It's so refreshing to see a guy as intelligent and easygoing as you talking about bjj/mma, a lot of the people local to me take themselves too seriously or are nothing more than thugs. Love your channel dude
I just had the epiphany last night as my mind was reeling from Practice that I should keep a journal specifically related to jiu jitsu, but didn't know what exactly I'd put in it. I just knew it would help me come down off the training high so I could get some sleep so I got up, grabbed a spare field notes and started writing! what a coincidence.
My coach told me something interesting a couple days back, he said he did and does keep a journal with techniques in it, but he hardly ever looks back at it. He said the reason he keeps it is that he finds just writing it down sort of helps him remember it even if he never reads the entry in his journal again, so playing devils advocate to you saying that it wasn't a good idea maybe that could be the beneficial part of writing techniques down
Agree. I do that. I keep notes of every drill from every session that I do because it makes me think more on what I do. Plus my notes are very detailed where every limb is detailed in every motion. It takes time to write it, but it makes me learn and understand.
Man!! Thank you so much for reading my comment and making this video! It was an absolute pleasure to listen to and I gained a lot of ideas. I really like your pre-session accountability journal. I never thought about that in BJJ although I use it for other things. I feel that will be very useful in staying detached from the idea of having to "win" your rolls (whatever that means) and instead focusing on a technique you want to improve on! Will definitely make sessions more fun and focused! Thanks again Chewy and keep making awesome videos! P.S. You got my name perfect the last try 🙏🏽
Hey Shayan, thanks for the message and I'm glad the video gave you some additional ideas to use and work with. And I'm glad I got your name right at the end at least. :P
This is great advice. A classmate said he was keeping a journal. This is hard when you are rolling but I think now that you are stating it this way, I think this will help with the goal.
Thank you for sharing your journals. I have been wanting to start a journal but don't know exactly what to include. I appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
I've been saying that I'm going to do this for a few years now.....i think this motivated me to do it. Thanks for your great videos chew...keep it up!!!
I've kept a journal on and off for about six months. Since changing gyms I stopped because I didn't know how to adapt my journaling to my new training schedule! This video is so helpful and motivating for me to pick my journal back up!
I love this Thankyou! I know I shoulllldddd journal. But I get lost with what to journal. I always over think and feel like I need more than one. I’m glad you’ve got many because I have a few different journals. One now on my phone since writing has always been hard for me to do.
I believe there are benefits to writing down technique. After a class when I get home I like to try write down the techniques I have learned that day as a revision tactic so I can be sure I took in what we had just drilled and if I can’t remember it I know it’s something I definitely need to study/work on. I also get very excited after a class and if I didn’t write down what we had just did I would literally lie in bed thinking about the class and would not sleep 😂😂 so it’s good for closure too I guess if you’re like me.
Thank you for this! It can be difficult to recognize the most productive way to journal your thoughts and learning experiences. This was extremely helpful. Thanks for the question and thank you for the great response!
I just started doing BJJ about a month ago to this day and I've been having issues in learning the techniques that I've been practicing/drilling with. I never knew people kept journals about the techniques they used, but since I stumbled on this and many other videos about BJJ journals, I'm going to begin writing in my own. Thank you so much!
I keep a journal purely on techniques. Call it non optimal if you want but a simple question often turns into a web of techniques that i need to keep a vague understanding of in my head and it helps me keep track of what I'm working on. The notebook also helps me plan out drilling, my game plan and thoughts. When i run into issues in my rolling I review the techniques giving me trouble and add to the journal. Ultimately it isn't about the content of the notebook at all, it's a tool to focus my thoughts and efforts on jujitsu from the wide move pool down to the timing, positioning and even orientation of hand when working on a move. Just the act of building the book of knowledge out is an exercise in focus and active recall. PS I should note my notebook is electronic. I take screenshots and make gifs from YT videos. Some great notebooks are OneNote, Notion, Obsidian and SimpleNote.
I've seen some funny videos of black belts trying to read their old journal of moves/techniques from their white belt days. Given that you seem to also question the usefulness, I think it'd be fun if you had people send you legitimate entries and then had people try to figure them out and demo them back. As far as writing them down, what I find most helpful is it allows me to realize what I don't remember about the technique. I occasionally get stuck at some point and forget a step and can then ask about it.
