So, I’ve been studying BJJ at West Side since February 2010, and there are days that I still get the jitters before and during class.  It isn’t because I train at an unsafe place; far from it. Sometimes they come out of nowhere.  Sometimes I get thinking about what may or may not happen at class that night and I psych myself out.

So here is what I do to get around the BJJ jitters.

  1. Do my best to think about something else to the point that class doesn’t cross my mind until I’m packing my bag to go.
  2. Set forward the intention for a positive experience.  I strongly believe that you cannot live anything that you can’t see is possible.  I just say out loud “I set forward the intention that I’m going to have a safe and enjoyable evening at class”.  I do not remember a time that it hasn’t worked.
  3. Use the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) .  This I use not only before, but during class when I get uptight.  Check it out at www.emofree.com .  It work’s.
  4. Take a night off.  If I get myself so worked up over going to class that I’m miserable, I take a night off.  It ain’t gonna ever kill me.  BJJ for me is a spiritual pursuit first before anything else.  What can be more spiritual than following your bliss?
  5. Just say No.  If there is someone that I get an unsafe vibe from, I got the balls to say ‘no thanks, I’ll pass’.  My safety and well being comes first and foremost.  Call it what you want, we have feelings for a reason.  Might as well listen to them and follow through.