Where is My Mojo Part 2 - The Plateau

Last week, I spoke about the common, recurring phenomenon where someone makes a new, positive life change, is excited by that life change, sticks with that change for a while but gets derailed at some point and finds it very hard, maybe even seemingly impossible to get back on track.

There is similar phenomenon - actually, let's call this one a "paradigm' though - where someone has managed to make it through the first issue but has now been adhering to this new exercise program, or whatever the positive life change is, for a while but feels like they have plateau'd on some level. At first, they were noticing rapid changes and results, staying engaged with the program, broke through the initial mojo drop, continued on but feel like things haven't been progressing any more.

To some degree, plateau-ing is gonna happen. When you initially start a program and you're learning, things can change quickly. As you get deeper into it, the changes come slower and sometimes in spurts vs. a steady climb. It's not always a bad thing either. A plateau stage is sometimes where we unconsciously need to gather the physical and mental resources to take that next climb. But maybe you feel like you've been in that plateau too long and want to break on through.

Breaking through the plateau is highly dependent on what your program is and what your goals are. Specific to boxing, there was another old post of mine which discusses this in general - https://theboxingmanifesto.blogspot.com/2022/03/are-you-comfortable-boxer.html - and it can certainly relate to other exercise programs as well.

Once again, this is a good time to check in with your goals. Have they changed at all? Are you looking to build more strength, more speed, whatever? Then ask yourself why. Why do you want these things and what will you do with them? You have to care that the changes will happen. From there, you need a modified plan. What is going to get you to those goals? You may get there doing things exactly the way you're doing them now but it will likely be slower than it needs to be. 

There are so many different variables here but I will give you an example: let's say you want to develop more power in your punches. And let's say you have listened to me talk about all the different ways to get more power (using lower body, explosive movement, no steady state punching, proper loading, creating the whip effect, etc. etc.) until the cows come home and have gotten better but now you seem to be stuck at a certain point. You may benefit from some supplemental strength work that translates to boxing. Medicine balls, kettlebells, lever presses, bounding, box jumps and beyond. Whatever you do needs to get folded into a periodized plan of some sort, allowing for improvements in overall strength and motor function. In this particular instance, the plan would not want to necessarily target significant gains in muscle mass for boxing but if this was part of your overall fitness goal, it would be easier to tweak. And again, this is just one example out of many. with the unifying principle of creating a plan for getting where you want to go, on the micro and macro levels. Otherwise, it is just a wish.

When it comes to the mental part, staying engaged with your program after you've been doing it for a while, sometimes that example above works here too. A while ago, I decided my jab sucked and went on a little mission to make it better. I experimented with a few things, did a bunch of drills and lo and behold, my jab got snappier and I mostly got rid of my tell (although I notice it still happens if I am talking while punching - see if you can spot it). Anyway, it was kind of fun and at the very least, focused my attention on something specific to work on. If you need ideas, let me know! 

Another thing that might help in the case of boxing is actually watching more boxing and combat sports in general, if you don't currently. And if you do currently, maybe taking a deeper dive into studying a particular fighter. Figure out what they do and maybe even try to emulate. Change up your style a little bit. This may make you feel a little uncomfortable though, as mentioned in the Comfortable Boxer post. Be okay with that. Whether it ends up being a change you adopt full time or not, you will learn something and it will keep your mind engaged.

When it comes to boxing, never think that you just are who you are and will never be any different. I have never been particularly fast and it's hard to imagine that I ever could be now as I approach my 50s but that's not true. I could do it if I made it my focus. At the very least, I could get quicker. And if I can do it, you can do it too! We just need to turn our wishes into plans!!