We talk a lot about maximizing training for success in competition and the training styles/methods of top level competitors an champions, but what do you guys think "best practices" are for the hobbyist?
From the perspective of the guy who works full time, has a wife and kids, or for whatever reason only trains a few times a week, how do you get the most out of training? How do you maximize your limited time to make your BJJ as good as possible, make your training as rewarding as possible, or have the most fun?
What can you do on the days you can't get to the gym, but can sneak in a 30 min workout at 5am before your kids get up? How do you make that time serve you on the mat?
What are your survival strategies for your body and your ego for training with the larger 20 year olds who started after you, but train 6x a week and lift in the AM and are starting to beat the shit out of you?
How do you keep your mind right? Is training 2 or 3x a week enough for you to say healthy, fit, and limber as you age, or do you find yourself needing something else?
How do you approach competition? Do you turn everything up for a little bit to get ready? How do you get your wife to get on board with you blowing off family time for weeks or months to get ready for a competition that can only have a net negative effect on your ability to earn money at your career (if you get hurt and miss work)? Do you care about competing? If you haven't or don't, do you feel like its had a negative effect on your skills? If so, how much?
What, from all of you guy's collective experience, are the most
Valuable things you can tell a hobbyist BJJ guy who wants to train part time and get the most out of things? 
I'll start with the couple things I've found that have really helped me out as a perpetual hobbyist: I think one f the worst things people can do is decide because you can't train everyday, you might as well not train at all; if you don't like BJJ or want to stop, cool, but there's nothing wrong with only training a little bit. That's how virtually all grown men approach the sports they like (you play pick up basketball or racquetball when you can/feel like it, you don't stress out and feel like you need to be drilling free throws and passing 5 nights a week or you might as well not do it because you'll never be an amateur rec-league champion. Its ok to train a little bit, knowing you'll never be as good as you could be at rolling around with sweaty guys as if you did it full time).
Obviously if you want to be a too notch competitor or coach, you need to go all in, but for the hobbyist who has already consciously decided to put the rest of life first, I feel like its easy toget discouraged if you don't remember that its ok for this to be a hobby for you; its still a rich, rewarding, and fulfilling thing to have in your life.
I've also found that doing mat drills seriously at home, even just once or twice a week, has a powerful effect on my training. I first noticed it with wrestling, where I found it really helpful to do sprawls, penetration steps/chained shots, and sit outs/ hip heists explosively for rounds on my off days; it really helped me stay agile/mobile and I feel like its a great way to build up or maintain your conditioning for the mats.
You need to keep it to things you've learned well and already know how to do, I think, but its really helpful. I've more or less made it to purple belt training twice a week, and as log as i do mat drills (even just for 15 or 20 minutes) once or twice a week on off days I feel like it keeps me over the "80% of the results come from 20% of the effort" curve.
You can also make up for lost time, I think, by being really proactive in class; you can do extra stretching, mat drills, conditioning, or light rolling while everyone else is talking, and then when people pair up for live rolling don't spend any time sitting around bullshitting like a bunch of guys do.
I've had more than twice the amount of mat time training twice a week than some guys who train 4x a week because they're constantly sitting out rounds, talking, or dying drilling the rep the technique 3 or 4 times then just stop and watch or talk.
Depending on how tight a ship your coach runs for his classes, I think you can pick up and extra hour of mat time a day by keeping busy during class and staying after for a few extra rounds.
What do you guys think? What helps you squeeze the most out of training, or help you keep the balance with your home/career to facilitate more/better training?
- don't show up just in time for class...Get there early enough to give your body a good warm up.
- Never sit around against a wall or something with bad posture..especially after rolling. It's like bending a street hockey stick and letting it cool down in the wrong shape. This is your best time to stretch
- when you're done rolling assess or asses what you didn't have an answer for, what you were late transitioning, forgot to do, etc. On your days off, think about and investigate answers to these things...Note them...And review this to-do list before your next class
-If anyone ever asks you what you're working on and you don't have an answer...That's a problem (well not really a problem. You're still having fun, but you're definitely not making the most of your time from an advancement point of view)
-don't be afraid of losing a position. If you fight it tooth and nail, you're going to get injured.
-If your instructor is teaching a technique...then work on that technique...not your own version or some other shit. You'd be surprised how much insight he'll give you if your working on the details and trying to get sensitivity that isn't so obvious
-roll slow enough that your brain has a chance to try something from that days techniques, especially in your first roll or two while it's the freshest in your mind.
-pay attention to patterns in your rolls..where are you having problems. Where are things going well..It should be more more specific that "guard" or "passing"
-observe...Keep a close eye on people who are doing things similar to where you are having trouble.
