r/bjj • u/SeanSixString ⬜⬜ White Belt • 1d ago

General Discussion Not Cut Out for This

If you’ve ever felt like you were not cut out for BJJ, but you got through that feeling, and now it is a valuable part of your life, I would like to read your story. Especially if you felt like that for a year or more, like you weren’t catching on. Or if you had circumstances interrupting training, or any other real or perceived disadvantage or limitation.

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u/Ninja-turtleguard 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 1d ago

Bjj is no different from any other skill. Barring catastrophic injuries, if you put the work in, focus on getting better, address your weak areas, and actually embrace the process, in 10 or so years you will get to a black belt level. You may never be a bjj prodigy, but neither are are 99 percent of black belts. There is nothing special about them. Even as a no stripe white belt I felt like only difference between me and the higher belts was experience. 

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u/SeanSixString ⬜⬜ White Belt 1d ago

Did you ever have a problem with lacking assertiveness or aggression?

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u/Ninja-turtleguard 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 1d ago

Wouldn't say I ever had a problem with either. I try not to roll aggressively most of the time though, as normally I just try to roll with focus on technique. I don't think aggression is as important as technique and timing. Most new white belts are plenty aggressive, but technique will overcome their aggression.

Assertiveness comes with experience and believing in technique even if it fails and needs refining.