Every now and then, you’ll come to ask yourself if you should skip Jiu-Jitsu – in order to see your friends. But should you do it? Should you skip training in order to spend some time with the people you enjoy being with?
There’s no clear-cut answer for this dilemma, of course. But there are some things which, taken into consideration, could help you out with making the decision.

WHAT’S YOUR GOAL?

The first question to ask yourself when you come in this sort of a dilemma is: „What’s my goal?“
Do you want to become a really good Jiujiteiro, but keep the sport as a hobby nevertheless? Or do you wish to take it a step further and try to make it as a successful competitor… Heck, maybe even to become a professional athlete?

The way you answer to this question will tell you a lot. If you’re into BJJ just to feel good and to have a bit of physical activity here and there, you should feel free to skip training every now and then. However, if your aim is competition success – or a professional career – then, by all means, you should be present to as many training sessions as possible.
If you’re truly serious about Jiu-Jitsu, then every time you skip training will take you a bit further away from your goals. Bit by bit, and you’ll be far away after a few months.

WHAT DO YOU TREASURE MORE?

Secondly, what do you treasure more – at least in this moment in time? Is it spending time with friends, going out to parties, travelling with them, watching movies, meeting new people… Or do you think that – again, at least for now – it’s the BJJ that’s making you more fulfilled?

It is really important to be honest with yourself. If you feel as if you should see your friend (because, for example, you haven’t seen him/her for a long time), then go ahead – skip that one training session. But if you’re just looking to get „blasted“, day in and day out, or something similar… It may be the case that you’re going to find a lot more fulfillment in your rolls.

Jiu-Jitsu isn’t everything. Your friends are important as well. Just be frank with what you want, what makes you truly happy, and what you think will leave you smiling more in the end.

PLAN HOW YOU’LL SKIP TRAINING

And thirdly, it might be a good idea to skip training in the same way you’d indulge into a cheat meal. Meaning: if you’re eating healthy all week, it’s recommended to have one cheat meal so that you can satisfy your cravings. In the same way, if you’re going to train consistently during the following month, then you could plan how and when you’ll skip those one or two BJJ classes.

For example, you could make the following deal with yourself: „I’ll allow myself to skip a maximum of two training sessions in the next 30 days.“
This way, you’ll feel much less stress when your friends ask you to go out, because you know that you have an opportunity to do so. But you’ll also stay on the right track and continue training consistently, as you are making sure to stay accountable to the decision you made.

BALANCING IS HARD

In the end of ends, it goes without saying that balancing Jiu-Jitsu with your social life can be extraordinarily difficult, especially when both things mean a great deal to you. But it can be done, if at least partially; just stay true to yourself and to the decision you make afterwards.