-make sure you're having fun and enjoy the people that your training with.
-training 2x or 3x a week is fine (2x is a little shaky for good progress but doable). The REAL key is consistency. 6x one week and skipping 2 weeks is terrible. Once you establish a schedule, get it set in stone. Show up no matter how tired you are. See how you feel when you get there...Doesn't matter if you've got to just watch...Always show up on your scheduled days. "Meatgrinder"... Sometimes you're the grinder and sometimes you're just the meat...Either way, you're training and having fun with friends.
-wife & competition: Sorry.... I sacrifice that one. I make good money, but I don't consider that I have the kind of cash to blow on myself for flight/comp/hotel. As far a competing locally...If the wife sees that I'm truly dedicated to something and I'm going to great effort to train for a competition. She'd support me. If not, then I'd reasses my marriage. However, with young twins, I appreciate the difficulty in being left alone with them if it's a weekend drive. I think that people who travel a lot for business, have an established lifestyle
Well for me. My mindset has changed. I don't even train anymore. But i do go to open mat once a week and roll for an hour. My timing has gone to shit, same with cardio. And my technique is no longer sharp or I can't remember options from positions.
I basically do it to get a sweat up 
Just show up. Period.
Maximize? Efficiency?
Time in is the answer, regardless how long. I've been a brown longer than some guys took to get the strap. Career, injuries, kids, aging parents...
I just make sure to show up.
If you're a hobbyist, then treat it like a hobby, which is to say do it for relaxation and pleasure.
If your question is how to maximize training with limited time, because you want to be more than a hobbyist as your post implies, then yea, you gotta do more.
But I think your definition of hobbyist is different than mine.
Important for all levels of competitors/hobbyist but to always tap. tap to everyone...doesnt matter who it is. If you are in an unfamiliar posish and feel uncomfortable...tap. I came from a gym where i was reemed out for tapping to white belts as a purple belt, but do not regret tapping as ive never been seriously injured in 10years of jiu jitsu(new gym is way more relaxed and no one gives a shit if you tap to anyone).
Don't put too much pressure on yourself by comparing yourself to others. You'll end up disappointed and lose motivation. The only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself the last training session.
Train for 10 years from now, not 10 days from now.
^^^^however you enjoy defining it, or whatever implications of that word make sense to you, are completely fine with me. Please feel free to mentally exchange my use of the word "hobbyist" for whichever you feel is more appropriate.
For me, I enjoy the process of getting better at grappling as part of y pursuit of it as a hobby, and I find it fun and relaxing to try to improve (like if someone plays a video game, or an iPhone game, or whatever, one of the most addictive and enjoyable components is unlocking new content, or leveling up, or whatever). I don't feel that wanting to improve and grappling as a fun hobby are mutually exclusive of each other, or that wanting to learn to use limited training time to good effect is weird or unreasonable for someone approaching grappling casually. But, yeah, we may want different things from our hobbies? I want blackbelt level skills, but I'm fine if it takes 10 or 20 or 30 years toget there, and I like using grappling as the vehicle for my exercise/staying in shape.
Thank you guys for the comments and advice, I'm particularly bad about sitting with poor posture after rolling, and I've started to have a lot of thoracic spine/muscle tightness in the last year or two. I'll try fixing that, thanks.
Hercules Rockefeller - Important for all levels of competitors/hobbyist but to always tap. tap to everyone...doesnt matter who it is. If you are in an unfamiliar posish and feel uncomfortable...tap. I came from a gym where i was reemed out for tapping to white belts as a purple belt, but do not regret tapping as ive never been seriously injured in 10years of jiu jitsu(new gym is way more relaxed and no one gives a shit if you tap to anyone).Good point. I love hearing people talk about how you need to open up your game, not be afraid to tap, try stuff you suck at knowing you'll struggle at first, etc etc one day and then talk about being proud they never tap to lower belts the next day, lol.
walbjj - Well for me. My mindset has changed. I don't even train anymore. But i do go to open mat once a week and roll for an hour. My timing has gone to shit, same with cardio. And my technique is no longer sharp or I can't remember options from positions.So you treat it as just a way to get some exercise, like going for a run? Interesting....
I basically do it to get a sweat up
Do you feel like the degradation of your skills is more due to your approach or the limited time? (Obviously they both contribute, but I've never talked to anyone else who really treated it as purely exercise and didn't care about improving). I would bet as a black belt even your diminished skills are still pretty goddamn tough, lol.
