For the Love of the Game....

I have been reading "A Fighter's Mind" by Sam Sheridan (see also A Fighter's Heart). In this particular book, Sheridan examines the inner workings of the mental aspect of training and fighting. He is searching for a "silver bullet" or ultimate edge for fighters that can be used to guarantee that they have the mental edge in combat.

The book contains interviews and with famous trainers such as Freddie Roach, Greg Jackson, and Ricardo Liborio, as well as interviews with some of the best fighters in the game. When it comes to the BJJ aspect, they chose one of the most acclaimed grapplers in the world in Marcelo Garcia.

Marcelo Garcia, if you have never seen or heard an interview with him or seen seminar footage, is one of the most approachable and friendliest guys in the sport. Aside from just seeming like a good guy, he is a terror on the mat. He has wins his division practically every time he competes in the Mundials and Abu Dhabi, and then gos out and usually places top 3 in Absolute in every tournament he competes in.

When asked the ever important question as to why he is so successful, Marcelo gives a rare and extremely refreshing answer; because he LOVES BJJ so much.

There is no "pro athlete" complex about it, he simply loves the game and devotes all his time thinking about it and wanting to improve out of pure desire to be involved in something that he has true passion for.

This became apparent to me yesterday.

I am the head Defensive Tactics instructor for the Permian Basin Regional Police Academy. Part of my main curriculum is Gracie Combatives and basic ground fighting. I love teaching this course and getting the students to a point where they can begin to "free-roll" and spar with each other.

Recently though, the students that come through the academy seem to lack "it". What is "it"? Well to me, in this instance, "it" is desire to compete. A desire to get physical and have a little bit of healthy aggression and physical challenge with another human being. There are students who do have this, and they are a breath of fresh air, as they are becoming few and far between.

This recent group has had a rash of "injuries" and some valid staph infections spreading due to lacking a sense of urgency to get in the shower (we even provide Defense Soap!). So due to the sickly ones in the group, I had the chance to get the rest of the group for 2 hours yesterday. For 2 hours we drilled some grappling guard flows, and then rolled with each other.

For the first time in a while, I actually had fun doing this class. I always like to teach, but what was different? Finally, for the first time in this whole academy, with this group, we all had fun training. There was no whining, not griping, just 12 people grappling and asking questions and wanting to improve. It was a great environment to be a part of.

So if you feel stagnant in training or like something is just a little stale, find some people that actually have real love for the game. Get away from the people who go because they wanna be cool, but don't want to work hard. Separate yourself from the people who come around because they have to, or they are just there because it is expected. Find a group, even just one other person, who has a genuine desire to improve, and you will see a a return in this investment.