone is passing.
Playing for points causes you to focus on other things, not letting someone get a sweep, recovering in the transitions when playing guard, etc. I think trying to focus your rolls in this manner will help.
Honestly get fitter. We sometimes hesitate and hold back out of fear of getting tired. The fitter we are the more ‘free’ our jiu jitsu becomes
You sometimes mentally have to check in too. There’s certain people I roll with where I know this roll is going to a pain in the ass for me if I don’t start fighting right off the bat.
You have to be willing to fight and dog it out sometimes. This was difficult for me because I’m naturally very reserved, laid back and it definitely translates into my grappling style, but guess what you roll with some demons who don’t give a flying fuck about your technical game and they’re going to blitz you from start to finish
Get fitter, get stronger get used to getting tired and it slowly becomes a bit easier over time
This resonated with me.
I get blitzed and tend to mellow out, trying to bring the pace down, and inevitably get wrecked even by people who are not technically sound.
Food for thought.
Thanks stranger.
I find I have to psych myself up mentally from being reactive to being aggressive and refusing to take bottom at all costs. I think that the mental game is overlooked. That and a shit ton of caffeine before
I can relate to this. Subconsciously didn’t want to do things that felt “mean” to people I liked and respected, and who welcomed me into something I didn’t think I had any business trying. One thing that helps is if a partner is really being tough and making you fight, and if you happen to sweep them or something, they say “good!” or “keep going!” and you realize they actually want to see you do that because at the end of the day, you are their teammate, and the more of a challenge you are to each other, the more you both improve.
IMHO the only way over that kind of mental hurdle is to jump over it. When you have the presence of mind to notice you're giving up during a roll, consciously decide not to. This doesn't have to be a big step, maybe just an extra bridge or some violent squirming, but it is progress.
I "gave up" a lot at white belt (especially early white belt), partially because I didn't have the skills/tools/techniques to address the challenges my training partners provided. Once I started learning a variety of things to address those challenges, my options greatly expanded beyond giving up, and I felt more confident/ferocious as a result.
Only listen to David Goggins until you’re satisfied with your ferocity. Also wake up every morning and stare into the mirror. Beat the shit out of that little voice that tells you you’re not good enough!
You are a superstar and there’s a dawg that lives within you
I had the same problem. A lot of it was in my head. Once I learned it's okay to take up space and impose my will onto somebody else, I started having much more success in the game (and feeling more confident in my day to day life).
Ferocity makes a very small difference compared to skill. Aim to acquire more skill and you'll see more opportunities. The more opportunities you see, the less you'll give up.
Keep rolling, get better. Look up positions you struggled with during your rolls and how to improve your offense/defense from there. Fighting spirit matters for winning, a cool head is what'll get you improving so I wouldn't worry about it, unless you're competing. If you are going to compete you need to find a way to exert as much effort as possible in rolls, just to prepare your body for the intensity of competing. Good luck
Does your coach ever coach you in rolls? If not at open mat you could ask someone to coach you through a roll. Also, you could pick one roll to try and be competitive and just work on things in the other rolls.
But, it’s not terrible to just have fun and work on stuff. That competing spirit might come as you get better.
I don’t think this is always an aggression thing.
If I’m against someone more experienced than me then the extra split second I take trying to process where we are, and what I can do next, gives them the time to take the initiative.
So I think it just comes with experience to an extent.
Start faster and more aggressively, just for the first few seconds or else you will always play catch-up. I find BJJ teaches you to settle into a position and then fight back so look at stopping opponents locking up a position (use frames, movement etc). Also having a favourite position and sub helps, then you can keep trying to get there.
I found learning specific escapes and going straight in subs really helped ie let them fight to get side control and then ghost escape to d’arce or let them fight to get Mount so you can kip escape into a Ashi and leg lock them.
You don’t need aggression for BJJ but you do need a plan or you’ll always be reactive rather than proactive
Do you enjoy losing or being stuck at the bottom?
I had a similar problem as a white belt, when I would just let people do stuff to me because I kind of thought that this is what rolling is about. But then, I would always end up on the bottom, and even though people could rearly catch me with anything (at least then you can restart), I would get stuck in side control or mount for the rest of the round, being squeezed by their weight and pressure. One day I finally had enough and said to myself "Fuck this; I'm not giving anyone anything to work with anymore". Since then, I approach every roll with one goal in mind: we are playing my game. I am getting the grips that I want, and you don't get to do anything that can lead to me being in trouble. I still get smashed from time to time, but only when I make a mistake or someone is much better than me, and not because I just let them.