I'm a "professional hobbyist" and 52 Y.O.. I was awarded my blackbelt 6 months ago. I maintain a full time job, a wife, two kids, a home, plus a dog, birds and an aquatic turtle and I'm a neat freak when it comes to yard care... Im busy! I get to train 3x weekly all in AM classes.
Things that helped me along the last 15 years: Eat lots of greens/fruits fish and use nutritional supplements. Having mats and a technique training dummy at home. Occasional use of my BJJ experienced-son to explore or drill new techniques, had some acquaintances in the neighborhood to train with periodically. Stretch and do regular body weight and free weight compound workouts. I keep moving. I bicycle to work when I can and ride all over my neighborhood when running errands when possible. I study jiu-jitsu using various media resource, I think about the precision points of leverage, finesse and details everyttime I am on the mat. I roll with everyone and show up when invited to outside schools open mat,
CONSIDERATIONS: : A) I train more often and more consistently now that my kids are young adults. B) I am the last one to walk off the mat when it comes to rolling. More rolling (over drilling or conditioning) was the way to go for me. C) I'm small, so being on an obsessive quest to play a tight, yet fluid and efficient game is everything. D) All that rolling leaves me feeling arthritic and achy all over -often- I just accept that as the price of getting better, You Can and Will get better even in to your fifties, believe me.This has been a golden time for me. KEEP AT IT!
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circusmonkey - I'm a "professional hobbyist" and 52 Y.O.. I was awarded my blackbelt 6 months ago. I maintain a full time job, a wife, two kids, a home, plus a dog, birds and an aquatic turtle and I'm a neat freak when it comes to yard care... Im busy! I get to train 3x weekly all in AM classes.I dont know your game, but based on your age do you try to play a guard game based less on gi grips?
Things that helped me along the last 15 years: Eat lots of greens/fruits fish and use nutritional supplements. Having mats and a technique training dummy at home. Occasional use of my BJJ experienced-son to explore or drill new techniques, had some acquaintances in the neighborhood to train with periodically. Stretch and do regular body weight and free weight compound workouts. I keep moving. I bicycle to work when I can and ride all over my neighborhood when running errands when possible. I study jiu-jitsu using various media resource, I think about the precision points of leverage, finesse and details everyttime I am on the mat. I roll with everyone and show up when invited to outside schools open mat,
CONSIDERATIONS: : A) I train more often and more consistently now that my kids are young adults. B) I am the last one to walk off the mat when it comes to rolling. More rolling (over drilling or conditioning) was the way to go for me. C) I'm small, so being on an obsessive quest to play a tight, yet fluid and efficient game is everything. D) All that rolling leaves me feeling arthritic and achy all over -often- I just accept that as the price of getting better, You Can and Will get better even in to your fifties, believe me.This has been a golden time for me. KEEP AT IT!
to add to what others have said:
1) get a kettlebell and do Steve Maxwell's manmaker set. Takes 6min max and WILL help strengthen your overall core (something you need). Do this 3 times a week along w mobility exercises to help your body be strong.
2) actually pay attention when you drill. Many guys half hazardly drill, you need to get in as many reps before, during, and after class as possible. Maximize your time there and don't fuck around.
3) ask higher ranks if they can get w you to work/drill/problem solve in off hours. I am a brown belt and help some older purples who are married, older w responsibilities and help them drill small things to help them deal w the full timers.
Meatgrinder -
- don't show up just in time for class...Get there early enough to give your body a good warm up.
- Never sit around against a wall or something with bad posture..especially after rolling. It's like bending a street hockey stick and letting it cool down in the wrong shape. This is your best time to stretch
- when you're done rolling assess or asses what you didn't have an answer for, what you were late transitioning, forgot to do, etc. On your days off, think about and investigate answers to these things...Note them...And review this to-do list before your next class
-If anyone ever asks you what you're working on and you don't have an answer...That's a problem (well not really a problem. You're still having fun, but you're definitely not making the most of your time from an advancement point of view)
-don't be afraid of losing a position. If you fight it tooth and nail, you're going to get injured.
-If your instructor is teaching a technique...then work on that technique...not your own version or some other shit. You'd be surprised how much insight he'll give you if your working on the details and trying to get sensitivity that isn't so obvious
-roll slow enough that your brain has a chance to try something from that days techniques, especially in your first roll or two while it's the freshest in your mind.
-pay attention to patterns in your rolls..where are you having problems. Where are things going well..It should be more more specific that "guard" or "passing"
-observe...Keep a close eye on people who are doing things similar to where you are having trouble.
-make sure you're having fun and enjoy the people that your training with.
