I've noticed lately that it feels like my bjj game has gone completely stagnant. I don't feel like i'm improving leaps and bounds like I used to. It seems that as my standup has gotten better, my bjj hasn't changed at all. I don't know what to do. I want it to improve but it doesn't feel like it is. Around the beginning of April, I got back into training after more than half a year layoff. Since then i've picked up most of my game and seem to be caught up, but I feel like I've hit a wall. I train everyday but I just don't feel like i'm improving much. Anybody go through this?
Oh yeah, man.
Hitting a wall is never fun. It's like a slump that you don't feel you can get out of.
Time to switch up your routine, man.
You shouldnt be training everyday.
I do not have extensive BJJ training, so I am partly talking out of my ass, so keep that in mind.. :P
BJJ has a lot to do with creativity and not just technique. Because of that I feel as that you "hitting the wall" could be similair to having a "writers/creative block" that frustrates a lot of people who have to create something out their head. One of the best things to remember when you hit this kind of block is that "we do not create in a vacuum", meaning that no matter what we do we are influenced by something else. So on that note, one of the best ways to get over that block/wall is to search for inspiration elsewhere.. it can come from literally anywhere.
Some obvious places to look:
Watch BJJ instructionals of all sorts. Doesn't have to be the most popular ones, anything can give new insight.
Read some BJJ literature.. whether this be magizine articles new or old, stories from community, or actual instructionals.
Watch some competitions.. once again, new/old doesn't matter. Don't worry about the names of the guys competing, just watch what they are doing. These could be JJ/MMA/Pancrase etc
Outside-the-box places to look:
Discovery channel/YouTube. Look for videos of predators capturing their prey.. might awake some sort of primal instinct in you to step up your game. Lol.
That's the mental part of it... another thing that may help is if you work on your flexibility. Unless you are Eddie Bravo-esque, you could probably always be more flexible. Flexibility opens up new paths and options in BJJ and it might give you the boost you need to get over that hump.
Hopefully more of that was helpful than idiotic. :)
Oh, how could I forget. Rolling on acid will definitely have you reapproaching your game. Just have a sitter around that you trust incase you feel the need to perform surgery/eat a face.
Hahahaha. Well... Ender has pretty much summed it up.
Try rolling with guys more skilled then you or go the other way and roll with the new guys.. Go back to basics, posture, defensive positions, sweeps and guard passing as well as guard drilling.
UGCTT_EnderTL - I do not have extensive BJJ training, so I am partly talking out of my ass, so keep that in mind.. :PPerfect advice. That's exactly what i'm going through. A creative block.
BJJ has a lot to do with creativity and not just technique. Because of that I feel as that you "hitting the wall" could be similair to having a "writers/creative block" that frustrates a lot of people who have to create something out their head. One of the best things to remember when you hit this kind of block is that "we do not create in a vacuum", meaning that no matter what we do we are influenced by something else. So on that note, one of the best ways to get over that block/wall is to search for inspiration elsewhere.. it can come from literally anywhere.
Some obvious places to look:
Watch BJJ instructionals of all sorts. Doesn't have to be the most popular ones, anything can give new insight.
Read some BJJ literature.. whether this be magizine articles new or old, stories from community, or actual instructionals.
Watch some competitions.. once again, new/old doesn't matter. Don't worry about the names of the guys competing, just watch what they are doing. These could be JJ/MMA/Pancrase etc
Outside-the-box places to look:
Discovery channel/YouTube. Look for videos of predators capturing their prey.. might awake some sort of primal instinct in you to step up your game. Lol.
That's the mental part of it... another thing that may help is if you work on your flexibility. Unless you are Eddie Bravo-esque, you could probably always be more flexible. Flexibility opens up new paths and options in BJJ and it might give you the boost you need to get over that hump.
Hopefully more of that was helpful than idiotic. :)

Try doing everything on your "bad" side. You may see things you wouldn't otherwise have noticed.
ttt