Thanks Chris. As a white belt with less than 6 months. I needed to hear this.

Hey Chris, I searched "want to quit BJJ" and this is the first video that came up. Subscribed instantly. I'm a white belt, been training for perhaps 6 months, and tbh I want out. I'm sick of the pre class anxiety of knowing I'm about to get smashed. Recently felt like a blue belt put a cross collar on me so hard it felt like he was "asserting his dominance" as opposed to rolling, and I just hate feeling like a loser because of how vulnerable I feel after every class. All that being said, I'm going to try and just keep turning up. This video really helped, God bless you brother

I was at the edge before class yesterday. Three years, not getting better, getting passed over for promotions, getting old. Then, I told myself, it’s just exercise, go exercise. Then, I beat the guy who has been beating me every week for at least 2 years. Resoundingly. Today, I’m back up, ready to go smash.

I took 8 months off. I was a year and a half into bjj and I got my gf pregnant. I guess you can say I had my mid life crisis. I felt like shit not going to class. I Didn't tell anyone anything. I just stopped showing up. Quitting was the worst thing I ever did. I was scared to come back because of shame but my professor and academy welcomed me with open arms. I felt loved and missed by my teamates. I will never make the same mistake again. Now i have a healthy baby boy, a beautiful loving partner, great teachers and teammates.

I gave up few weeks back. Best decision i've made. I don't feel like shit all the time anymore!

I quit bjj for good roughly 10 years after my brown belt promotion. Miss training here and there, but overall I'm 100% fine with it. Got sick of extended layoffs, surgeries and physical therapy. Stopped being worth it to me.

Great video!!!! “Purposeful suffering” is super accurate. I embrace that. Makes you a better person and you realize you can do anything.

Thank you for making this video. I was looking for guidance on KZfaq and found yours. I’m really glad I did, because I needed to hear every word. Gonna save this one so I can always come back to it.

Very insightful comment: “There are so many good reasons to quit...but there are many better reasons to stay.”

So stoked I watched this. Thanks.

I decided to watch this because I couldn't help but notice my progress against everyone else after about 2 years at this gym. The guys who've trained with me since the opening of the academy have flown through their stripes into blue belt after 2 years and I'm still at 3 stripes. It's odd. After a sparring session today I quit half way after getting smashed when I thought I was learning and searched quit BJJ. These last few weeks I've been attending 3 times a week and still no notable progress. Thanks for providing me with a bit more hope.

Chris, I needed to hear this today. thank you for making this video

Just what I needed. Thanks🤙

I struggle with motivation every now and then. It comes and goes in cycles. It’s mostly mental. In the end I know that the end result of quitting is way worse than not

I went for 2 months last year and quit. That decision bothered me the entire year. I'm back now and with a better attitude. Sure, I'm fatter now but I suspect that won't be a problem if I stick with it.

I started a month ago and been getting my butt beat. Can't lie, its discouraging. I've contemplated quitting. But in my heart, I really don't want to quit. I would like to get better. I'm also older than most guys in the class.

Thank you for the video. I've been training for two years on and off with little progress. And even when I got visibly better, it didn't feel important to me. One of the things that changed between "day 1" and "day 100" for me was the purpose of training. I initially began training for three major purposes. To develop physical fitness, self defense skills and discipline. Now I became practically disillusioned about the second and third goals. Jiu Jitsu just doesn't automatically make you a good fighter or a disciplined person. I don't even know what can I realistically do in a fight if the opponent can punch me. My discipline hasn't gotten any better either. I skip jiu jitsu classes the same way I was skipping college classes back when I started to train. I'm as disorganized as I always have been. So the only reason I'm doing it now is for my physical health and strength. Jiu Jitsu is probably the best form of physical activity when it comes to both fun and long term benefits. But it's so much more difficult to do it when you don't believe in the other reasons. I want to ask if you also reconsidered your initial jiu jitsu goals and how did you deal with it. Because I'm having a very hard time convincing myself to get out there and train every time. Appreciate your advice.

This was really good advice....Im into it for about 10 months & always tell myself...why I joined....going back to day 1 is important because it took a lot for that person (me) to make it...I got injured & taken off, but that's part of learning about yourself, went to have just demo days & others to roll...the biggest enemy is not those you face but yourself.

