This Is Really Obvious (But I Still Forgot About It)

Once I left a gi in a jeepney* when I was in Manila, Philippines. I realized I had lost my gi after getting off the jeepney.
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(*Jeepneys are modified jeeps used like buses and common means of public transportation in the Philippines.)
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Once I was in Isfahan, Iran. I almost left my gi at my accommodation. This time, I didn’t lose my gi, but it was close. I noticed I didn’t have my gi with me before catching a bus to another city. I guess I became wiser after my Manila experience.
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My latest episode of forgetting to bring my gi was a bit over a year ago when I was back in Japan. When I arrived at an open mat session at Paraestra Tokyo, I discovered that I had left my gi at home. It would take me about 1 hour and a half to get there door-to-door. I didn’t even have my no-gi stuff. So I just left and headed home.
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I don’t remember leaving my gi on any other occasions in my two decades of BJJ career, but I suppose it did happen from time to time before as well.
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BJJ gi looks like such an obvious item, and it may be hard to believe someone might forget to take their gi with them… but it does happen.
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I suppose it happens when we are fixated on or distracted by some other things.
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This mental state happens to us when we’re playing BJJ as well.
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You might be attacking your opponent with triangle choke… and not notice that there’s an obvious opportunity for switching to armbar because you’re too focused on making your not-quite-working triangle choke work.
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It might be way better to go for armbar in that situation instead.
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You have to know what your potential big opportunities are in major positions and make sure to grab them when such opportunities arise rather than forgetting about them.
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Some of these opportunities can be as big as your gi if you pay attention 🙂