After teaching and training with a LOT of people for the last 45 years…
…I’ve come to recognize the personality traits and personal habits of both those who go on to become very good, and those who don’t.
If you look at this short list, you’ll see traits and habits that you can adapt… and once you do, they can’t help but transform your training & skills.
So, without further ado, here’s the top 10….
1. Take notes every time you train, & write down whatever you learn OR ideas you come up with.
2. Always show up for training …even if you physically can’t train.
3. When you have a question about grappling, find a good answer for it BEFORE you train again.
4. Do a minimum of 500 repetitions, either actual or visualized, of every technique you learn BEFORE you return to class or learn anything else new.
5. Always be the most focused person in the training session
6. Study (not just “practice”) grappling in between training sessions
7. Practice outside of class far more than you practice in class (otherwise, you CAN’T possibly expect to be any better than anyone else in class, can you?)
8. Recognize that training partners will come and go, but insist that you stay constant.
9. Develop or learn a philosophy relating grappling to life (there’s martial arts books on this)
10. Identify yourself as a grappler (don’t just “do” grappling)
Hey, I’m on a roll here, so here’s 2 bonus traits that will put you over the top:
1. Insist that you become the most skilled grappler you know (even if you fall short, you’ll still land ahead of the crowd)
2. Shut down ALL negative talk in your head regardless of how true it might seem, and only leave room for positivity about yourself and your skills. Basically, nothing but “Yes I can” thoughts.
If you don’t see all those traits in yourself, tape that list up on your mirror and start becoming that person today.
Keep training!
Bob Dorris