It really depends on the COACH and students. If you like the class and coach its hard to quit. I hated the class and QUIT because I was learning nothing and getting beaten up. I am may try another gym soon but I am doing some MMA wrestling now

Good vid dude. Age 35 now, started jiu jitsu at 18, only trained sporadically, here and there throughout my 20s. Recently found myself able to get back into it (muay thai is my primary) was gonna go to class today. Got anxious about putting on the belt the right way, not remembering anything, don't know anyone in the bjj classes, only muay thai classes, annnd pussied out lol.

Great words! Thank you sir!

Been doing it for 3 months and never experienced the feeling of such slow progress.

I would love to hear updates on all the stories posted here 2 years ago!

Excellent video 100% correct 👍 I get back 10 x more than what I put in it ✨🙌 JiuJitsu is life changing 💥👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😊😊

I make the same mistakes every day I roll. I’m 140 5’7 only 17, and the bigger guys beat the sh*t out of me. I can’t do anything. I try to be as smooth as possible and they just put muscle on me. It’s not even fun I don’t even see any improvements

Thoughts of quitting after last night. A practice choke immediately made my throat sore and kept waking my up all night. Concerned for my throat!!

I already quit. In order to practice jujitsu, you need to be very flexible and really strong, both of which I am not. Students were not really nice and avoided rolling with me due to my lack of experience and for not being as strong as they were. Maybe one day, when I will get flexible and strong, I will restart.

This resonated ON POINT. Though every time the coach referred only to men and guys and boys I was left wondering if he trains any female students? This insight is true for those women training jiu jitsu as well. Im a female (beginner) martial artist and I love this sport even on the days when I want to think I hate it.

I've been training in Karate for 27 years, muay-thai, kickboxing, no-gi bjj for mma for 8 years. I'm 36 now and I joined a bjj school 8 months ago. The gi grappling is so much different than what I'm used to. I seem to get a lot more injuries and getting smashed. I have gotten a lot better at gi grappling, but balancing my full time job, family, home chores and teaching Karate and kickboxing has really been hard and exhausting. Just last week I was wondering how much longer I could keep it up and planned on dropping out next month. After watching this video it really reignited my passion for jiu-jitsu and I went to open mat this morning and rolled for 3 hours both gi and no gi. I talked with my instructors and they gave me encouragement. Thanks for the video, bro. I'm subscribed now 👍👍

I've been constantly relocating across the united States since I started training. Sometimes I either can't afford BJJ or there's just nowhere to train, so I'll be somewhere maybe training six months, then I'm moving away again. I've been practicing off and on for years and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere because of constantly restarting. I just started up at a new gym, it's week 3 and I'm just stale mating everyone and holding out on defense. I'm not getting submissions unless it's someone significantly smaller inexperienced. I'm kind of on the fence of quitting. I don't want to feel like a giant joke on the mats. I'm glad I found this video though, lots of food for thought.

This video came up on my feed for some reason. For that person thinking about quitting, why? Why did you start in the first place? I've been doing this for over half my life now. I'm 26 for reference. I've never won a gold medal since 2011. I've competed hundreds of times since then. Literally. I'm looking at a knee replacement at 26 years old. In the middle of rehabbing a bad injury now, 3 weeks so far and months to look at no BJJ. I can't wait to train again. I know I'm crazy, but I come back because it makes a better person. And it's introduced me to the people I consider my best friends and now an extended family. Everyone that's left training for good, I miss, someone I thought was a friend gone never to be seen again

55 year old 1 stripe purple (Royce’s line) - really superb video - strikingly articulate, organized, and to the point - just subscribed…I’d say lifetime pursuit of efficiency and leverage…what do you think 🤔?

I quit because I was 46 and everyone was younger. I had pain that doesn't go away. I lost a lot and injuries just keep getting worst. I had training partners who went hard even though I didn't.

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My gym had a really bad issue with favoritism and would often yell techniques to them as they lost did it for 3 years tried to use it as a way to get better for myself but whenever you go and sit for a hour without being able to practice is a issue sense you're not with the favorites so I left after I became more violent and actually trying to hurt someone.

I grew to dislike the culture. Perhaps I need to find a new home. My body is fine and ready. I just lost culture spirit.

Curious, if there a time frame you see where most people quit? 3 months? 6 months?

