BJJ. 8 Things That I’ve Learnt During the First Year of Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

7 min readSep 27, 2022

If you’re an eternal white belt you only get better. The moment you believe you’re a master, your downfall is near. It’s like you’re closing yourself from new knowledge. In my head, I’m a constant, for-life white belt. — Renzo Gracie

Introduction

Somewhat about a year ago I walked into my first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class. It was not my first time in a martial arts club, thus the slippery tatami and the smell of way too many people getting sweaty in the same place did not bother me. Instead, what surprised me was the club’s positive atmosphere. Here people were smiling while choking others or getting choked themselves. Now that’s what I call attitude!

Needless to say, I stuck around, and about a year into my training I’d like to share some reflections about my experiences as a white belt.

1. Not all skills in martial arts are transferable

Even though I had previously trained in other martial arts such as boxing, karate, and taekwondo— none of that mattered when after I got pinned to the ground. Striking teaches you distance, timing, and precision. It shows you how to move while you are on your feet, but when you’re on the ground — the game plan changes. Needless to say, I didn’t feel comfortable in these troubled waters. I kept searching for ways to move in an unfamiliar setting by applying that which I already know — how to make distance. Unfortunately, that didn’t help me out much.

Jiu-jitsu teaches you how to move in tight spaces, how to create openings where all doors seem shut. Thus, sometimes it is good to unlearn some of your previous habits and keep them for a different setting.

2. Jiu-jitsu requires a different type of stamina

During the pandemic and long before that training was a big part of my life. A 10K run, 100 burpees or 20 sprints with rests only when jogging back were part of my weekly cardio routines. Also, I was familiar with boxing sparring sessions which usually lasted for around 12 rounds. Still, being crushed in an uncomfortable position by a 30 kg heavier guy while trying to escape this precarious situation requires a different type of stamina, the stamina that comes only from doing more free-rolling rounds.

Of course, my previous conditioning helped me out a bit against less fit opponents, but BJJ conditions your body in another manner. Thus, it is good to teach yourself to stick through the suffocating scenarios and not to get discouraged when being out of breath earlier than expected. It simply shows that you are learning how to use your energy: when to explode, and when to contract.

3. Vocabulary is important

While learning a new language you don’t start by speaking fluently. Rather, you learn simple words and basic grammar that ties it all into a certain beginner’s kit. The same goes for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

When you are just starting off, pay attention to the concepts that your instructors use to describe the various positions, escapes and submissions. Learn what is the difference between a full-guard and the side-control; what is a kimura and what is an armbar; what it means to shrimp, and what it means to scramble.

All of this will help you to follow the instructions and discuss them with other practitioners.

Also, as an added benefit, you will be able to Google or YouTube the moves that you’ve practised in class once you are back home. This will help to move some of the moves from your short-term memory to your long-term deposits.

4. Embrace the suck

Needless to say, the first year of learning anything new is not easy. As one of my instructors said:

“It took me more than 10 years to get my black belt. That was even harder than advancing in my career as a computer engineer.”

Nonetheless, don’t be discouraged. What is important is to show up regularly, give it your best, and try to get better a small step at a time.

Yes, there will be good days, and yes — there will be bad ones. Still, being bad at a new craft is not something terrible. It acts as a reminder that even if you are good at one thing, it doesn’t mean that you are an alpha at everything. Be humble, accept your predicament, and proceed from where you are now. As mentioned by J. B. Peterson:

“A fool is a precursor to the saviour.”

As you won’t be a fool forever, enjoy the time while you still are. Learning something new is a privilege, not a detriment. Thus, keep getting better!

5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

This ties in well with #3: Vocabulary is important. If you want to get better quicker, stick around after the class and ask the other practitioners or the instructors themselves questions about Jiu-Jitsu.

Maybe you want to know how to perform a certain move? Maybe you don’t understand why you can’t pass your opponent’s guard or why he or she passes yours? Or you always get submitted in a certain position and don’t know how to escape from it?

Observing is important, yet you can’t always see all the intricate details of what is being presented in front of you. That is why asking important questions at an appropriate time might help you to clear some of the fog about the practice and help you to develop quicker than if you were to remain silent.

Most people genuinely like sharing their knowledge. What is important is to be brave enough to ask for it.

6. If there’s a muscle in the body — it will ache. You’ll get used to it.

Jiu Jitsu challenges your body in a different manner than most of the other sports do. When you roll, your whole body is active and you use both the external and the internal muscles simultaneously. Needless to say, after the training you will experience soreness, but don’t let that stop you! Eventually, your body will adapt and you will get stronger as a consequence.

Injuries are another great issue. You might strain your fingers, twist your ankles or develop mat burns. That’s a part of the process. Don’t be discouraged. It takes a few months for your body to adapt to a new sport. After that, injuries and strains will be easier to avoid.

7. Focus on the flow.

Getting used to various (oftentimes not so comfortable) positions is a task that every Jiu-Jitsu practitioner has to learn. At first, different guards and controls might look unrelated, but the more you practice — the more interconnected they will become.

Every move leads to a variety of other moves and with time you’ll learn how to prune the unfavourable ones. Certain follow-ups are beneficial for certain scenarios, while other moves are good for other situations.

Role frequently, listen to your instructors, and you will develop a feel for what is appropriate for each of the positions. After that — you’ll know how and when to transition between them if the condition requires it.

8. Tapping is not a sign of weakness.

During the first months on the matts, you will have to learn how to tap. If your partners have been training for longer than you, without a doubt: smaller, weaker, and slower opponents will submit you. There’s nothing wrong with that, it simply shows that they have been rolling longer than you and have developed certain expertise that you yet haven’t. Tapping is a sign that you are learning. If you have time — ask your partner how he performed the given submission. Maybe he will even show it once more so you could take it into account, or explain how to avoid it next time.

On the same note, if you are rolling with an opponent who thinks that he or she is in a competition and must submit you at any cost — let the other person do that. Letting him or her have it may save you from an ensuing injury.

Jiu-jitsu is a marathon, not a sprint. If you want to show up the next day, don’t risk a broken bone or a fracture. Of course, sometimes these things are inevitable, but if you can avoid it— try and do so. There’s always tomorrow for a rematch.

“Those who have subdued their ego understand that it doesn’t degrade you when others treat you poorly; it degrades them,” says Ryan Holiday

Thus bottle down your ego, tap when necessary, and live to fight another day. ;)

In conclusion

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great sport not just for those who want to compete professionally, but also for those who want to learn new skills, strengthen their bodies, discipline their minds, and search for like-minded people. As women in BJJ can kick ass as well as men can, this sport is great for both sexes. Thus, if you are looking for a challenging, yet rewarding sport — Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu might be the right martial art for you. Yes, your body will ache, and even your ego might get bruised, but I promise — if you stick with it, you will learn more than you have first intended physically, psychologically, and socially.

Also, a big thanks to my BJJ instructors Rokas Naruševičius and Jari Antilla for patiently teaching us how to smash and avoid getting smashed! Best of luck to the A-Force BJJ family, and happy rolling!