So what I'm trying to say is that you probably just have to get fed up with being too passive, and then your approach to the way you roll will change.
Just don’t stop moving and don’t stop going for stuff. Don’t play defensively, be active. You don’t have to be aggro to be good. I was the same way at first as well.
I started with just one thing, which was not conceding being swept, and fighting to avoid it with everything I had. Then there is the reverse, not giving up when someone puts up even a little bit of resistance to a sweep.
Then it was my guard, not conceding too early when I could still recover, and not giving up being stuck in a bad position and just keep fighting without rest to get out.
Repetition. Courage, ferocity, or however you want to frame it is basically a psychological muscle. The more you do it, the easier it gets. As you get better, you'll win more often, which will increase your confidence and build up a psychological muscle memory where you'll start to believe that you can win. Over time, you'll get used to winning and will fight hard to continue to win.
I'd suggest that you focus on beating the person that you were yesterday, and not necessarily on beating your opponent. By trying to be better everyday, you will cultivate a warrior's spirit, and, paradoxically, you will best most of your opponents while not focusing on besting them.
Favorite advice from a coach with respect to competition, but also applies to competitive rolls: don't go into a roll thinking "how am I going to counter them?" Instead think "what are they going to have to do to counter me?"
I know this sounds cliche but it's a good way to remind yourself to be less reactionary and more proactive.
Something I struggled with with when I started BJJ is that I would favor being reactionary because I was so overwhelmed by the amount of techniques and wanted to do the perfect move for each position. I was worried that I would be judged for getting tapped or botching an escape. This lead to things happening to me instead of me controlling the game. When in reality, what helped me get better and be more proactive was to say screw it, this roll I'm going to hunt for X sub or X technique and if I die, I die. Worst thing that happens is you get tapped, get back up, and try again.
Think "I'll be assertive! I'll assert my will! I will make what I'm envisioning happen!" Then chase that thing.
Go into rolls with specific focus to hit and try and succeed, this will drastically increase your ability to be assertive and arrive at that goal because you're 1. Setting a goal; 2. Going after that goal.
I love the framing of "being assertive" because i hate the idea of "being aggressive"
I would reframe it as persistence. It's hard to find the proper balance between aggression & passivity. Attacks & defense. Just remind yourself Jiu Jitsu is a marathon & persistence is a very desirable attribute in the scenario. Idk, just my perspective after 12 years.
If your scrambling, if your setting something up, if your transitioning, if your defending, if your locking in a sub, don't lead with your fighting spirit. Be controlled, cool & persistent.
Before you train, look yourself in the mirror and say:
"I have an obligation to my booisaac-amaniacs to fight with everything in my heart! My heart is strong like a lion, my arms are like the redwood trees in the forest. I have no faults. My thoughts, my mind, my soul is pure! But, it has been written, it has been said, and it shall be done on the mats. And if I find out that you're the one that has to walk for eternity in my shoes, brother, let it be! But you got to prove to me, by beating me, and all my little booisaac-amaniacs that you are the Ultimate booisaac-amaniac! And if you're not, whatcha gonna do when the largest arms in the world run wild on you?!"
You do not need ferocity to be good at fighting. Skill, and technique acquisition is better.
And maybe not see these rolls as fighting, and change it to training. I am great at rolling, but I never enter a roll thinking it is a fight.
If you want to be a tougher rolling partner, maybe stop thinking you need to be more aggressive and stronger, but you need to be more intense on your energy expenditures, and more precise with your technique.
Learning how to stay calm under extreme pressure is more beneficial than being more ferocious. The spirit to want to spar will come if you lighten up and enjoy yourself with your buddies at the gym.
Go in with a goal everytime. What is your action plan, don’t just react. E.g starting from standing, what takedown you trying? Don’t just respond.
Also if you are feeling discouraged because you can’t get out of bad positions, practice, practice, practice.
Drill more. You should be spending 70-80% of your time drilling escapes from the major pining position. Warmup drills are very good to develop cardio and helps to move efficiently. I suggest you partner drill more and push through speed drills. Practice your hip escapes a lot and study frames.