I have a mixmash one. It's full of techniques I am going to drill and points about them. Then I write a goal for a week or certain higher levels ideas for stuff, ie. passing the guard, etc.
I was reading Renzo Gracie's book and I had a similar epiphany moment where I went "this guy has no military training or association with the Marine Corps but what he is saying (with regards to Jiu Jitsu strategy) sounds exactly like Maneuver warfare from Marine Corps Doctrine"
hey chewie! Do you teach kids classes, too? I just started teaching kids a few months ago. Any advice about that? Awesome channel you have there! Keep up the good work :) Greetings from germany -Serafim
To Chewy and those who journal, how often do you look back on the journal (techniques, goals, experiences, etc.) to improve your game? Do you set a weekly or monthly time to review? Or do you find writing without reviewing helps you improve your game by getting your thoughts on paper and checking off goals to boost motivation? I just got into journaling.
Sylvania Yip hi! I find the biggest use of journaling for me is remembering the details more after I’ve written it down, and I find that I apply the techniques i journal with a higher success rate. I started re-reading them a lot more when I had to step into coaching for a bit after my instructor has left to keep the club going. I also revise it when a technique that I use more or less often doesn’t work as well for me anymore and I check if I’m missing a certain detail that I wrote down.
Since I started BJJ a month ago I've been keeping a diary it helps keep my motivation but never keep a diary of my experiences which I might start doing. Although I have a problem how can you train at home if you have a lack of space!?
Is there any chance you could do a video on flexibility for bjj? I used to do powerlifting and I'm all stuck together which makes it hard sometimes to get into certain positions. Cheers brother!
I find it helps if I write down all the little bits of advice I get from the higher belts in my group. Every now and again I give my notes a little flick through and remember something useful someone said.
I don't do it for a payoff at the end. I enjoy the practice of it. But yes, I believe it has made me better and a more introspective person which has only helped me improve both as a practitioners, coach and as a person.
I am going to start a bjj journal. I used one as a teacher. Simple two column scribbling done periodically not daily..Good Things I Did and Things I Need to Do Better. It helped.
Hi chew I didn't know how to contact you so I'll do it here, my name is sean pero and I'll be competing next month in a match with ebi rules against a 20 year old purple belt which just took second place in Europe championship gi, I am a 18 year old high level white belt always competing with blue and purple belts and I am clearly the underdog here, now I am going to win this fight no matter what and fight to the death it's really important for me , he is a little stronger and a lot more experience then me but I am willing to do everything to make a good strategy and preparation to put the odds in my favor, I thought you can help me make the preparation and tips, because you have said also that as a white belt you submitted a purple belt and I know we can replicate that victory if we do it smartly, I'm looking forward to your response, thank you 😊
It's so refreshing to see a guy as intelligent and easygoing as you talking about bjj/mma, a lot of the people local to me take themselves too seriously or are nothing more than thugs. Love your channel dude
Please never change the music in your ideos
Kaca tu di do di do lolll. We all know the sound I’m attempting to write.
I asked this!! Thanks for the reply Chewy!!!!
Me watching this video because I can't make Adam's journaling seminar... "hey, I know a Shayaan!" lol
Great question man! I specifically searched because I'm just starting out in jiu jitsu
How has your journaling been so far? Two years later
Excellent question!
Such a great question. Thank you for asking it Shan!
I just had the epiphany last night as my mind was reeling from Practice that I should keep a journal specifically related to jiu jitsu, but didn't know what exactly I'd put in it. I just knew it would help me come down off the training high so I could get some sleep so I got up, grabbed a spare field notes and started writing! what a coincidence.
My coach told me something interesting a couple days back, he said he did and does keep a journal with techniques in it, but he hardly ever looks back at it. He said the reason he keeps it is that he finds just writing it down sort of helps him remember it even if he never reads the entry in his journal again, so playing devils advocate to you saying that it wasn't a good idea maybe that could be the beneficial part of writing techniques down
Bastiaan van Wamelen totally agree. Taking notes helps me in school even if I don't read them again.
Agree. I do that. I keep notes of every drill from every session that I do because it makes me think more on what I do. Plus my notes are very detailed where every limb is detailed in every motion. It takes time to write it, but it makes me learn and understand.
