Back when in the early 90's, when I was a BJJ purple belt, I remember my coach Rigan Machado using a training idea that in fact, he still uses to this day. he would make us run laps around the mat, while he demonstrated a technique (just one time) in the centre of the mat. he would then select two people to step out and demonstrate the same technique - if they got it right - we would all pair off and do reps - if they didn't get it right, we all did push-ups; after which he would get us running laps again, and repeat the exercise by demonstrating a different technique ... in other words - the opportunity to practise the first technique .. was gone - possibly forever. Yes - forever! There were many students who didnt seem to take the opportunities seriously enough (for my liking) - possibly because they thought (mistakenly) that they could always get it right the next time that RIgan taught it - perhaps on the next training night. This of course, was illogical thinking; for in my experience, he rarely taught the same class twice. When the next training night came - new techniques were being taught - the opportunity to learn the techniques that ere presented at the previous class - were gone!
I kind of like this old-fashioned approach; for it pretty much, mimics life! So many times in life, opportunities come and go quickly and very often, they do not come again. We need to train ourselves to seize the moment - grab those opportunities and make the most of them when they are presented to us. Each class missed is a golden opportunity gone. This is one of my themes for 2011 - make the most of every day.
Train hard - train smart - train NOW
JBW
