Saw this on Sherdog - I thought it was pretty good, so I've pasted it here:-

First off all, I wrote this while thinking on the bus how i improved my game, and how i could improve it even more.


1.Proper diët.

This is maybe the most important point. junk food and soda's make you feel slow and tired. Especially if you've worked all day, then go home, eat, and train. you won't get 100% out of your training since you will feel even more tired. eating healthy food will get you proper nutrition and alot of other benefits later on in life ;-) What if you live alone, suck in cooking and only warm up pizza's? LEARN TO COOK! it's worth every penny. if you have to take cooking classes if you have nobody around, then take them. you will even learn to appreciate it, and there's nothing better then cooking a healthy meal.

Pro's

- Better Nutrition
- More Energy
- Weightloss
- Save Money ( no more sodas & beer ;-) )
- You will finally be able to invite "that hot chick" for dinner. how that sounds?

Con's

- ?


2. Sleep

alot of people don't sleep enough. if you have a 9 to 5 job or something like that, try to keep a stable sleeping style, wake up and go to sleep at the same time every night.


3. No Youtube

please, for the love of god. the youtubers in your gym, you all know them. don't be like them, don't try their stuff. it will slow downyour progression. if you want to check out LEGIT instructionals, buy them, or borrow them. if you do watch them, try to do it position by position, just watch 2 or 3 moves, try them until you can do them properly, and then move on to the next ones. if you feel something isn't comfortable, ASK it to the higher belts what you're doing wrong. and if you feel after awhile that the position isn't for you ( not everyone likes to spin around to much for example) then don't spend your mat time on it. you can however find alot of legit competition footage for free on youtube.


4. Mat Time & Rolling
there is a simple fact that how more mat time = how faster your progession, if you've done the 3 steps before for awhile, you'll prolly have good cardio. now if you can only get on the mats twice or three times a week, try to get the MOST out of it. I try to roll atleast 5 x 5 minute rounds at the end of every class. imho there is no point in going to class when there is technique only without drilling and you've been training for 2years+ frequently(with this, i mean 5-7 times a week). If you can only go 3 times a week, try to go to the open mat for sure ( if your gym has one).

i don't even spend my time on judo throws since i don't like them and will never use them, and use that mat time to train my guard pulls or double legs. ( if you're a competitor and talk with your instructor about it, and he will probably understand it if you've been with him for awhile)

5. Pacing

this is an important factor for your cardio. for the love of god, there is a big difference between going hard but technical and just spazzing around. try to mix up your pace. the combination of good cardio, control, and pacing makes you a good competitor. you always want to fight on your ground. if you prefer to fight relax, and you're opponent goes hard, then make him follow you, and don't follow him since you will be playing in his world( by terms of speaking) that's why it's best to switch pace during training. go hard for sweeps, scrambles, passing, but stay relaxed when you have a good position. ( if an agressive person gets into the guard of a relax person, he will not suspect a crazy fast sweep)

6. Dedicated enough to go to Brasil?

If you've planned or always wanted to go to brasil, the best way to get there in best fighting shape is by the 5 points i put here above. imho there is no point in going to brasil for training if you're tired after 3 mid paced rolls. you will waste 2 to 3 weeks just to get into shape, as most people go for 1 month, that's a waste of more then half of your trip.


7.Compete Compete Compete

if money isn't an issue, go to every single competition. winning or losing, it will make you hungry to train even more and harder.


I hope these tips help, wrote them down for myself and just sharing them.

Myself i'm still slipping on

- Diët, but i've came a very very long way
- Sleep, damn computer games

these 2 points are so important, that I have to fix them starting from when i wake up the next time.

look at all these points , and check which ones you still need to adjust. it will be worth it.