Is it necessary to compete in BJJ competitions? This is the question I touch on in this video.
The question comes from a younger viewer of the Chewjitsu channel who is curious about competing in BJJ. He’s been training Brazilian Jiujitsu for a bit and has been urged by his coach to give it a try.
But in the message he sent to me. He stated how unconfident he is and how anxious, nervous and unsure of himself he is.
So while it’s not necessary to compete. In his case my thoughts are that it’s absolutely necessary for him, in particular, to compete in a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competition.
The reason for this has nothing to do with medals or winning or losing.
Rather it’s about challenging ourselves. BJJ and other combat sports provide a means in which to test and challenge ourselves on a daily basis. BJJ competitions are one of the extremes of this.
Now let me add that Brazilian Jiujitsu is only one way to challenge yourself. You could choose other forms of exercise or art. But whatever you choose you need to challenge yourself.
To steal one of Seneca’s lessons in letter 13 :https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Moral_…
He says
“This is the touchstone of such a spirit; no prizefighter can go with high spirits into the strife if he has never been beaten black and blue; the only contestant who can confidently enter the lists is the man who has seen his own blood, who has felt his teeth rattle beneath his opponent’s fist, who has been tripped and felt the full force of his adversary’s charge, who has been downed in body but not in spirit, one who, as often as he falls, rises again with greater defiance than ever.
So then, to keep up my figure, Fortune has often in the past got the upper hand of you, and yet you have not surrendered, but have leaped up and stood your ground still more eagerly.
For manliness gains much strength by being challenged; nevertheless, if you approve, allow me to offer some additional safeguards by which you may fortify yourself.”
The way I interpret this is that we don’t know who we are or what we are truly capable. And we can’t be truly sure of ourselves until we’ve been challenged. Till we’ve been pushed to our physical and mental limits.
Along with this I share a story about my own youth, since our friend is a bit younger, and talk about how unconfident I was before Wrestling, BJJ and grappling in general. These things helped me deal with the fear of failure.
This video is all over the place. But I hope it’s helpful!
-Chewy
