Hi all, here is this week's edition of Dojo Discernments, where I share nuggets of thought earned on the mats.

All it Takes is Everything

This week I told my professional development team something simple.

To become a world champion, it doesn’t take much.

It just takes everything.

Like a train on a railroad track. Not every section of track needs to be immaculate, but you do need every single one of them to reach the destination.

Don't let there be aspects to the game that you're missing.

Rest

One of the most important skills I learned while recovering from epilepsy was the skill of rest.

This week I was reminded of it again. I watched people who simply couldn’t shut their nervous systems down and how they eventually paid for it.

The ability to consciously bring your body and mind into a state of rest is a real skill.

And like any other skill, it can be practiced.

Can you lay down and fall asleep/nap within 15 minutes? 

Priming

Priming is a word that could almost replace "training."

Of course, that will never happen. No one wants to say they’re going to go prime their bodies. It sounds much better to say you’re going to go train.

But this is the thought that runs through my head as I roll with my students.

I’ll ask myself: At what pace, and in what positions, should we be working to best prime ourselves today?

Then I roll accordingly.

It has been working wonders.

Allowing things to Occur

A theme for me this year has been doing less.

Recommitting and refocusing on the things I’m already committed to.

This shift alone has done wonders for my energy.

Observe now; effect later. 

Not everything requires immediate action.

For example, I just saw a student struggling with a problem this whole week. Rather than give him the answer right away, it's probably best for him to struggle with the problem on his own for a bit.

Often times the moment of observation isn't the moment for modification. There's probably a better time for that. 

For the present moment, the task is simply to observe.

Mirror Nuerons

This is something I don’t think gets talked about enough in jiu-jitsu, or in coaching in general.

A lot of what people learn comes simply from copying what they see.

That’s why some students can watch a movement once and then immediately reproduce it. They’re picking it up through their mirror neurons.

As a coach, this has been a useful reminder. Set the example.

It’s important to visually demonstrate a movement every time.

For some students, explanation isn’t the thing that teaches them.

Seeing it is.

That being said. Careful what you copy. 

Be on the lookout for an intro to jiu-jitsu course to drop soon!

If you enjoyed this, feel free to forward it to a training partner.

Wishing you health and good training- Isaac