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In our previous post, we explored the mindsets and habits necessary to reach mastery at each stage of your martial arts journey. But no matter how strong your mindset is or how disciplined your habits are, everyone hits a plateau at some point. It’s a frustrating reality of training in disciplines like Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, or traditional martial arts. You’re putting in the work, but the progress has stalled, and it feels like you’re going nowhere.
Sound familiar? Good. Because hitting a plateau isn’t a dead end—it’s just a sign that you’re ready to take things to the next level. At Cutting Edge Karate & Krav Maga in Woodland Hills, we help our students push through these plateaus every day. Here’s how you can break through stagnation and keep progressing.
1. Reevaluate Your Routine
If you’re feeling stuck, it’s time to test yourself at a higher level. Doing the same drills and running through the same techniques with the same partners is like telling your body and mind to hit cruise control. Break the monotony and challenge yourself in new ways. Switch to a tougher training partner who can push you harder. Attend more advanced classes, add additional sessions to your week, or challenge yourself to compete in the next tournament! Practice specific techniques at home to reinforce what you’re learning. The goal? Make things uncomfortable again—because discomfort is where growth happens.
2. Set Smaller, Specific Goals
One of the biggest reasons people get stuck in plateaus is that their goals are too vague. “Get better” isn’t a goal—it’s a wish. Instead, break it down into concrete, measurable objectives. Want to improve your Jiu Jitsu game? Focus on executing a specific sweep or submission consistently. Want to get faster in Muay Thai? Set a goal to increase your speed in a three-punch combo. These micro-goals keep you focused and provide small wins that add up to bigger breakthroughs over time.
3. Ask More Questions
When progress stalls, it’s time to become a student of your own training. Ask yourself: What’s not working? Why am I getting stuck in this area? Am I practicing effectively? Take these questions to your instructors or more experienced training partners. At Cutting Edge Karate & Krav Maga, our instructors are always ready to help you troubleshoot. Being curious and seeking feedback can open up new perspectives and solutions you might not have considered.
4. Focus on Weaknesses
Most people like to stick with what they’re good at. But if you want to break through a plateau, you’ve got to attack your weak spots. Take an honest look at your training. What techniques do you avoid? What positions do you struggle with? If you’re training in Krav Maga, it might be a particular defense technique. In Jiu Jitsu, it could be a guard pass. Drill your weaknesses until they become strengths. Mastery in martial arts is about turning vulnerabilities into assets.
5. Get Private or Supplemental Training
If your current routine isn’t pushing you past your limits, consider supplementing your training. At Cutting Edge Karate & Krav Maga, we offer private lessons to focus on specific areas you want to improve. Whether it’s refining your traditional martial arts forms or diving deep into advanced Krav Maga techniques, personalized training can provide breakthroughs that aren’t possible in a regular group class. A few one-on-one sessions can provide a fresh perspective, correct bad habits, and give you strategies to overcome roadblocks.
6. Keep Showing Up (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)
Consistency is key. When you’re not seeing progress, it’s tempting to show up less or skip a few sessions. Don’t. This is when you need to double down and keep showing up, even if it feels like you’re getting nowhere. The work you put in now is building the foundation for your future breakthroughs. This is about building resilience and training yourself to push through mental barriers as much as physical ones. Remember: consistency beats intensity every time.
7. Journal Your Training and Progress
Keeping a training journal is one of the most underrated tools for breaking through plateaus. Write down what you worked on, what felt strong, and where you struggled. Reflect on your progress every few weeks. Often, what feels like stagnation is just incremental progress that’s too slow to notice day-by-day. Journaling gives you a bird’s-eye view of your growth and helps identify patterns that could be holding you back. Bring your journal to your next class at our Woodland Hills martial arts school, and discuss your observations with an instructor. You’d be surprised what you might discover.
8. Trust the Plateau
Here’s the truth—plateaus are a sign that you’ve pushed yourself to the edge of your current capabilities. They’re frustrating, but they’re also proof that you’re making progress. Trust that if you stay the course, keep applying these strategies, and continue to show up at Cutting Edge Karate & Krav Maga, the breakthrough will come. The work you put in during these “stuck” phases is what separates those who quit from those who go on to achieve mastery. Keep pushing forward, and you’ll leave this plateau behind soon enough.
Final Thoughts
Plateaus aren’t the end—they’re just part of the process. They test your resolve and challenge your mindset, but they also build the grit and resilience needed for long-term success. Whether you’re training in traditional martial arts, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or Krav Maga, keep showing up, keep seeking solutions, and keep pushing forward. The breakthrough is coming.
In our next post, we’ll dive into the power of visualization and how mental rehearsal can enhance your performance and keep you progressing. Stay tuned, and get back to work.
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