Ma
I take notes from every technique it really helps me to remember details and nuances to each technique
Wish I had seen this video 20 years ago. The session goals vs. techniques is something I could have used in any number of study situations.
Man!! Thank you so much for reading my comment and making this video! It was an absolute pleasure to listen to and I gained a lot of ideas. I really like your pre-session accountability journal. I never thought about that in BJJ although I use it for other things. I feel that will be very useful in staying detached from the idea of having to "win" your rolls (whatever that means) and instead focusing on a technique you want to improve on! Will definitely make sessions more fun and focused! Thanks again Chewy and keep making awesome videos!
P.S. You got my name perfect the last try 🙏🏽
Hey Shayan, thanks for the message and I'm glad the video gave you some additional ideas to use and work with. And I'm glad I got your name right at the end at least. :P
This is great advice. A classmate said he was keeping a journal. This is hard when you are rolling but I think now that you are stating it this way, I think this will help with the goal.
Awful lot of content out there.....
But this is my favorite jujitsu channel.
Thanks Chewy.
Thank you for sharing your journals. I have been wanting to start a journal but don't know exactly what to include. I appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
I've been saying that I'm going to do this for a few years now.....i think this motivated me to do it.
Thanks for your great videos chew...keep it up!!!
I've kept a journal on and off for about six months. Since changing gyms I stopped because I didn't know how to adapt my journaling to my new training schedule! This video is so helpful and motivating for me to pick my journal back up!
Excellent! Glad the video was helpful Lisa!
I love this Thankyou! I know I shoulllldddd journal. But I get lost with what to journal. I always over think and feel like I need more than one. I’m glad you’ve got many because I have a few different journals. One now on my phone since writing has always been hard for me to do.
You can do it!
I believe there are benefits to writing down technique. After a class when I get home I like to try write down the techniques I have learned that day as a revision tactic so I can be sure I took in what we had just drilled and if I can’t remember it I know it’s something I definitely need to study/work on. I also get very excited after a class and if I didn’t write down what we had just did I would literally lie in bed thinking about the class and would not sleep 😂😂 so it’s good for closure too I guess if you’re like me.
Thank you for this! It can be difficult to recognize the most productive way to journal your thoughts and learning experiences. This was extremely helpful. Thanks for the question and thank you for the great response!
I just started doing BJJ about a month ago to this day and I've been having issues in learning the techniques that I've been practicing/drilling with. I never knew people kept journals about the techniques they used, but since I stumbled on this and many other videos about BJJ journals, I'm going to begin writing in my own. Thank you so much!
i find mind mapping really helpful for remembering techniques and sequences i learn in class
Such a good advice! I have been using Notion to take notes there is no going back.
I keep a journal purely on techniques.
Call it non optimal if you want but a simple question often turns into a web of techniques that i need to keep a vague understanding of in my head and it helps me keep track of what I'm working on. The notebook also helps me plan out drilling, my game plan and thoughts. When i run into issues in my rolling I review the techniques giving me trouble and add to the journal.
Ultimately it isn't about the content of the notebook at all, it's a tool to focus my thoughts and efforts on jujitsu from the wide move pool down to the timing, positioning and even orientation of hand when working on a move. Just the act of building the book of knowledge out is an exercise in focus and active recall.
PS I should note my notebook is electronic. I take screenshots and make gifs from YT videos.
Some great notebooks are OneNote, Notion, Obsidian and SimpleNote.
Chewy....once again, another lucid explanation. Good stuff.
I keep a ‘life’ journal, but I hadn’t thought of a BJJ journal. Thanks for this tip. Great content.
I mean, BJJ is life, so...
This is great man. I'm a month in and tried doing this this week. Worked a charm for remembering submissions/moves :D cheers!
I've seen some funny videos of black belts trying to read their old journal of moves/techniques from their white belt days. Given that you seem to also question the usefulness, I think it'd be fun if you had people send you legitimate entries and then had people try to figure them out and demo them back. As far as writing them down, what I find most helpful is it allows me to realize what I don't remember about the technique. I occasionally get stuck at some point and forget a step and can then ask about it.
Started doing this a few months back. Very helpful.
Really helpful video dude, liked that experience journal idea especially
Chewy - "So here's how i dont like using a journal..." says exactly how i use my journal.
