Mapping it out

Satrting out in BJJ, particularly for in the first two years, can be a daunting task. Most beginners go through s stage where they have too much information but cannot seem to apply (or even remember) any of it. This is the FRUSTRATION stage.
My advice to my studnets, as they go through this stage, is to think of it like moving to a new city. At first it can seem overwhelming - everythings new and it's easy to be lost and confused. But how do we normally deal with that type of situation - simple: we make a map. We start by understanding the relationship between where we live and the center of the new city we have just moved to. The we slowly fill out that map by learning how to get from our home, to those places we most often need to frequent: the bank, the post office, the school, etc. So we develop an ever-growing series of LANDMARKS - places that provide us with a reference - places of familiarity in an otherwise confusing landscape.
As time goes by, we fill out our map; gradually becoming familiar with larger and larger potions of the territory until even when we become 'momentarily' lost, we can more easily find our way to a familiar landmark and GET BACK ON TRACK.
This is also the way we acquire a new language - or skill in BJJ. Start slowly, develop one or two FAMILIAR LANDMARKS - and build from there. it won't seem so overhwhelming that way - and you will always have something to build upon.
Map the territory - know your way.
JBW