-training 2x or 3x a week is fine (2x is a little shaky for good progress but doable). The REAL key is consistency. 6x one week and skipping 2 weeks is terrible. Once you establish a schedule, get it set in stone. Show up no matter how tired you are. See how you feel when you get there...Doesn't matter if you've got to just watch...Always show up on your scheduled days. "Meatgrinder"... Sometimes you're the grinder and sometimes you're just the meat...Either way, you're training and having fun with friends.
-wife & competition: Sorry.... I sacrifice that one. I make good money, but I don't consider that I have the kind of cash to blow on myself for flight/comp/hotel. As far a competing locally...If the wife sees that I'm truly dedicated to something and I'm going to great effort to train for a competition. She'd support me. If not, then I'd reasses my marriage. However, with young twins, I appreciate the difficulty in being left alone with them if it's a weekend drive. I think that people who travel a lot for business, have an established lifestyle
Great post. Thanks for this.
I have a quesiton for you (and everyone else). I'm a few months in, so just starting out. I was asked the quesiton "what are you working on?"
For me I don't have an answer yet. I'm working on immersing myself, learning how to move - getting used to rolling, and practicing tapping.
When do you think people should have an answer for this? And how specific should the answer be?
Rock the Gaspare -circusmonkey - I'm a "professional hobbyist" and 52 Y.O.. I was awarded my blackbelt 6 months ago. I maintain a full time job, a wife, two kids, a home, plus a dog, birds and an aquatic turtle and I'm a neat freak when it comes to yard care... Im busy! I get to train 3x weekly all in AM classes.I dont know your game, but based on your age do you try to play a guard game based less on gi grips?
Things that helped me along the last 15 years: Eat lots of greens/fruits fish and use nutritional supplements. Having mats and a technique training dummy at home. Occasional use of my BJJ experienced-son to explore or drill new techniques, had some acquaintances in the neighborhood to train with periodically. Stretch and do regular body weight and free weight compound workouts. I keep moving. I bicycle to work when I can and ride all over my neighborhood when running errands when possible. I study jiu-jitsu using various media resource, I think about the precision points of leverage, finesse and details everyttime I am on the mat. I roll with everyone and show up when invited to outside schools open mat,
CONSIDERATIONS: : A) I train more often and more consistently now that my kids are young adults. B) I am the last one to walk off the mat when it comes to rolling. More rolling (over drilling or conditioning) was the way to go for me. C) I'm small, so being on an obsessive quest to play a tight, yet fluid and efficient game is everything. D) All that rolling leaves me feeling arthritic and achy all over -often- I just accept that as the price of getting better, You Can and Will get better even in to your fifties, believe me.This has been a golden time for me. KEEP AT IT!
No, but I am constantly switching and replacing my grips. I won't try and keep a death grip; this really wrecks my fingers and convinces me that there is something inherently wrong with my technical positioning; it could be the angle of my hips, the elbow or some other feature that needs adjustment. One example is the high collar grip: In defensive/leveraging situations I began switching from four fingers in - to the thumb inside grip -when the situation allows. What this has done is change the stress from the fingers being pulled away from the thumb to now being stressed toward the thumb. It has helped.
Seul -walbjj - Well for me. My mindset has changed. I don't even train anymore. But i do go to open mat once a week and roll for an hour. My timing has gone to shit, same with cardio. And my technique is no longer sharp or I can't remember options from positions.So you treat it as just a way to get some exercise, like going for a run? Interesting....
I basically do it to get a sweat up
Do you feel like the degradation of your skills is more due to your approach or the limited time? (Obviously they both contribute, but I've never talked to anyone else who really treated it as purely exercise and didn't care about improving). I would bet as a black belt even your diminished skills are still pretty goddamn tough, lol.
well, i just hit 40, but i actually felt my physical skills decreasing about 3 or 4 years ago when i developed arthritis in my right elbow. it was not only painful but has actually limited my range of motion in that arm.
but leading up to that, ive always trained at least 4x a week consistently, and have always been relatively active and fit. but as i gotolder and with my work schedule (i work 7 days a week), i lost the motivation to train as much and it slowly got whittled down from 4 to 3 to 1 day a week, to the point where i couldnt be bothered turning up to classes, and i just decided to do open mats. i cancelled my membership and just pay a drop in fee.
i used to be a nerd with techniques, watching the latest comps and dvds, and not that i know everything, but i gave up on learning new things a long time ago as my competitive drive wasnt there and i turned up to exercise more than compete.
as far as my current skill level, i would say that if i was focussed, i can still be competitive for at least 5 mins, then i run out of steam and breakdown. but to me, that isnt why im there, i would rather roll for the full hour and move around than go balls out for 5 mins and then sit out catching my breath.