I went to Jiu-Jitsu class yesterday, and my knees aren't any worse for the wear, so after missing a week I'm back on track! That's a good thing, because I've realized that if I want to have any hope of not making a fool of myself at the upcoming blue belt test, then I'm going to need to train as much as I can. For me, changing styles of Jiu-Jitsu and training at a new school has involved more than just putting on a white belt until I can test, it really does feel like I'm starting over. Many of the things I've learned in the past have details added, or even changed, so that means not only do I have to learn new details, but I also have to "unlearn" some of the things I already know.I think that anyone who has trained in two different styles of the same art, or even the same style at two separate schools, knows that sometimes there are different ways of doing the same thing. When people come into our Karate class at the dojo with prior knowledge of another style, they often have a harder time adjusting to the way we do things than the new students do. It's hard to fill a cup that's already full, so I guess I should be thankful that I made the Jiu-Jitsu switch while I still don't know very much!
I'm not just wearing a white belt, I am a white belt at LBJJ, and I honestly don't know if I will be ready to test for blue when the time comes. However, much of my previous knowledge does still apply, and every single day that I go to class now, my mistakes are being corrected, I'm learning something, and I can tell that I'm improving. All I can do is fully commit to the new path I've chosen, and keep putting in work. It's a lot easier to do when you know you're headed in the right direction, and of that I have no doubt.