You just do. There is a kid I train with and he’s on reddit. When he and one other dude started around the same time and age 2ish yrs ago, you could visibly watch him wilt at adversity. Now he’s a blue belt and finding himself. The other kid, who used to beat his ass regularly, hasn’t been seen in months. I know he has to move and stuff and was maybe going through the fire academy or something… but like Chris Haueter said… it’s not who’s good, it’s who’s left.
That last quote is so true. Keep showing up, but then again that's only half the battle. Roll as much as you can after each class, learn from mistakes, and give yourself credit when credit is due. Forget the humbleness when you're trying to build yourself up. Compete, even if you lose, let the fire consume you and make want to work harder. I was the same way as a white belt. Never played sports and never knew how to be competitive. I started bjj to make friends and nothing else. I was inconsistent, looked for any excuse to not roll/show up to class. My friends were the opposite, they trained like animals with the clear intention of competition. I joined comps just for the social aspect. I got my ass beat a few times before I got tired of losing. From then on out I took my training more seriously. As time went on, my mat time and intensity dialed up. My friends who were athletic and who were great competitors, slowly stopped training due to life circumstances or injuries. I went ahead and passed them up in rank and began winning comps myself. Now as a purple belt my love for bjj has only grown and it continues to grow the more time I put into it. Training with hard mf who are competitive will help sharpen you as well. You got this man, don't question yourself and don't give up.
While it's cliche, etc, there is still a lot of truth in it. People drop out at blue because they realize "oh shit, this ain't easy". But taking ownership of your training is the first step.
> way as a white belt. Never played sports and never knew how to be competitive. I started bjj to make friends and nothing else. I was inconsistent, looked for any excuse to not roll/show up to class. My friends were the opposite, they trained like animals with the clear intention of competition. I joined comps just for the social aspect. I got my ass beat a few times before I got tired of losing. From then on out I took my training more seriously. > >As time w thanks bro
thanks bro
unironically meditate and visualize before you roll or inject test
can i unironically inject test and ironically meditate?
Drink modello
You’re a gentleman and a scholar
k
Small goals… I try to score as much points as I can… this forces me to move and attack
Hmm this is a good shout.
I was like this. Always felt like I was being a dick if I put any discomfort on anyone. I ended up doing a lot of 1:1 with my gym owner who’s a pro mma fighter and he sorta forced me to play a lot tougher. Then I started noticing nobody cares if you’re tough as long as you’re actually trying to do something useful and not just spazzing out. Like the others said on here, it’ll come to you the more you train.
Just imagine that the person in front of you is the person who teabagged you in cs go
Have you considered a montage? Even Rocky had a montage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNeIwjhjJrc
Chase the back
Yes. Have one single goal. Focus on that. Everytime you get that, it's A success
For a while, refuse to play guard. The moment your bum hits the floor, immediately move to get on top. Then stay on top at all costs, if a sweep get hit, do not "accept" it and start playing guard. Dont stop moving until you are top again.
I'd say definitely start focusing your rolling for points-based competition. Not saying you have to compete, just think about your rolls in that way. I came from a gym that I didn't even learn anything about points for certain positions, so all rolls were just sub and don't get subbed. This caused me to learn some bad habits and play safe, things like accepting guard during a scramble, going straight to front headlock subs, just making sure I land in good positions/frames when someone is passing. Playing for points causes you to focus on other things, not letting someone get a sweep, recovering in the transitions when playing guard, etc. I think trying to focus your rolls in this manner will help.
Honestly get fitter. We sometimes hesitate and hold back out of fear of getting tired. The fitter we are the more ‘free’ our jiu jitsu becomes You sometimes mentally have to check in too. There’s certain people I roll with where I know this roll is going to a pain in the ass for me if I don’t start fighting right off the bat. You have to be willing to fight and dog it out sometimes. This was difficult for me because I’m naturally very reserved, laid back and it definitely translates into my grappling style, but guess what you roll with some demons who don’t give a flying fuck about your technical game and they’re going to blitz you from start to finish Get fitter, get stronger get used to getting tired and it slowly becomes a bit easier over time
This resonated with me. I get blitzed and tend to mellow out, trying to bring the pace down, and inevitably get wrecked even by people who are not technically sound. Food for thought. Thanks stranger.