So I've never actually thought about quitting jujitsu but I've definitely had moments where I've asked myself. What the hell am I doing? Am I ever going to be any good? Am I just wasting everybody's time but consistency and repetition helps build skill. Also a bad day on the mat is better than not being on the mat at all

BJJ hasn't change my life , infact its made it go backwards . Coaches dont want you to quite as it then stops their revenue streams and systems . It's a business like sports .

At lot has to do with the coach and class structure, my boys started taking classes about two months ago, they have them roll with different kids in different levels, he will demonstrate some techniques at the beginning, but that's it, I don't know if he's supposed to follow like a guideline or curriculum in from the start, my kids haven't learn the names of the techniques yet, I don't know sometimes, they like it but Im afraid they'll get hurt one day, some other kids don't care that they're beginners.

2:57 - 3:04 *BEST SUMMARY EVER!!*

Been doing it for roughly 3 years still feel like im not improving despite the fact that some say yo got better, still it felt not right, others getting ranked up a belt while starting together but me still white. A black belt finally told me youre too stiff and i get the feeling you dont know what youre doing, you should knew this longtime ago these are the basics... Hhhh Sometimes i wanna quit but i love bjj, its my second home, but im also in a struggle with myself. Some days i feel i rolled really well, and others are like pff trash day to forget.. But 3 years man, im a slow learner so that might be it.. I just hope my brain will connect the dots one day

I’m a purple belt and I feel ground down to a nub. It’s hard to keep going when you feel like you are getting smashed by everybody and stuck in a rut. Feels like I don’t belong in my gym. Or I did but am getting left behind. Idk.

Feeling wrecked and hurt 24/7, being too exhausted to get through my day, taking extended time off for injuries large and small are why I stopped. Proper rest, massages, sleep, stretching, rehab and STILL getting hurt? That was me. Watching all my training parters rotate in and out due to injuries just isn't worth it. Is BJJ amazing? Hell yea it is, but at what cost?

i'm about to quit but just quit training at my current academy. I have a dummy to train on but I will also just drop in to different gyms around the world. better to spread spending the money around to other gyms than to just one gym. I like the idea of being a white belt forever and just building up my skills over time as a Ronin. Besides, all the blackbelts at my gym tell me that belts don't matter.

I love Bjj but at age 46 the injuries just keep piling up. Neck mainly and it sucks so bad. Plus I just get my ass kicked by 22-28 year olds who just train nonstop. I don’t care about the losing, it’s the idea that I’m one roll away from an injury that will keep me out of work for months. Not worth risking it, not fair to my family. Wish I knew about Bjj sooner

god damn, im a white belt trying bjj to eventually transition to mma from kickboxing. but training along side kickboxing means 6 days a week sometimes and my body isnt recovering enough. any advice? i have tendon pain in my elbows

Reasons I QUIT at PURPLE. I’m a purple belt who’s been training for 10+ years. I’m 28 now. I’ve always been top dog. Here are the reasons I quit. *time- I have a daughter now and a life lol. I’m growing a business. Growing in other areas of life. Jiu jitsu takes up a lot of time. Don’t be a black belt on the mats and a white belt at life. Injuries- injuries are not worth it. Neck, back, knees…. There are better ways of keeping in shape that will keep you from needing expensive surgeries that will take a toll on you financially, mentally and physically. Infections- ring worm, staph infections Cult environment- grown men celebrating a piece of tape…. I’ve been there. It’s a false sense of accomplishment. A piece of tape or a different color belt shouldn’t determine your value as a person. I’ve tapped out black belts since I was a blue belt. I don’t have anything else to prove to myself. Practical use of jiu jitsu- in a world full of knives and guns. Jiu jitsu should only be kept on the mats. In the modern world you should use your intellect to keep yourself from provocative situations and if you need to defend yourself and have no way out: use a 9mm. Try rear naked choking a crack head who’s biting chunks off your arms…. Gym Drama and lack of connection with other members- no matter where you go there will be gym drama: there are so many older married men at my gym who are trying to take advantage of new female white belts in their early 20s. It’s made me lose respect for the bjj community. Lack of good instructors and fake black belts- self explanatory Cost- on average I would spend 150-250 a month on bjj. Invest that into a mutual fund and you’ll have a house paid off in the amount of time it takes to obtain a black belt. However You shouldn’t quit because you’re frustrated. If you are still enjoying it then keep with it. Hope this helps you make your decision.

But what about having cauliflower ears? Don't really want that...

