I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 5 years.
On July 7 2021, I drank the Kool-Aid. Since then? This sport has taken me around the world… I’ve trained in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Middle East, and more. I’ve learned from some of the sport’s most accomplished practitioners and have even had the privilege of coaching kids and adults.
While there’s been countless experiences I could share, a few life lessons stand out the most to me during my half a decade training BJJ.
5 Life Lessons From Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 5 Years
I’ve been documenting the journey over the years.
As a result, you can see the progress below. The idea of seeing how far I’ve come is a motivating (and nostalgic) driver that keeps me going on this path. You gain a strong sense of progress when you can look back and see the ground you’ve covered.
That’s why I continue to document this journey year after year.
Check out my BJJ journey in the articles below:
- My Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Journey: 3 Life Lessons I’ve Learned From 1 Year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- My Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Journey: Life Lessons After 2 Years Of Training And Earning My BJJ Blue Belt
- My Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Journey: What I’ve Learned From 3 Years of Martial Arts Training’
- My Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Journey: Reflecting On The Life Lessons From 4 Years Of BJJ Training
1. Focus on Your Journey
When I started training BJJ 5 years, I started at the same time as many other guys.
We came up together. Side by side. However, something curious began happening over the years. Even though we all started training within a week or 2 of each other, major gaps began forming in our skill levels over time.
I noticed that some guys didn’t develop as quickly as I did, and sort of trailed behind me in their development and growth as practitioners.
Conversely, others guys who, again, started around the same time, shot ahead of me and improved waaay faster than I did. This brought the idea close to home that you can’t focus on and compare yourself to other people’s journey.
It’s unique to them just like your journey is unique to YOU.
2. Enjoy the Moment
Back in my white belt days, I felt this urge, this compulsion to get away from that chalky piece of fabric around my waist as quickly as possible.
In other words, I didn’t want to be a white belt. I hated being a beginner, the one who constantly got smashed every class, the one who didn’t know what he was doing. (News flash: I still get smashed and I still don’t know what I’m doing a lot of the time).
As a result, I wanted my blue belt ASAP.
And then when I finally got it 2 years later, sure, it felt cool for a while… But then I started craving that purple belt. And then THAT became the next goal post. While it’s good to have goals, it can take away from the enjoyment of the moment if you place your objectives as the main reason why you’re doing XYZ.
Why? Because it’s NOT ABOUT THE GOAL. It’s about the process, the journey, the experience on your way to the goal.
That’s where the dance of life really takes place. That’s where all the juice is. As a result, I’ve learned that no matter where I am in life, I need to slow down and savour the moment. Because I know that once I get to where I’m going, a new horizon will present itself.
And the pattern will repeat all over again. Such is life.
So BJJ has taught me to really enjoy the moment toward my goals rather than making the goal itself the be-all, end-all.
3. Success is a Process
Every time I got my face smashed in the mats, or my body compressed by a man twice my size, or my arms contorted into positions I didn’t know was possible, I was going through the process.
And that eventually strengthened me mentally and physically.
It gave me a semblance of skill in the sport. And it helped me develop more confidence in the real world. I owe it all to the process of training BJJ 2 to 5 days a week for 5 years.
Here’s the weird thing though… I actually enjoyed it.
I loved the intensity, the pain of the physical exertion, the joy of pushing myself, the feeling of growth along the way. And I wouldn’t have stuck with the sport for 5 years if that weren’t the case.
So many people are looking for the outcome when what they SHOULD be looking for is process. A process they actually enjoy. Because if you become immersed in something that lights you up, success becomes a natural byproduct of your enthusiasm for that thing.
4. There’s a Value in Just Showing Up
I can’t tell you how many times I would rather sit in front of the TV than go to jiu-jitsu.
And honestly? I feel that compulsion more the older I get. But as I continue to force myself to train, a noticeable quality becomes more ingrained in my personality: The trait of commitment and consistency.
And this is the value of just showing up. You don’t have to be at 100% all the time. But you do have to be present. You have to participate in life. And BJJ has taught me the value of just showing up. Why? Because that habit in one area has bled over into other areas.
I show up every day when it comes to other habits like eating healthy, journaling, drinking water, developoing new skills, growing my reserve of knowledge, maintaining my relationships, etc.
BJJ has created a ripple effect in my life by showing me the value of just showing up.
5. There Are No Shortcuts
I don’t like cliches.
They’re boring, trite, and unoriginal. But I guess they’re that way because they’re true. The mats don’t lie. If you’ve taken gaps in your training, it becomes obvious. Your skill on the mats is a direct reflection of the time you’ve put in.
And this is analogous to life.
Depending on the goal in question, it is going to take a certain amount of skill development, knowledge acquisition, or relationship building to achieve it. You can’t shortcut the process.
If you do, you’re only cheating yourself because RESULTS don’t lie.
BJJ has taught me that nothing comes unless you’ve earned it by becoming the type of person who attract it. There are no shortcuts to success. Do the work. Put it in the time. That’s how you win.
Final Thoughts From Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 5 Years
After 5 years of training BJJ, I can say that I’m in for life.
The interesting thing is that I had a feeling that would be the case the day I signed up. It’s weird how sometimes you just know. This sport has become a fixture in my world, and it will stay that way for the remainder of my days.
Here’s the next 5 years of training.
