Are You a Student of the Game?
Ask any top level competitor in any sport who their favorite players are and you won’t be waiting long for an answer. That’s because anyone serious about progressing in a sport is a true student of his or her craft. They study the top competitors, they watch film and they try to adapt the strategies used by these athletes to improve their own style. If you really want to excel in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Judo, Muay Thai or any Martial Art, you must become a student of the game.
You should study footage of your favorite fighters, including instructional videos, attending seminars and going to competitions. Study the athletes of yesterday as well as the fighters of today. See how the style of one high level fighter matches up to that of another. Also, try to find the practitioners who have a game similar to yours and see how they use the techniques you use against other world class athletes.
Now, this doesn’t mean you are going to learn a bunch of fancy moves and forget about your basics. On the contrary, the more you learn the more you will solidify your fundamentals and add on to them.
I am constantly telling my students how there is so much more you can do outside of the academy walls to improve your skill level. Doing extra drills and conditioning are 2 examples. Becoming a student of the game is essential and anyone really committed to self improvement. Take this lesson to heart and study the top practitioners in your field. You will learn more than you could imagine.
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Taking notes too, how can you really remember everything that is thrown at you in class if you don’t take notes. I already know what some are thinking…if you can’t take notes in class just jot them down immediately after class when your mind is still fresh. That way you can easily see what you have been taught over the span of say one month (not to mention 2 or 3 months down the line) and you can practice those moves.
As far as footage do you have any recommendations for me? You can let me know in class if you like. Thanks!
If we’re talking BJJ, I recommend checking out some of the top competitors like Roger Gracie, Marcelo Garcia, Bernardo Faria, Cobrinha (Rubens Charles), Tarsis Humphreys, Michael Langhi, Rafael Mendes to name a few. You want to check out a few different people and see which person matches your style best, or more accurately, who’s style you could match best. And you probably want to find someone close to your weight. You don’t have to, but they can be easier to emulate than someone a lot heavier or lighter than you.
If you’re a student of Team Tooke MMA or an affiliate student then get your hands on the curriculum videos. There is so much detail in every technique, and over 100 techniques between the 3 videos.
-Coach Jeremy
Thank you Travis! I take your advice with me everywhere i go!