Overcoming the feeling of quitting BJJ is possible. Let’s be real—you’ve thought about quitting. Maybe it was last week. Maybe it was today. Maybe it’s on your mind right now. You show up, get smashed by a newer white belt, tap five times in a row, and think… “Why am I even doing this?”
Yeah. I’ve been there. The truth is, it affects all belt levels equally: white belts, blue belts, and also black belts. That feeling is completely normal, and it doesn’t mean you’re weak or incompetent.
If you are still considering quitting BJJ, consider these three simple fixes first. Thank me later.
1. You Feel Like You’re Not Improving
You show up. You train. You try your best. Despite your best efforts, the same move continues to trap you, leaving you wondering if you’re improving at all. And then the doubt creeps in:
- “Am I built for this?”
- “Why can’t I escape this position?”
- “Is the situation ever going to click?”
That’s the loop. And it’ll drain your motivation if you stay in it too long.
Here’s what helped me: zooming out.
Progress in Jiu-Jitsu isn’t fast. You won’t see giant changes in a week. But over months? Years? That’s when the magic shows up.
Write down your small wins. Seriously.
- “I didn’t panic under mount today.”
- “I lasted longer against that tough guy.”
- “I showed up—even though I didn’t feel like it.”
That stuff counts. A lot.
If you’re showing up, learning, and trying—you’re improving.
Even if you don’t feel it yet, you’re improving.
2. You Set the Wrong Expectations
When I started, I thought I’d level up fast. “Give me 6 months and I’ll be rolling like a savage.” 😂
Yeah… not how it works. Then I got crushed by a smaller blue belt, and my ego cracked in half.
Here’s the truth: If you expect to feel like a beast every session, you’re setting yourself up to quit.
Jiu-Jitsu isn’t linear. Some days you feel great. Some days you feel like a beginner again.
That’s normal.
If you anticipate that every outcome will be in your favor, you may experience burnout. Instead, expect ups and downs and commit to learning from every experience. You’ll last.
So don’t chase perfection. Just keep showing up. Ensure you progress gradually.
3. You Forgot Why You Started
Let’s take it back for a second… Why did you start Jiu-Jitsu? To get fit? To protect yourself? To find peace during a rough time? To prove something to yourself?
Please remember your reason. Write it down. Say it out loud. That “why” is your anchor when things feel shaky.
For me, Jiu-Jitsu clears my head. It helps me reset. No phone. No stress. Just focus. Just movement. That’s why I keep coming back—even when I want to quit.
Final Thoughts
Thinking about quitting doesn’t make you weak. It means you care. It means you’re doing something hard.
Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just physical. It’s mental. It’s emotional. It challenges your boundaries. If you’re still here reading this, it means you haven’t quit yet. And that means something.
Take a step back if you need to. Rest. Reset. But don’t walk away forever. You’ve already come this far. You’ve already proven to yourself that you’re not a quitter.
So take a deep breath. Tie your belt. And keep going. You’ve got this. 👊
Read Next: Overcoming the Frustration of Starting Jiu-Jitsu.
