Six Things Your BJJ Teacher Can’t Do!
- Adisa Banjoko aka Bishop
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Every Instructor Has Their Limits!
A few weeks ago, I found myself a bit frustrated with myself as an instructor. I saw some students (in the youth and adult classes) not paying as much attention to detail as I would have preferred. While recognizing my own lack of focus at their ages and stages, I was scared. Scared for the consequences of their inattentiveness if they ever need to protect themselves or someone they love.
A nightmare for some teachers is a situation where a student might need to really defend themselves, and not have their training aligned to gain proper victory. Keep in mind, I don’t believe classes should be some fake Cobra Kai fight club. At the same time, however, I need to know that you are doing all you can to absorb and replicate the moves as well as you possibly can. It’s not about perfection. It’s about the pursuit of it (even if it’s only for a millisecond).
Jiu-jitsu should always be fun and always be enjoyable. But not at the cost of actually learning the skills of the path.
In the midst of my frustration, I realized that there are limits to what I, or any other martial arts instructor (or teacher of any skill), can do for our students:
Give Focus
An instructor can create an engaging curriculum and provide clear demonstrations, but they cannot force a student to pay attention. The ability to focus during class is entirely up to the student. This means actively listening during instruction, watching techniques closely, and staying present during drills and sparring sessions. A wandering mind misses crucial details that can make or break a technique’s effectiveness. Students must cultivate their own ability to concentrate, filtering out distractions and honing in on the lessons at hand. An instructor can guide, but the student must choose to follow that guidance with their full attention.
Sincere Effort
While an instructor can encourage and motivate, they cannot supply the physical and mental effort required to improve in BJJ. This responsibility falls squarely on the student’s shoulders. Sincere effort means pushing through fatigue during conditioning, repeating techniques until they become second nature, and giving one’s all during sparring sessions. It’s about showing up consistently, even on days when motivation is low. An instructor can create an environment conducive to hard work, but they can’t do the work for the student. Progress in BJJ is directly proportional to the effort invested, and no amount of expert instruction can substitute for a student’s lack of sincere effort.
Being a Helpful Training Partner
An often overlooked aspect of BJJ training is the role each student plays as a training partner for others. An instructor can foster a cooperative atmosphere, but it’s up to each individual to be a good training partner. This means being attentive and providing appropriate resistance during drills, offering constructive feedback, and maintaining a balance between competitiveness and safety during sparring. Being a helpful training partner also involves showing respect for others’ skill levels and goals, and contributing to a positive gym culture. An instructor can set expectations, but students must choose to embody these qualities in their interactions with peers.
Finding Ways to Improve Away from the BJJ Academy
Class time is limited, and significant progress often depends on what students do outside of formal instruction. An instructor can suggest supplementary activities, but they can’t force students to engage in them. This might involve studying BJJ videos, working on flexibility and strength at home, or analyzing competition footage. It could also mean making lifestyle choices that support BJJ progress, such as maintaining a healthy diet, getting adequate sleep, and managing stress. The most successful students often go above and beyond, finding creative ways to incorporate BJJ into their daily lives. An instructor can point the way, but the student must take those extra steps.
Mental Preparation and Resilience
BJJ is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. An instructor can teach techniques and strategies, but they can’t instill the mental toughness required to persist through challenges. This includes developing a growth mindset, learning to manage frustration and setbacks, and building the confidence to apply techniques under pressure. Students must work on their own to develop mental resilience, whether it’s through meditation, visualization techniques, or simply pushing through difficult training sessions. An instructor can provide guidance on mental aspects of the sport, but ultimately, each student is responsible for their own mental preparation and attitude.
Setting and Pursuing Personal Goals
While an instructor can help students identify areas for improvement, they cannot set or pursue personal goals for their students. Each BJJ practitioner must take the initiative to define what success looks like for them, whether it’s achieving a certain belt rank, competing at a specific level, or simply improving overall fitness. This involves self-reflection to understand one’s motivations and aspirations in BJJ. Once goals are set, it’s up to the student to create a plan to achieve them, breaking larger objectives into manageable steps. An instructor can offer advice and support, but the drive to pursue these goals must come from within the student.
Please keep these things in mind and consider them when reflecting on your current part of the BJJ journey.
Adisa Banjoko is a BJJ black belt, award-winning writer, speaker and documentary filmmaker. Adisa has lectured on martial arts history, chess, and philosophy at Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Oberlin, and many other universities. He founded the ONLINE community, the Resilient Men’s Group, to help men heal mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Link to original article.
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