Making Time to Train
Last night, I didn’t want to train. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. But it was one of those days. A long, tiring day of work, cooking meals for the family, and as the evening wore on, I wanted nothing more than to sit down, watch a movie and relax.
Martial arts changed my life. I started at a random strip mall karate dojo in high school, and have trained ever since. I would train for a few years, then feel like the current art I was practicing missed an undefined “something,” so I’d move on and try a new one.
When my wife and I had kids, I knew I wanted them in martial arts, but the arts I was studying at the time didn’t seem right. I’d heard of BJJ and liked the idea of kids grappling, of learning to control another person’s body rather than depending on striking. We tried a couple of academies, as Easton seemed like a long drive from our home, but again, the fit wasn’t quite right.
That all changed one Saturday in May, when we walked through the doors of Easton.
My son, five at the time, tried his first class. He was terrified; he had no idea what was going on. Yet afterwards, he wanted to try again. We dove in, taking him to class most days of the week. Though it took him a few months before he did anything other than lie limp under his training partners, soon something clicked, and he fell in love with BJJ.
That opened the door to the rest of the family. I started BJJ and kickboxing six months later. Once the academies reopened after COVID, my wife started, and a year later, my daughter. Easton has profoundly enriched our lives. It has given our family a common language to connect around. We drill together on the weekends and cheer each other’s wins and losses at competitions. We have found a tight-knit community that brings us joy and connection.
Yet, every so often, that specter of resistance raises its head, and we lose the motivation. Intellectually, we know it’s good for us; we know we will enjoy training. Afterwards, I always feel great. So why does making it out of the door and into the academy feel so hard sometimes?
Over the past six years, our family’s life continues to evolve. Balancing work, school, other interests and activities makes for a constant juggling act, but we have found a few strategies to help get into the academy, to keep putting in the work and growing in these arts that we love.
[Easton Students Gelsey Malferrari + Neal Ritter: Primitive Fuel for a Modern Community]
Grit
I want to improve. The changes I have seen in myself internally and externally after joining Easton are guiding me towards the person I want to become. Sometimes, holding that in mind, improvement, growth and evolution make for enough of a goal. Sometimes, the excitement of trying something new can help overcome the resistance. This one can sneak up on us, making itself easy to ignore, to say, “I’ll get better tomorrow.” But it will feel so good to get better today.
Making a schedule
Making a weekly training schedule each weekend has become one of the best tools we use as a family. On Sunday, at the end of the day, we make a schedule for the week ahead. A Jiu Jitsu class sounds like a great way to move after a day at work, and, rested and relaxed, it’s easier to imagine how good the training will feel. We can make adjustments each week to accommodate other commitments, but once we make the plan, we agree to stick to it.
Time of day
Finding the right time of day to train is key. Luckily, we have so many great options, from early in the morning to midday to noon. I have tried them all. I like the early morning session, getting the work in early, and starting my day feeling like I already have a win under my belt. Rarely do other things come up at 6AM, so once that rhythm gets locked in, it doesn’t usually have conflicts.
My preference is noon training. I can have a productive morning, train over lunch, then still have time in the afternoons to take my kids to their activities. I have found that students in these classes stay pretty consistent, so there is a great community, and it fits best with my day’s rhythm.
Evening classes are big and fun, and with the variety available, I can find one to match my skill level. This is a popular time for the academy, and beyond training, I like to watch classes in BJJ and Muay Thai, as well as the kids (who train like savages!) Evenings make a great time to immerse yourself in the Easton vibe.
My schedule changes seasonally, so I like to pick a time each season that works best for my work life, then stick with that. Choosing a consistent class means that I can grow with the coaches, building each week on the previous lessons. Shifting every handful of months keeps things fresh.
[Time to Train: Making the Most of Our Time]
Friends
One tool I’ve found helps more than anything else: meeting a friend at class. For whatever reason, it can be easy to let ourselves down, but hard to disappoint someone else. Training has helped us create so many strong friendships and relationships, and showing up for our community feels good.
This is what got me to class last night. We told two friends we would meet and train together. When it felt easy to flake, knowing we had committed to people we cared about was the motivation we needed to get out the door, and dive into training. And I was glad I did.
Just come back
Life happens. We go on vacation, get injured, or switch to a new job. Our kids have busy schedules, or we get sick. It can be hard to balance it all, and once some time passes, it can be intimidating to return.
The answer comes down to one of those “simple, not easy” propositions: just come back.
Show up, put in the work, keep growing and learning. I am in this for the long game. I look forward to training with my friends and family for decades to come. So show up. Your community will welcome you home.
