Ever feel like training Jiu Jitsu and working towards your next belt is like playing a game of snakes and ladders?

Maybe you get injured...or have no cash to train...too busy with work or your relationships...or simply the big LIFE wave comes in and sweeps you off the Jiu Jitsu beach.

That feeling of 'It's all good!" gets forgotten very fast when on your next dice throw (roll) you are sliding on the back of the snake to a place you feel is further back than you were a few moments ago...it can be frustrating to be away from your school or to be training much less for whatever reason.

This month is my 3rd anniversary of training jiu jitsu and I am spending this month just trying to get back to the mats full time.

As you know the shoulders have been giving me some issues. I went back to training this week after a month off and on the 2nd night I unfortunately put my neck out worse than I ever have before..I literally have not been able to look to the right all week...or look up (which is making drinking my coconut water very challenging).

I did make some stupid choices in training partners - I was choosing big guys when I should have been choosing smaller guys to spar with. It's hard to pass up a roll when you catch someone's eye and with a nod of your head you have agreed to 6 minutes of whatever they have got - which is usually alot more aggressive and based in strength than rolling with a higher belt who can rely on technique more. Add their size to this...not the smartest choice.Why am I rolling with heavy weights when I should be rolling with lightweights? Who's fault is it that I am not allowing myself to 'go back and train lightly'

Well I have been paying for it. More time away from training...more time on the snakes back. And this time I landed on the biggest snake of them all...I have learned from my Physiotherapist that I should rest for the next 4 -8 weeks. I have not been healing this shoulder correctly at all!

Pass me the dice - Let's see what happens on my next throw..

...hoping for a ladder!

• Rest is training (2010-05-21)
• Rolling under a full moon (2010-04-29)
• The Road to Copa - 3 weeks left (2010-04-06)
• Team Training (2010-03-29)
• Taking it to the next level (2010-03-26)
• Learning your Professor's 'Signature Move' (2010-03-16)
• A Journal of Judo? (2010-03-12)
• My ADCC Competition Experience (2010-03-10)
• Jiu Jitsu DNA (2010-02-28)
• Abu Dhabi Trials - 1 week out (2010-02-24)