If you’ve trained Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for more than five minutes then you’ll be aware that many people quit. In fact, it’s quite clear that most people quit. This is mostly observed at blue belt where many seemingly committed people end up quitting. Similarly, it goes without saying that most white belts don’t even make it to a year of training. However, does anyone quit Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a black belt? This is a question that is rarely asked. Perhaps the reason for this is that most people that stick around BJJ don’t outlast BJJ black belts…if that makes sense.
Below we shall look into detail why BJJ black belts quit training and how common a black belt quitting BJJ actually is.
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Yes, many black belts do quit BJJ at some point
It goes without saying that most people quit training BJJ at some point. There are many reasons for this as will be discussed below. However, the obvious point is that most people don’t stay in a hobby forever. This is even more unlikely considering how hard BJJ is on the body. It’s not like knitting which is an activity that can be done in old age.
With this in mind, most black belts do quit at some point. Even if many don’t completely quit, some people will literally train a couple of times per month, which is a big drop off in hours compared to their training schedules as a lower belt. Remember, life often gets in the way of training – and in this sense, black belts are no different from anyone else.
Some black belts quit shortly after getting promoted
We’ve all seen it happen – some people seem very committed to BJJ, only to quit weeks after getting their blue belt. The reason for this is probably because their main goal in BJJ was getting the rank of blue belt. Like finishing a video game, once this goal has been fulfilled – they decide to quit.
Although less common, the same does happen with the black belt. You would think that someone wouldn’t be as vain to sink a decade into a hobby, only to quit shortly after getting their black belt. Surely, it means more than just the status? Although this is the case for most people, you’d still be surprised. Some people just want a black belt and once getting it, they feel lost or complete – resulting in them quitting BJJ completely.
Why BJJ black belts quit training
Like everyone else who quits BJJ, black belts do so for the same reasons. Often, this involves quitting due to a change in your personal life such as having kids or a family, or due to getting a promotion at work and now being busier than ever. Aside from these life events, the other main reason is due to injuries. As mentioned earlier, BJJ is tough on the body and catches up with us all. Even if you make it into decades of training, the reality is that your body will start to slow down at some point. Time catches up with us all.
In short, those who make it to black belt are typically more committed to BJJ compared to others. However, time will test even the most committed at some point. Remember, they may be skilled at BJJ but black belts are humans too who will struggle with other stuff in life like all of us. As well, if you’ve done a hobby for decades then at some point, there’s a real possibility that you’ll get the urge to quit.
If you don’t teach or own a gym, you’ll probably quit
One subtle observation with black belts is that most quit within five years or so of getting their black belt. The only way of stopping this is if a black belt starts regularly teaching, or goes one step further and owns their own gym. The obvious reason for this is that by teaching, they have a real commitment to students which lessens their chance of quitting. Similarly, if someone creates their own gym then it shows a true commitment – and a financial dependence on staying in BJJ.
For everyone else, it seems that the enthusiasm leaves at some point within five years of getting a black belt. Of course, there’s always an exception to the rule and some people are happy to continue training just like they did as a white belt. Nonetheless, these examples are quite rare.
