“I thought constant exhaustion was just part of life—until Jiu-Jitsu showed me it wasn’t.”
Hello, my name is Tom, and this is how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helped me get over being tired and find my energy again.
I have always been the type of person who says “yes” to everything.
I did everything—work, family, and side projects.
I thought it would help me get things done at first, but over time it became too much.
I was always tired and had trouble concentrating at work.
I also did not know how to relax when I had free time.
“Burnout isn’t just about being busy—it’s about being drained from the inside out.”
I was worn out in every way by the time I was 38.
My hobbies were no longer fun for me, I had no energy to work out, and most days I felt like I was in a fog.
My mind would not stop going over all the things I had not done, even when I tried to calm down.
Then one of my coworkers told me I should try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I was not sure what rolling around on a mat would do, but I needed to get away from my thoughts.
“Sometimes, you don’t realize how stuck you are until you try something new.”
My first class was something I had no expectations for.
I was really scared because Jiu-Jitsu looked really hard, and I had not done anything physically hard in a long time.
Things started to click as soon as I stepped on the mats, though. It had been a long time since I had not thought about work deadlines or to-do lists.
I was only interested in learning the moves and staying out of the way.
“The mats make you forget about everything else; it is just you and the challenge in front of you.”
Jiu-Jitsu was just what I needed because of how physical it is.
I started working out twice a week, and every time I finished class, I was tired in a good way.
I realized I would been missing something important: the ability to disconnect and be present.
My mind felt clear, and my stress level went down.
“You get burned out when you never let yourself be in the present moment.”
Over the months, Jiu-Jitsu helped me start over.
It felt like I was myself again the more I worked out.
I had more energy, I could concentrate better, and I was able to handle my responsibilities better once I was not so tired.
“Finding something that fills you back up is what gives you balance, not doing less.”
After a year, Jiu-Jitsu is now a normal part of my life.
Not only do I want to stay in shape, I also want to find a place where the stresses of life do not follow me, learn new things, and spend time alone.
“Jiu-Jitsu gave me the space I needed to rebuild my energy and my sense of purpose.”
I can not say enough good things about Jiu-Jitsu if you are feeling stressed or burned out.
It is more than just a sport; it is a way to take a break, get to know yourself again, and find the strength to handle anything life throws at you.
“Sometimes all it takes is a new challenge to get back on track after getting burned out.”
If this story resonates with you—or even if yours is unique—we’d love to hear it! Want your story featured on our website? Send it to: ben@jiujitsu-news.com.