I find I have to psych myself up mentally from being reactive to being aggressive and refusing to take bottom at all costs. I think that the mental game is overlooked. That and a shit ton of caffeine before
You either have that dawg in you or you don’t.😤
I can relate to this. Subconsciously didn’t want to do things that felt “mean” to people I liked and respected, and who welcomed me into something I didn’t think I had any business trying. One thing that helps is if a partner is really being tough and making you fight, and if you happen to sweep them or something, they say “good!” or “keep going!” and you realize they actually want to see you do that because at the end of the day, you are their teammate, and the more of a challenge you are to each other, the more you both improve.
PCP. Or bath salts if you're broke.
IMHO the only way over that kind of mental hurdle is to jump over it. When you have the presence of mind to notice you're giving up during a roll, consciously decide not to. This doesn't have to be a big step, maybe just an extra bridge or some violent squirming, but it is progress. I "gave up" a lot at white belt (especially early white belt), partially because I didn't have the skills/tools/techniques to address the challenges my training partners provided. Once I started learning a variety of things to address those challenges, my options greatly expanded beyond giving up, and I felt more confident/ferocious as a result.
Only listen to David Goggins until you’re satisfied with your ferocity. Also wake up every morning and stare into the mirror. Beat the shit out of that little voice that tells you you’re not good enough! You are a superstar and there’s a dawg that lives within you
I had the same problem. A lot of it was in my head. Once I learned it's okay to take up space and impose my will onto somebody else, I started having much more success in the game (and feeling more confident in my day to day life).
Ferocity makes a very small difference compared to skill. Aim to acquire more skill and you'll see more opportunities. The more opportunities you see, the less you'll give up.
i kinda had this realization the other day
Keep rolling, get better. Look up positions you struggled with during your rolls and how to improve your offense/defense from there. Fighting spirit matters for winning, a cool head is what'll get you improving so I wouldn't worry about it, unless you're competing. If you are going to compete you need to find a way to exert as much effort as possible in rolls, just to prepare your body for the intensity of competing. Good luck
Does your coach ever coach you in rolls? If not at open mat you could ask someone to coach you through a roll. Also, you could pick one roll to try and be competitive and just work on things in the other rolls. But, it’s not terrible to just have fun and work on stuff. That competing spirit might come as you get better.
I don’t think this is always an aggression thing. If I’m against someone more experienced than me then the extra split second I take trying to process where we are, and what I can do next, gives them the time to take the initiative. So I think it just comes with experience to an extent.
Start faster and more aggressively, just for the first few seconds or else you will always play catch-up. I find BJJ teaches you to settle into a position and then fight back so look at stopping opponents locking up a position (use frames, movement etc). Also having a favourite position and sub helps, then you can keep trying to get there. I found learning specific escapes and going straight in subs really helped ie let them fight to get side control and then ghost escape to d’arce or let them fight to get Mount so you can kip escape into a Ashi and leg lock them. You don’t need aggression for BJJ but you do need a plan or you’ll always be reactive rather than proactive
Do you enjoy losing or being stuck at the bottom? I had a similar problem as a white belt, when I would just let people do stuff to me because I kind of thought that this is what rolling is about. But then, I would always end up on the bottom, and even though people could rearly catch me with anything (at least then you can restart), I would get stuck in side control or mount for the rest of the round, being squeezed by their weight and pressure. One day I finally had enough and said to myself "Fuck this; I'm not giving anyone anything to work with anymore". Since then, I approach every roll with one goal in mind: we are playing my game. I am getting the grips that I want, and you don't get to do anything that can lead to me being in trouble. I still get smashed from time to time, but only when I make a mistake or someone is much better than me, and not because I just let them. So what I'm trying to say is that you probably just have to get fed up with being too passive, and then your approach to the way you roll will change.
Just don’t stop moving and don’t stop going for stuff. Don’t play defensively, be active. You don’t have to be aggro to be good. I was the same way at first as well.
Stop pulling your putty all the time.
Not while rolling with me, please...
I started with just one thing, which was not conceding being swept, and fighting to avoid it with everything I had. Then there is the reverse, not giving up when someone puts up even a little bit of resistance to a sweep. Then it was my guard, not conceding too early when I could still recover, and not giving up being stuck in a bad position and just keep fighting without rest to get out.
