Working Memory in Jiu Jitsu: a crucial yet rarely discussed aspect in training that can have great impact on your learning style, progress and retention.
Over the seven plus years I’ve been training , I would keep coming across difficulties that were very frustrating. Things that no matter how hard I tried, just did not change such as immediate loss of technique, difficulty following verbal instruction, and generally being slower than my counterparts (at least, that’s what it felt like).
Some things off the top of my head regarding my absent mindedness and how I struggle in classrooms of any kind
Forgetting technique or blanking out during the demo is not an unique experience. I chalked a lot of it up to not having enough experience, assuming the higher my belt the better my brain would get.
I was wrong.
Difficulties just got more noticeable to me, especially since I realized no matter who I was training with, I was going to have to ask them what happened and what we are doing. I found this really embarrassing—like, a blue, purple, brown belt should know.
I had all these arbitrary rules for myself about what I should look like and be to others on the mat, and this included being some all knowing, quick thinking, fast applying, memory retainer that never had a bad day. Which is a lot of pressure.
These memory issues though were not mat-dependant. People had always commented on my forgetfulness either out of jest or irritation. I’d lose my shit if I couldn’t find my keys which I’d left in the fridge, people would be hurt when I forget special dates, telling me how selfish I was. Isettled on the fact I was a forgetful asshole, bad roommate, a flakey free-spirit.
Common refrains Ive heard all my life
Not being able to explain your forgetfulness is one of the more aggravating things I’ve encountered. Lets be real: it’s deemed socially reprehensible and carries real world consequences in school and work.
I just bore up under this, but it is a cumulative effect, and when I was 37 I had had enough and realized this issue was not only impacting my self esteem, it was having impact on things at work and personal relationships over and over again—and thinking back, it was always present. Something had to be going on, it didn’t feel right.
In my Autism assessment, I learned what working memory and executive function was.
Basically, working memory is like your personal computer, holding information to be immediately stored, processed and applied—relying on other branches like your body’s timing, spacial awareness, imitation of technique. You as your own personal computer, only has so much storage capabilities so while you could completely forget what you were just told—if you had a prompt (or in this analogy, an external hard drive)—you could access those instructions with more ease. In cognitive psychology working memory can be an indicator for learning disorders, developmental disabilities and even acquired issues seen in traumatic brain injury as well as neurodegenerative disease. For me, it was assessing developmental and learning disorders.
Some argue working memory is different than short term memory in the sense that there is directed and managed use of the information in real time in working memory, and not just static thing of mentally retaining the information over a small period of time.
In my assessment I was administered a bunch of tests specifically for Memory, Processing, Visual Construction, scoring between below average to average, which started to build a picture for my clinician to help me understand my own brain and explain why I struggled intensely in specific areas. While I had an average result overall, these aspects are weighed in tandem to many other performances testings that scope language, attention, verbal fluency and inhibition that round out what my clinician called “a tour of your brain”, which then leads to appropriate diagnosis should you fit the criteria.
This is only a section of testing that was given at my 11 hour assessment.
Essentially, working memory is a massive multi-task dealing with problem-solving, impulse, evaluating, digestion of information, planning and action—the embodiment of what Jiu Jitsu is (at least to me). Plus, time restrictions.
Jiu Jitsu is about motor skills, cognitive tasks and heavily relies on working memory and aspects of executive function—as any sport does—but Jiu Jitsu excessively because of its fairly complex and immediate nature. I think a lot can develop over time into “muscle memory” but folks with slower processing speeds and weak recall can end up struggling immensely; “not getting it” as quickly as others in the room.
For me, having this information this has changed the way I both see myself and how I choose to train. In the past I have been commented on for not being ‘creative’ enough or ‘switching it up’ in light drilling or flow rolling, choosing to do one thing over and over and over again while others chain complex attacks and defences together. Before I would feel behind, but now, 7 years in, I stick to my basics which never suffer from more practice.
If we are shown variations to a move, I don’t tax myself by trying to remember all of it—I just do the one thing I was able to retain and tell my partner “Im just going to do this”. I cant recall an adverse reaction to my choice of training in this regard, people are usually supportive, especially now when I have started to talk about my memory issues openly. Folks are receptive, curious and also relate.
My first Jiu Jitsu painting in years. Ive struggled so hard to re-connect to my art ever the last years. I am very happy it is slowly returning as I regain a sense of life post-diagnosis.
I’ve also tried to chill from the rigid thinking of “I have this belt so I should know this”. Especially when we are asked to recall a technique after a short period of time. It is now actually documented that my brain is compromised in this task initiation. I cant tell you how good this feels to know. Before I felt I was always behind but now I accept I am on my own timeline. I will miss things, I absolutely will forget.
Lastly, since I also teach, I bring notes with me on the mat. I absolutely cannot teach with a visual aid or cues and initially I was embarrassed because I have never seen anyone else do this. It is really difficult to remember what I just taught, time sequencing, who partnered with whom—things seemingly essential to running a good class. But this is also where Im developing how I teach. I view the teacher-student relationship as reciprocal and I am more of a facilitator than director. That simply is going to help me become a better teacher and role model as I accept myself and encourage this idea of community knowledge and education on the mat, hopefully showing that needing visual aid and written reminders are helpful and not something to be ashamed about.
If you want to learn about working memory more in depth, Ive included a few resources and the internet has tons more. Ultimately, Jiu Jitsu has always been there for me and my relationship with it has drastically changed over the years as I have learned it’s really ok to take my time. The mats aren’t going anywhere.
https://journalofcognition.org/articles/10.5334/joc.58
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/basics/memory/working-memory
https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/working-memory/