Managing your emotions in BJJ

Today I want to talk about managing your emotions in BJJ. Emotional state management in Jiu-Jitsu and even in life for that matter is a critical skill to develop. It’s something we really focus on at Savarese BJJ (www.njbjj.com). Jiu-Jitsu rewards you when you give attention to “the main thing”. For many of us, not having things go our way can be a frustrating experience that takes us away from that main thing. It can lead to anger or irritation, which then clouds the sort of clear thinking that’s needed for proactive problem-solving. In almost all cases, anger and frustration do not actually help you. In addition, it works in the exact opposite way. Anger of any form will keep you frozen, immobilizing you with no productive outcome. An alternative is to try framing whatever problem you face in a way that assumes there is an answer to be found, even if you can’t see it yet. It may take some time and you may need to recruit others to help you get on this path. But you‘ll get where you’re going faster by emphasizing an active search for creative solutions, rather than letting your frustration paralyze you. Also, here is something else to think about. Your physical heath. Anger can also affect your health in many different ways. An angry outburst can put your heart at risk. It can also weaken your immune system and if you are later in age, possibly lead to a stroke. If you have anxiety, it can make that worse and lead to depression. Studies show that happy people live longer. They also show stress is very tightly linked to general health. If you’re stressed and angry, you’ll shorten your lifespan. These are some more things to consider when it comes to managing your emotions.