The journey of BJJ is arduous, long, and not so linear. In fact, the saying is 90% of white belts quit before making it to blue belt. The odds are just as bad from blue belt to purple.
I’m still a (long-time) white belt but I’ve been through long, arduous journeys in dance and yoga so I have a grain of wisdom. Here are 3 truths to consider when you embark on this journey!
- You are not too ________ (fill in excuse) for BJJ. You’re not too old, big, small, girly, etc. Just start. Don’t wait until you’re in “better shape.” BJJ is for everyone. I’ve been lucky to have been a part of gyms that welcome every person (young/old, male/female, all religions, etc). If you find yourself at a place that is full of young guys with no diversity (this can be a red flag), try another gym. If you’re older and wonder if you’d do ok in this sport, check out BJJ blue belt jiujitsugrandma (in her 70s) and Betty, the owner of Roll Forever (in her 60s & just earned the elusive BJJ black belt)! These bad ass gals started much later in life and are still going strong AND competing!
- BJJ is hard! Like most sports, you have to gain experience and muscle memory to begin excelling. BJJ can kill the ego, especially for young guys who are athletic who find themselves getting submitted by females or smaller guys! You will feel like a grappling dummy, always on the defense, and you will get submitted a lot in the first few months (or longer, in my case). If you start your journey knowing you’ll lose a lot in the beginning, you’ll feel so much less pressure and be relaxed enough to enjoy (and maybe be impressed with) the losses.
- BJJ is expensive. It’ll cost you $100-300 (depending on city, family rates, etc)! Consider this: I spent $200-300 on running shoes plus hundred of dollars on race entry fees (plus hotel fees when I traveled for races) yearly! When I was younger, I used to pay $100+ in monthly coaching fees when I was a fitness competitor (not even counting gym membership)! For BJJ, we are paying for a service and self defense/sports skills that we can’t acquire any other way (live coaching/feedback/training partners). There are ways to work something out if payment is an issue: talk to the owner about biweekly payments, or ask about a work/trade agreement if you have a valuable skill they can use! There are some scholarships available (like Girls in Gis).
It is pricey and it is hard. For me, it is 100% worth it because it has been transformative. If you’re curious about martial arts, take advantage of the free trial! If you love it, find a way to make it work. If you’ve already started and feeling frustrated, just know it gets better once you get over the “hump”! There’s no pressure and no rush. Just try to enjoy your time on the mats.
