Jiujitsu Culture
- maharajiujitsu
- Jun 27, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 30, 2023
Yesterday, I was having a conversation with one of our blue belts.
He casually mentioned how awesome the culture at our academy was and that no one in the gym is a mental roller (not his words).
Here's the thing... we work incredibly hard to make sure the culture of our gym stays awesome and mental rolling free.
Culture is at the heart of any academy and will make or break it.
That sounds dramatic, I know, but it's true.
We've all heard horror stories of instructors who are bullies and students that are dangerous, but it doesn't have to be that way.
The culture of your gym comes from the top down.
By top, I mean it comes from the gym owners, the instructors, and the students.
Yes, even if you're a one-stripe white belt, you impact your gym's culture. After all, you seem to have magical powers to the person who's done one session. With that in mind, here are five things we can do as instructors and students to maintain our gym culture.
The Details
The old saying "the devil is in the details" is so true for Jiu Jitsu. But it doesn't just apply to the details of a technique. Notice and appreciate what separates the great from the merely good.
Look to the best students/instructors to see what works, how they train, and the way they act.
This habit can transform your life in so many ways.
Be like Marcelo
Back in my Flo Martial Art days, Marcelo was the guy everyone wanted to train with.
It didn't matter if you were big or small, you knew you would have a great time if you trained with Marcelo.
So be the kind of training partner everyone wants to train with and look after your partner emotionally and physically.
Don't be like Bruce (not their real name)
Bruce was the guy whose Gi was always a little dirty, you'd get scratched by his fingernails, and there was always a risk he had a skin infection.
Jiu Jitsu is a close contact activity, and your hygiene also impacts the people around you.
This also applies to the cleanliness of your academy.
Mat time is precious.
One of my favourite sayings is, "Whatever you're doing right now is the most important thing in your life."
When you're on the mat, you're investing the most precious commodity you have in the world, get the maximum value from your time on the mat.
Be present when drilling... get the extra reps... communicate with your partner to get feedback on where you or they can improve.
Remember, your goal is to improve 1% every session, not to win.
Be in the driving seat.
One of the best ways to get the most out of each training session is to imagine that you and the instructor are the only people there. Never take a back seat in your learning, and if you don't understand something … ask.
Remember, culture is crucial.
And our actions either help build a healthy culture or erode it.
I hope that makes sense,
Adz "Culture is crucial" Lison

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