I have a mixmash one. It's full of techniques I am going to drill and points about them. Then I write a goal for a week or certain higher levels ideas for stuff, ie. passing the guard, etc.
I've been using a journal and it's very helpful
Been watching your videos for about 8 months. I guess it's time to subscribe.
This is going to help me and my bjj game a lot! Thanks for the great tips!!
Thanks for the comment Alexander!
I was reading Renzo Gracie's book and I had a similar epiphany moment where I went "this guy has no military training or association with the Marine Corps but what he is saying (with regards to Jiu Jitsu strategy) sounds exactly like Maneuver warfare from Marine Corps Doctrine"
I usually find videos of things I've learned or am interested in, then dump them into openmat.training so I have a feed to look back on.
Still probably not going to journal but love your attitude and outlook on stuff, man, haha, thanks for all the videos
Hah, i appreciate your honesty. Thanks for the comment brother.
great video - thank you!
Great video man keep up the good work have u got any tips for recovery from bjj and cardio👊
ocd on point
powerful OCD
hey chewie!
Do you teach kids classes, too?
I just started teaching kids a few months ago. Any advice about that?
Awesome channel you have there! Keep up the good work :)
Greetings from germany
-Serafim
To Chewy and those who journal, how often do you look back on the journal (techniques, goals, experiences, etc.) to improve your game? Do you set a weekly or monthly time to review? Or do you find writing without reviewing helps you improve your game by getting your thoughts on paper and checking off goals to boost motivation? I just got into journaling.
Sylvania Yip hi! I find the biggest use of journaling for me is remembering the details more after I’ve written it down, and I find that I apply the techniques i journal with a higher success rate. I started re-reading them a lot more when I had to step into coaching for a bit after my instructor has left to keep the club going. I also revise it when a technique that I use more or less often doesn’t work as well for me anymore and I check if I’m missing a certain detail that I wrote down.
Having the same problem, I have a tournament this Saturday and a lot of my nervousness is coming from the team someone in my bracket is from
It's been a year. How'd it go?!
Since I started BJJ a month ago I've been keeping a diary it helps keep my motivation but never keep a diary of my experiences which I might start doing. Although I have a problem how can you train at home if you have a lack of space!?
so helpful thank you
You're welcome!
Is there any chance you could do a video on flexibility for bjj? I used to do powerlifting and I'm all stuck together which makes it hard sometimes to get into certain positions.
Cheers brother!
Sean Donnelly I Powerlifting 3x à week and bjj 3-5 x a week.
Yoga bro. Yoga.
Good Vid.. that seems like a lot of paperwork to do.... is it really worth it? Does it pay off?
I find it helps if I write down all the little bits of advice I get from the higher belts in my group.
Every now and again I give my notes a little flick through and remember something useful someone said.
I don't do it for a payoff at the end. I enjoy the practice of it. But yes, I believe it has made me better and a more introspective person which has only helped me improve both as a practitioners, coach and as a person.
I am going to start a bjj journal. I used one as a teacher. Simple two column scribbling done periodically not daily..Good Things I Did and Things I Need to Do Better. It helped.
how do you score points in a bjj competition?
Gamer takedowns and securing positions
How do you get paid by doing bjj full time? What does that mean, and what does it mean to make bjj a career?
Anyone have the secret to Jiu Jitsu in their journal?
My hand writing shit so put in the notes in my phone
You mean a BJJJ?
If that name is spelt Sean then its pronounced Shawn
It was Shayan. :)
Maybe it's pronounced like Cheyenne?
Super Shayan
Hi chew I didn't know how to contact you so I'll do it here, my name is sean pero and I'll be competing next month in a match with ebi rules against a 20 year old purple belt which just took second place in Europe championship gi, I am a 18 year old high level white belt always competing with blue and purple belts and I am clearly the underdog here, now I am going to win this fight no matter what and fight to the death it's really important for me , he is a little stronger and a lot more experience then me but I am willing to do everything to make a good strategy and preparation to put the odds in my favor, I thought you can help me make the preparation and tips, because you have said also that as a white belt you submitted a purple belt and I know we can replicate that victory if we do it smartly, I'm looking forward to your response, thank you 😊
I keep a ‘life’ journal, but I hadn’t thought of a BJJ journal. Thanks for this tip. Great content.