How To Get Back Into Training After A Long Hiatus
Many of us swear that nothing could tear us away from jiu jitsu. But sometimes, “nothing” comes to us disguised as a horrible injury, a massive change in our life plans, or simply a day of staying home that somehow turned into a year of staying home.
For me, it was a debilitating bout of depression last year.
Getting back to the gym after taking some time off can be a real challenge regardless of why you stopped going, so it’s no wonder that so many people who “take a break” end up never putting their gi back on.
But if you’re thinking about getting back into the game, there are plenty of ways to make your comeback as pleasant as possible.
Take it slow.
Use your friends as a support system.
Don’t be mean to yourself.
Reward yourself.
Remember why you started.
Remember the day you decided to make up for being a chubby kid in high school by becoming an athlete in your late twenties? How about the day you finally escaped your abusive relationship and decided you never wanted to be a victim again? Whatever reasons you had for starting jiu-jitsu are still just as valid now, and you should be using them to not only start again, but to be happy to start again. Write your motivation on your bathroom mirror in dry-erase marker if you have to. Set it as your desktop background on your work computer. Do whatever you need to find that passion you had when you first started, and use it to drive you all over again.
Getting back on the mat after a hiatus is an accomplishment that very few people achieve. No matter why you stopped, don’t let it hold you back from starting again if you can and want to. It’s a long road, but jiu-jitsu itself is a journey rather than a destination. What matters is that you’re getting back on the road.