During the months of November through to February there are usually less, if any, competitions on the annual calendar and the weather is much more appealing for trips to the beach, camping, fishing and other outdoor activities.
So, how do we keep our students enthusiastic with their training during the summer months?
In November and December we find it’s the best time to have students reflect on the year just gone. They can do this by mentally going back through their highs and lows and establishing what they did well, and not so well.
Once they’ve sorted their highs from their lows, we suggest they address the lows, making sure they fully understand their weaknesses. They can correct bad habits created and ensure these habits aren’t reintroduced in the coming year.
November through to December is the ideal time to have free workshop-style classes, rather than a set curriculum, with the group and the instructor working through any random questions the students may have. This open forum-style class does bring to a head any issues and challenges and the group can work together to resolve them one by one.
Furthermore, once the year’s issues have been dealt with and hopefully corrected, the students will feel much more excited by the arrival of the next year as it will present new horizons without any carry over baggage from the previous one.
Building on a positive foundation for the New Year.
January and February can be a similar workshop-style class with a view to planning the students’ development for the coming year. With the class working together on each student, it becomes a very positive environment with students reluctant to miss any classes, as they see it as critical to their growth in the coming year. These classes will help them set the foundations for further learning to maximise their training in the next 12 months.
We find students are very responsive to taking personal control of their training. Rather than continually accepting information, they begin to seek what they need to grow.
When students are interested in their personal progress they’ll want to be in class – and at least not at the beach every day!
Peter de Been is Director of de Been 100% Jiu Jitsu, Australia’s first Jiu Jitsu Academy, and President and Founder of AFBJJ Inc, Jiu Jitsu’s national governing body since 1994. www.deBeenJiuJitsu.com
