Crappy day on the mats? All about perspective

[Brian Debes]

Are the below things true?:

1. you got to do jiu-jitsu today. Nothing came in the way of that. There was no flat tire on your way to the gym or flood this time and you were not too injured to roll.

2. Neither you or your training partners got substantially injured on the mats today.

Then CONGRATS, you had a GREAT day on the mats! Probably better then like at least 20% of mine JUST BASED ON THOSE TWO THINGS. While I don't think Johns note thing is a bad idea, don't forget how lucky you are to be there today AND nothing bad happened. How great is that? Have good one guys!

P.S. I would say at least 20% of my career I have been unable to train, at least train hard due to injury's... and it could be more than that. Just letting you know I don't have chronic tire trouble or something

[Brandon Mccaghren]

I still have bad days. Even bad weeks. There's been a couple of times where I've had bad months. It doesn't stop as you progress.

What does stop (for me, at least) is the idea that your self worth is somehow tied in to your performance on the mat. I figured out not too long ago that NOBODY CARES. Relax and enjoy training for what it is. Don't allow yourself to be convinced that you matter more or less because of the outcome.

Divorce yourself from the results and Jiu Jitsu is way more fun.

[Keith Kavanagh]

I still have bad days. Even bad weeks. There's been a couple of times where I've had bad months. It doesn't stop as you progress.

What does stop (for me, at least) is the idea that your self worth is somehow tied in to your performance on the mat. I figured out not too long ago that NOBODY CARES. Relax and enjoy training for what it is. Don't allow yourself to be convinced that you matter more or less because of the outcome.

Divorce yourself from the results and Jiu Jitsu is way more fun.

All of this.

[Arman Fathi]

I don't mind at all getting smashed since it's all a learning experience. The only really bad days I think I've had on the mats are with people who spaz out or not know how far/fast to use a submission so that they get the tap without injuring their partner. Oh, and I don't know the etiquette on this, but someone stacking me during a non competition roll by using his forehead into my mouth/teeth makes it less fun. Or maybe I just need to toughen the hell up when it comes to that.

Just as bad if not worse are those guys that spaz out when they get tapped out and make a scene. I've shared the mats several times with guys (not necessarily on my rolls) that make it a point to go "Ahhh man why did you do that seriously come on man..." loud enough for the world to hear, when in fact greater than 90% of the time they are t injured at all and just got out-classed. Instead of figuring out the defense and tapping early, their ego gets the best of them and THEY in fact fight with the intensity of a competition and it comes out in their spirit in the manner in which they handle defeat. It's another aspect of etiquete to not put people on blast, especially during the vast majority of the time that it was a safe sub and the guy just overreacted. That was definitely me for a spell. Now I'm pretty damn grateful for anytime I can share the mat with someone who can tap me at will. People that have malintent in their rolls don't last very long. Plus, getting tougher and dealing with adversity by getting tapped is all part of the game.