The Key to BJJ Success – Showing up

By Fanatics Authors, June 23, 2018

A few years back, I remember hearing that the BJJ documentary “Roll” had been released. I rushed home to watch it that night after training. If you’ve never seen it, check it out below.

The film is a great look at some of the history of BJJ, and how its inception in the US took place. There’s a particular quote that has stuck with me ever since. Chris Haueter is a large contributor to this documentary, and there’s a point where he says, “it’s not who’s good, it’s who’s left.”

What does that mean? To me, it means that our presence and commitment to BJJ carries more weight than any accolades, medals, or belts we hold. The great competitors of BJJ push our sport to evolve, and have become the familiar faces of BJJ, setting standards, creating new techniques, and leading the charge for the recognition it deserves. But this is not the only way to be successful and contribute to BJJ.

If you are young, strong, and athletic, those attributes will eventually dwindle. If you are a decorated competitor in the prime of your career, that too, although admirable, will not be the case forever. We cannot rest our worth on the fickle. There has to be a greater purpose.

Be a pillar at your academy. Be the face that everyone knows. There are those in my journey that have been on the mat since before I started, and still continue to train. In the face of everything that life, and BJJ has thrown at them, they continue to be a constant. I have a great deal of respect for these heroes of the mat. They have endured serious injuries, life changing events, and tough losses They’ve grappled with the ego and have learned to tame it. There is something special about them, and there is much to be learned from these great leaders.

So how do you judge your success in BJJ?

Success in BJJ is not stopping. If you’re on the mat, you are succeeding.

Learn more from OG Chris Haueter with his Old School Efficient BJJ course from BJJ Fanatics. People like Chris Haueter have probably forgotten more jiu jitsu than most of us will ever know. Check it out today!

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