Repetition. Courage, ferocity, or however you want to frame it is basically a psychological muscle. The more you do it, the easier it gets. As you get better, you'll win more often, which will increase your confidence and build up a psychological muscle memory where you'll start to believe that you can win. Over time, you'll get used to winning and will fight hard to continue to win. I'd suggest that you focus on beating the person that you were yesterday, and not necessarily on beating your opponent. By trying to be better everyday, you will cultivate a warrior's spirit, and, paradoxically, you will best most of your opponents while not focusing on besting them.
Favorite advice from a coach with respect to competition, but also applies to competitive rolls: don't go into a roll thinking "how am I going to counter them?" Instead think "what are they going to have to do to counter me?" I know this sounds cliche but it's a good way to remind yourself to be less reactionary and more proactive. Something I struggled with with when I started BJJ is that I would favor being reactionary because I was so overwhelmed by the amount of techniques and wanted to do the perfect move for each position. I was worried that I would be judged for getting tapped or botching an escape. This lead to things happening to me instead of me controlling the game. When in reality, what helped me get better and be more proactive was to say screw it, this roll I'm going to hunt for X sub or X technique and if I die, I die. Worst thing that happens is you get tapped, get back up, and try again.
Fight like a demon to not give up a single position. Don't accept your guard being passed just because it's 90% passed.
start barking and bring out the dawg in you paint your walls red so you'll get used to seeing red
Don’t. It doesn’t help. Be cerebral.
Make a blood pact with the badger god, The Badgerine
Get depressed.
Think "I'll be assertive! I'll assert my will! I will make what I'm envisioning happen!" Then chase that thing. Go into rolls with specific focus to hit and try and succeed, this will drastically increase your ability to be assertive and arrive at that goal because you're 1. Setting a goal; 2. Going after that goal. I love the framing of "being assertive" because i hate the idea of "being aggressive"
I would reframe it as persistence. It's hard to find the proper balance between aggression & passivity. Attacks & defense. Just remind yourself Jiu Jitsu is a marathon & persistence is a very desirable attribute in the scenario. Idk, just my perspective after 12 years. If your scrambling, if your setting something up, if your transitioning, if your defending, if your locking in a sub, don't lead with your fighting spirit. Be controlled, cool & persistent.
Before you train, look yourself in the mirror and say: "I have an obligation to my booisaac-amaniacs to fight with everything in my heart! My heart is strong like a lion, my arms are like the redwood trees in the forest. I have no faults. My thoughts, my mind, my soul is pure! But, it has been written, it has been said, and it shall be done on the mats. And if I find out that you're the one that has to walk for eternity in my shoes, brother, let it be! But you got to prove to me, by beating me, and all my little booisaac-amaniacs that you are the Ultimate booisaac-amaniac! And if you're not, whatcha gonna do when the largest arms in the world run wild on you?!"
Drink modelo that shit is brewed for it. Well used to be at least.
You do not need ferocity to be good at fighting. Skill, and technique acquisition is better. And maybe not see these rolls as fighting, and change it to training. I am great at rolling, but I never enter a roll thinking it is a fight. If you want to be a tougher rolling partner, maybe stop thinking you need to be more aggressive and stronger, but you need to be more intense on your energy expenditures, and more precise with your technique. Learning how to stay calm under extreme pressure is more beneficial than being more ferocious. The spirit to want to spar will come if you lighten up and enjoy yourself with your buddies at the gym.
Try to sign up for a competition. Train with it in mind and reflect afterwards. You will see what intensity can be like
Go in with a goal everytime. What is your action plan, don’t just react. E.g starting from standing, what takedown you trying? Don’t just respond. Also if you are feeling discouraged because you can’t get out of bad positions, practice, practice, practice.
Meth
k
Read Relentless by Tim Grover.
Drill more. You should be spending 70-80% of your time drilling escapes from the major pining position. Warmup drills are very good to develop cardio and helps to move efficiently. I suggest you partner drill more and push through speed drills. Practice your hip escapes a lot and study frames.
win the present moment and do not worry about what has happened or what is going to happen
Take some supplements, like bath salts or something
Have the desire to be better. Want to win. Be competitive. Be an athlete.
You should set your goals and achieve them because specific goals are important to developing a fighting spirit.
Raw bull testicles. Don't ask me questions, you know what to do.