6th-degree Jui-Jitsu black belt Carlos Valente givest tips on goal setting. So you're back from the holidays and beginning another year of training. Or maybe it's your New Year's resolution to get in shape, so you join a jiu-jitsu school. To get the most out of your training, how do you set goals for yourself this year? Let me offer some suggestions.

To get good at jiu-jitsu, especially if you want to progress quickly, you have to be good at setting goals. I don't mean knucklehead goals like, "I'm going to tap out that really tough guy at the gym this year!" or "I'm never going to tap to that skinny purple belt anymore!" I want my students to set goals that will help them get better.

I often tell my students that to get good at jiu-jitsu you have to be your own coach. Don't get me wrong; a good instructor is your key to progressing and reaching your goals. However, the best jiu-jitsu students are the ones with desire and smarts; they push themselves and plan their development.

BREAK ON THROUGH

This month I want to discuss how to set the type of goals that will help you break through. Of course, you will always be learning new positions, but more positions aren't the key to tremendous improvements, especially after the blue belt level.

A good goal would be something that will push you to improve in an area that would normally be missed. If you don't set goals like this, then you will not become a complete jiu-jitsu fighter; you will have holes in your game that others will exploit.

TIP NO. 1

For example, you can set a goal to work on the weakest part of your game. Maybe you are a very big and strong person, and feel comfortable fighting from the top. You have found a lot of success passing people's guard, getting a better top position and putting on your favorite submission.

I would recommend working on your bottom game by setting a goal to improve your guard recovery or sweeps. It might not be fun to have every Joe in the gym pass your guard at the beginning, but in the end you will become a lot better when you learn to recover your guard or sweep someone, rather than adding one more submission from the mount.

TIP NO. 2

My last piece of advice this month regarding goal setting is to be real with yourself. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you don't need work in a certain area.

For instance, if your goal is to improve your sweeps and you start sweeping your training partner, don't consider it a done deal. Ask yourself, "Can you sweep every white belt in your gym? Can you sweep every blue belt in your gym? Can you sweep everyone using your new sweep in your city? In your state?"

MAKE IT HAPPEN

These tips should get you started in the right direction so you can become that complete fighter. It's not going to happen in one night, so set those goals, work on your weaknesses and work hard.

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Quick Hits

• Name: Carlos "Cao" Valente
• School: Valente Jiu-Jitsu Academy
• Instructors: Trained with the legendary Rolls Gracie for many years. After Rolls' tragic and untimely death in the early 1980s, Carlos became a student of Rickson Gracie, under whom he earned his black belt. Carlos is now a 6th-degree black belt.
• In the early UFCs, he served as fight coordinator.
• Web Site: www.valenteacademy.com