"Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get with the work you didn’t do."
In 2019, the Invictus Leo Jiu Jitsu Collective released a study highlighting some of the reasons police officers avoided use of force training, specifically Jiu Jitsu. I wanted to touch upon one area in particular, as I think it’s one of the most prominent reasons cops stop doing Jiu Jitsu. Many people would say that the most difficult part of starting training is ‘walking through the door.’ Walking through the door is a huge barrier and most think, if a person could get past this one, everything would just flow from there.
This is categorically untrue when I really examine it. Once a person gets enough nerve to walk through an academy door (yes that's tough), things don’t get easier by any stretch of the imagination. The first year of Jiu Jitsu is extremely difficult. This first year is crucial for cops. It is what will make the difference if they continue doing the art or not. We try to sugarcoat the experience in order to appeal to the masses. While I find Jiu Jitsu one of the most enjoyable things on the planet, it isn't like that in the beginning.
Let’s break this down further. After signing up at a Jiu Jitsu gym, you are exposed to a brand-new culture and way of thinking. All you probably know is that Jiu Jitsu is going to help you on the job but you don’t know how. You simply don’t know what you don’t know. The first month on the mat is daunting. You are being smothered and your limbs are being pulled and manipulated in ways you’ve never thought of. You don’t understand how you are being dominated so easily by smaller, older and weaker opponents. You came to the mat in shape and with a ton of heart. That is until all those years of cross fit and weight training seem to NOT be helping you (these are great supplements to Jiu Jitsu training but don’t rely on them if you really want to protect yourself).
Imagine the frustration of getting to a position and then not knowing what to do. I hear this all the time - “I have no idea what to do now!” The frustration of not knowing absolutely exposes you to your ego. You have to realize that like anything in life, you need to build a foundation in order to get better. Too many cops start Jiu Jitsu only to walk away a couple of months later because they feel they aren’t getting better. Their expectations don’t align with what is happening in reality.
Why aren’t you getting better?
1) Consistency. As my good friend Chad Lyman quips, “do a little a lot.” How often are you training? Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get with the work you didn’t do. One of the biggest reasons cops walk away from Jiu Jitsu is because they EXPECT results quickly even though they are not attending regularly. Jiu Jitsu is no different than any other skill out there-it takes time to get better. We all suck at everything when we first start. When you put in consistent time, results follow. Consistency is directly tied to work ethic.
2) Ego. You will be crushed. Most people don’t get their first submission until well after a year of training. No one wants to admit this but it’s true. You are just learning how to survive let alone actively getting a submission on an actively resisting partner. Most new people see submissions as a win. What they don’t understand is that surviving can also be seen as a win. Changing the definition of what you consider a win is a big step in staying in the game. Stop looking at submissions as the gold standard of progression. Start counting your wins on how long can you last against a better opponent or if you can break a guard or get a sweep.
3) Limited knowledge: ready for another downer? There are thousands of moves in Jiu Jitsu. Every position you encounter will have counters and submissions. Since the art is dynamic, that means the variations are practically limitless. Your initial limited knowledge (small toolbox if you will) can be very frustrating. Imagine grappling with an opponent and getting to the mount only to realize you have ZERO idea what to do from there. You literally will start wondering the use of Jiu Jitsu because you don’t have the tools from that particular position. At least not yet.
4) Effort does not equal success. Many new cops who try Jiu Jitsu come to mats in great shape. Police culture, on the whole, revolves around “working out”. When I say effort, I mean putting more energy and exertion into fighting someone on the mats. This effort often is futile as your strength and conditioning are quickly squashed by those who understand leverage and true fighting. Slowing down and being cerebral is VERY foreign to many who start Jiu Jitsu. They simply can’t understand why their physicality isn’t giving them the edge over everyone.
5) The Remote Control. My Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor Keith Owen spoke at a seminar in 2013 where he identified the “tv remote” as a huge barrier to training. The “tv remote” analogy was expanded to any other activity that got in the way of hitting the mats. It’s easy for people who don’t have the Jiu Jitsu bug to place other activities in front of training. Excuses are easy. Dedication is hard. There are a 1000 reasons not to feel like training. Put down the remote. Show up. Get better.
6) It will take too long to get better. This is a complicated one. While I said that Jiu Jitsu has almost an infinite amount of techniques, doing if for just 6 months will give you skills that will give you an upper hand in fighting. I liken training to a hurricane. You are the at the center and don’t see the changes that are happening to you. The edges of the hurricane are creating massive upheaval but you are not privy to that experience-yet. Instant gratification in Jiu Jitsu is NOT something that is common place. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. People often scream “show me the results or I am done!” The results are won inch by inch on the mats, not by feet. Therefore, if you don’t have the patience to see it through-you’ll never see the results.
7) It’s not Fun. The reality is that 50% of people who start Jiu Jitsu don’t see it as fun. They see it as a chore and don’t understand why anyone in their right mind would enjoy getting their ass kicked and looking foolish while it is happening. There is a correlation of people who enjoy doing an activity and their willingness to stick with it. Once a student starts having fun, everything changes. And if its still not fun, think about it this way: you are learning how to defend yourself, you are getting in shape and using Jiu Jitsu as a great stress reliever.
) Who will hold my hand? As an instructor, I will absolutely guide and help students on the mat. I will listen to their problems and help them resolve issues. Teachers are guides but the student has to put in the work to get better. Jiu Jitsu is a solo art that requires partners. It's not a traditional team sport. Jiu Jitsu will expose you to yourself and you'll really see what is inside your heart.
There are more police training jiu jitsu in 2021 than ever before but that percentage is still hovering at about 3%. That’s far too low. We have touched upon in other studies WHY Jiu Jitsu is important for cops (read those); what this article is pointing out is why cops stop doing Jiu Jitsu after only a short time.
A warrior's profession requires a warrior's mindset which means you need a warrior's work ethic. Are you willing to shelve the excuses, buckle down and train consistently?
Ari Knazan
Co-Founder
Invictus Leo Jiu Jitsu Collective
@invictusleo_official
www.invictusleo.com
