You’re a BJJ white belt, in the search for advice from experienced athletes…
So why not listen to the advice from Dean Lister, BJJ black belt, 3x ADCC champion and UFC vet.

Lister delves into a critical aspect of training: the significance of listening, especially to those more experienced.

Lister reflects on his own journey, admitting that as a younger practitioner, he too fell into the trap of not fully absorbing advice from seasoned practitioners.

“It’s ironic because I’m not innocent. I made this mistake when I was young… when you’re 22 let’s say or whatever age and someone who’s been doing this sport for 20 years more than you says something, and you, you’ll listen to it but you won’t hear it.” Lister said.

He recounts an instance with a fellow athlete, Nick Leoni, who tried to impart wisdom about the vigor of youth, which Lister initially dismissed:

“I had a guy named Nick Leoni, he was probably 50 when I was 22… he would say, you know, hey, yeah, I know no idea how much energy you guys have at your young age and I was like whatever old man, and now I’m like, he was right.”

This reflection leads to his main point: the importance of genuinely hearing, not just listening, to those with more experience.

“I think this listening, listening but hearing, trying to hear but to hear you have to listen first. So it’s not even necessarily about this technique or that technique.”

A poignant example given by Lister involves a female fighter under his guidance. Before a fight, she was preoccupied with her phone and friends’ whereabouts, leading to a lackluster performance. This story illustrates the broader message that advice from coaches or experienced individuals often stems from genuine concern and should be heeded.

Listen to older Jiu-Jitsu practitioners

Lister concludes by emphasizing that listening to those who have walked the path before can not only enhance one’s training but also minimize negative influences in life.

“Listen to people who have done more and been around longer than you, even people who are just old… you might have a love interest, you might have your heart broken, you gotta listen to someone else about seeing things outside of life, that how you affected your training.”

This principle, while shared in the context of BJJ, is also applicable in broader life scenarios, offering wisdom on dealing with heartbreak, training, and life’s challenges.

Dean Lister’s key message is about the profound impact of truly listening and learning from those who have the experience, a lesson valuable both on and off the mats.