Competing as a Beginner In Jiu Jitsu

The truth about competing

There is a big emphasis on competition for lower belts. 

You are not missing out on anything by not competing. 

If you wish to experience sparring with new people, simply pay the drop in at a different school.

For a rare few competition may have some benefit, but for most it will not, especially for lower belts.

It is not some extraordinary feat to best another beginner. 

If you observe for long enough you will see that those who win tournaments are often not the best at Jiu Jitsu, they are just better competitors.

They are not necessarily more skillful, but rather less affected by the pressure, stress and environment of the tournament than their opponents.

Should you compete? 

Those who should are those who feel as though they have no choice but to compete. 

Just as how water has no choice but to be wet.

If you are asking if you should, then you may not be one of those individuals and are considering competition for secondary incentives and cosmetics.

Wishing to receive something from competing is not bad, it just creates problems, most notably interference from accessing the totality of your talents and abilities.

Should that individual begin to feel themselves losing, or when they have won but have several matches ahead of them to win, they may want out, and not perform.

Should an individual desire to be the one who feels they have no choice but to compete…

It won’t be found in sports psychology, “BJJ mental models”, or trying to imbibe the advice or mindset of someone else— even that of a champion.

It may arise without effort as a side effect when understanding the obstacles preventing it from arising naturally.


This problem is no different at white belt than at the black belt world championships.

Even competitors at the highest level reach a point in the competition when they realize that even if they lose, they will still receive bronze, and stop giving it their all. 

They have subconsciously accept defeat before their next match has even started.

They compete for the status, the medal, or title— not for the purity of the fight itself.

Rare is the person who competes just for the sake of competing.

Competing can be fun and thrilling.

But most pay a lot of money to chase an idea of what winning may bring them

Risking significant injury which may prevent them from working, or end their Jiu-Jitsu journey entirely.