Joy is an Essential Component of Long-Term BJJ Progress

Jiu-Jitsu is hard. Not every day or moment on the mats will be fun…and most won’t be easy, physically or mentally…but if your training lacks any joy or feeling of contentment on a regular basis, your longevity in the sport and your goal achievement WILL suffer! And, not to be the bearer of bad news, but for most people chasing medals is not the singular answer- because as soon as you run into a loss, there is nothing else to sustain you.

Where do you look for joy? Is it the people you are training with or connecting with through the sport? The endorphins from a great workout? Seeing small improvements or wins each week? Excitement from learning a new position or fix? A supportive coach or mentor? Special events, camps, or seminars to mix it up in between the grind of training camps? The more sources of small joys you have, the more safety nets you will have when things get tough.

When you have some time, take a few moments to make a list of the small things about Brazilian jiu-jitsu that make your heart feel good; it’s a good resource to have around when the inevitable plateau or string of tough practices come around.

Happy training all!