See, this is one of the reasons why i resent jiu-jitsu, yeah ots a hreay behicle for self improvement and all that ect ect but i need also be my own personal nutritionist, doing strenth and conditioning and mobility work, all the shit that goes into sleeping well and recovering. And thats on top of the training. Im 5 years in, a putple belt from a great school, i don't regret jiu-jitsu at all, not one bit. But im really just over the whole thing

I quit as brown belt because the financial problems. I just didnt make money in Jiujitsu and had to get a normal job.

Umm were to start. Lol. Came back after 5yrs. A white belt 2 strip at that time. Felt like a scam. Wasnt going up in rank. Then life happen, marriage, house ect. So after 5yrs i came back. Started to watch KZfaq off BJJ and the motivation vid.And the BJJ Vib. Calling me back. I gatta go back. Lol. So now that I'm here. Broke finger. Lower back pain from being in the EMS/ fire dept 20+ years. 55 yrs old and im getting the funck again! Dam. Like maybe im to old for this shit. But in the inside man love BJJ. What i learn was go for the ride no matter what. Cool. Just having a hard time right now. Not going to training some days. Help #just a white belt 2 strip.

I'm fine with the injuries, fine with getting my ass repeatedly kicked every class, fine with the cost and time commitments. What I'm not OK with is scabies. I picked that up in class, despite taking every precaution, and I think I'm done now. I have a job where I work in close proximity to other people, so I can't afford to be catching stuff like that. It sucks because I love BJJ and it's the most fun I've had doing a martial art, but I can't let it jeopardize my livelihood.

I'm not about to quit, but I do think BJJ has some culture problems that should be addressed. 1) for a sport that emphasizes live sparring so much, the fact that protection gear is scoffed at by most people is crazy. 2) as a 3 month white belt, we have not had a single instruction on how to tap. Seems simple right? But in back control positional drilling yesterday, when both arms are straight jacketed, how am I supposed to tap when I cant move my arms or breath and the guy is wondering if he has the choke locked in right so he squeeze's harder? well I asked on reddit, and they said tap with your feet. Problem is, most white belts don't know that and may not even know to respect that or what the guy is even doing. That's dangerous af. 3) sparring should almost never be at 100% and as a white belt, with other white belts its almost always at 100%. We get very very little direction about this. I was taught training other things that the most important thing about training is being able to train tomorrow. We lose a lot of people to dumb shit like this. Most people getting straight jacketed into a choke and feeling like they cant tap will never come back after that class bc its not a good feeling. BJJ people have a kind of almost masochism. Its like they feed off of the energy of the people who quit, it makes them feel tougher.

Reason I want to quit: I get gassed in drilling.. not even rolls.

2:17 No No No No No No doH!

Are you Greek by chance?

Oss

A shame. You're about 48 minutes from me. Otherwise I would pick your school. You make a lot of intellectual sense.

I was a white belt when I felt like quitting. Came across this video, fast forward 18 long days and I am now a 3rd degree black belt. . . . . . Just kidding. Loved the advice! Thanks for that.

The whole "is this a no gi class?", "no its a gi class" thing confuses the crap outta me xDD

This man listens to Jordan Peterson

I'm the older guy in the class 34 there's like one kid in class I can beat and possibly one other kid cant tell for sure i got an injury so he perhaps his legs around my waist where where my injury is so I was like oh I give up I got up try to reset But yeah I get it it's really discouraged and especially if you're facing a Blue Belt or someone much higher is like everything I try he blocks blocks everything I throw at him I only know a couple of moves on the stand up and on the ground and he's stronger than me and he's bigger than me I felt hopeless I don't even know why my teacher tries to mach me up with this blue belt when there's two other white belts that I could have been paired up with granite that was only four of us however the teacher could have took on the Blue Belt and I feel like it made me feel hopeless and it made me very discouraged and trying to go again I don't feel so discouraged when I face other white belts and then the blue belt guy he's cool as s*** but he be making like sides like comments and s*** like snotty comments being like oh you know I'm glad you at least here even though you don't really know what you're doing but at least you're here talking all that s*** in reality I think if he wasn't stronger I could take him right out The only reason why I'm still considering training is because I feel that when I go into these tournaments there's only going to be a 10 lb difference between me and my opponent which gives me hope that I can do well in a tournament The rolling classes different and let's face it most of the time the small guy will not get a win on the larger opponent you only become the best fighter in the class if you have the strongest techniques are one thing but brute force is another