One of the common themes associated with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the high number of people that quit. Previously, we have addressed similar issues here. Even seasoned practitioners at times will have feelings of doubt and commitment when it comes to training BJJ. In brief, practically everyone considers quitting BJJ at some point, but acting on these feelings is what separates black belts from the rest. Here are some of the reasons why people consider quitting BJJ and why they are normal.
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Why people feel like quitting (and why they sometimes do quit)
For the sake of ease, we won’t go over these reasons in great detail. However, the main reasons for wanting to stop training are: Boredom/staleness, Injury, Relationship change (marriage or kids), Changing Jobs, Finding new hobbies. There may be a few others to list, but for the most part, these are the key issues. When looking at the entirety of your adult life, the chances are you will experience some of these moments at some point. With this in mind, the likelihood is that it’s actually normal to desire to quit at some point.
For most, BJJ is a hobby and not a life devotion
This is probably the most important part of the list. Basically, about 99% of BJJ practitioners will not do it full-time. Even those who do earn an income from it may do so part-time, and then even some of the full-timers may quit at some point. This is ok, BJJ isn’t meant to be some kind of bizarre cult where you’re in for life. Because of this, people will think about quitting at various stages. You may even quit for a few years then return. Again, this doesn’t really mean anything or that you’re weak. Instead, it means that like many hobbies in life, things will come and go.
BJJ can get stale
Like any relationship, BJJ can have highs and lows. With this in mind, nothing is ever perfect. You may go through a rut, you may feel bored or think of quitting. Whether you do actually quit is completely up to you. As mentioned previously, this is a normal thing for many people. The point is, that the vast majority of people will question what they’re doing at some point and whether training is worth their time. Often, people will snap out of these thoughts at some point if they are in it for the long-term. Nonetheless, claiming you never get thoughts about quitting may not be true.
Some people genuinely never feel like quitting
This idea has been asked to the likes of Chewjitsu who said that he genuinely never felt like quitting. Whether he does feel like it one day in the future is unknown. However, for now he seems firmly in love with the gentle art. Again, this is completely fine and up to the individual. It doesn’t mean they’re more stoic or brave for having feelings of self-doubt though.
Simply put, some people view BJJ differently to others. Some will sometimes see it as a labor of love, whilst others will never get these feelings. In short, everyone sees BJJ differently and reacts to these ideas. Although there are some people who think like Chewjitsu, typically this isn’t common.
So, why do some people not quit?
As established, there are many reasons why people quit and there are some people who just don’t feel that way. However, let’s say you do want to quit at some point yet don’t go through with it. Why is this? Well, some people are more willing to stick things out when they down. This doesn’t make them particularly better or tougher, but it’s simply how some people think. With this quality, you’re more likely to stick around a few more weeks or months – and then from there, you may have changed your mind about quitting by then. It should also be noted that this group of people are a very small minority.
Summary
In summary, practically everyone will feel like ending their BJJ journey at some point. In fact, going by the numbers it seems most act on these desires and quit at some point. Even getting to purple belt is a massive rarity when looking at the figures. With this said, thoughts of quitting is very normal and you shouldn’t feel weird if this idea crosses your mind. Not only this but it’s completely up to you as to whether you do quit or not.
However, as we’ve also discussed, often people stay with BJJ for a number of reasons. The most common of these is due to genuinely enjoying training, or simply that they’re more willing to give things time before acting on feelings. For most people that have stayed though, the thought of quitting will eventually subside at some point.
