Since starting Jiu Jitsu I have discovered that the sport reveals some truths about myself that I had not previously seen. I did not like all of these revelations but I try to learn from them every day and become a better person. Of course there are more than just 3 things that you find out about yourself but I’ll try to highlight the 3 things I think most people will relate to.
1. You are not as good as you think you are
I had a wrestling and a boxing background before I started Jiu Jitsu. “Oh how hard can this be?” I thought to myself. Well after getting tapped out for the third time in about five minutes I figured out exactly how hard it could be. People who come into Jiu Jitsu with massive egos do not tend to last. I had seen it in the wrestling room, but there is something about tapping out that seems to deal a real blow to some people’s egos. If you go into your first practice thinking you will be able to hold your own against anyone in the room you will be sorely disappointed. Being humble during training is a vital part to being successful in Jiu Jitsu. So trust me, you are not as good as you think you are!
2. You are better than you think you are
Now I know these two points seem contradictory but hear me out. Your first time rolling with someone can be a demoralizing experience, especially to those with big egos. However, if you set the ego aside you will find that you can actually be better than you thought. Your ego will limit your ability to learn and progress. Once you set it aside you will realize that you find learning easier and your potential can finally begin to be realized.
3. You must continue to advance your game and learn more
Even if you do not plan on competing this is a very important part of Jiu Jitsu. Expanding your mind is one of the main components of Jiu Jitsu. Also, your training partners will eventually figure out your go-to moves if you do not try to expand your game. This will allow them to more easily defend against your techniques. Learning new techniques also gives you more moves to attack with during tournaments. Whether you are competing or just training for fun trying new styles and techniques is very important to your development as a Jiu Jitsu practitioner.
