You’re Closer Than You Think
Sometimes kids need more than another explanation. They need to trust what they already know, keep trying, and remember there is still time to get better.
You don't have to have a technique perfect yet to be making progress. Trust what you know, do the best version you can today, and keep giving yourself chances to get better.
A student told me he needed help with a technique we had been working on for a while.
I looked at him and said, “You don't need my help. I've seen you do it already.”
I wasn't trying to brush him off. I meant it.
He knew the technique. I had watched him do it before. What he needed in that moment wasn't another explanation.
He needed to trust himself enough to try.
You Don’t Have to Have It Perfect
Sometimes we think knowing how to do something means being able to do it perfectly every time.
That's not really how learning works.
Maybe you know where your hands are supposed to go, but you forget one step. Maybe you can do the move when your partner is helping, but it gets harder when they start resisting. Maybe you did it really well yesterday and it feels impossible today.
That doesn't mean you're back at the beginning. It just means you're still learning.
You’ve Already Made Progress
It can be hard to notice how much better you've gotten when you're paying attention to everything you still can't do.
You might remember when the move felt completely confusing. Now you know where to start. You know what position you're trying to get to. You might even know what went wrong when the move doesn't work.
Those things count.
You may not be where you want to be yet, but you're probably a lot closer than you think.
Sometimes You Just Have to Try
There will be times when you really do need help. That's what coaches are here for.
But sometimes asking for help can become a way of waiting until you feel completely sure before you start.
You probably won't feel completely sure. Try anyway.
Do the best version of the technique you can right now. If it works, great. If it doesn't, you just found something you can work on next.
Either way, you're practicing.
There’s Still Time to Get Better
You don't have to know everything today. You don't have to get every move right. You don't even have to be as good at it as the person next to you.
You just have to keep showing up, keep trying, and keep paying attention.
There will be another class, another chance to practice, and another opportunity to make it a little better than it was before.
So if you're looking at a technique and thinking, “I don't know if I can do this,” you might be right that it still needs some work.
But you might also need someone to remind you:
“I've seen you do it already.”
You're closer than you think.
A Note for Parents
Joshua is the owner and head coach at 608 Jiu Jitsu in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. He writes about learning, problem solving, and becoming a better training partner through jiu jitsu.