Let’s be honest: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is amazing… and it’s awful. It’s the sport that sucks you in, makes you fall in love with it, then kicks you in the face, the back, the ribs, and possibly the ego—sometimes all at once. But hey, that’s what makes it so great, right?
BJJ is the best and worst decision you’ll ever make in your life. The highs are high, the lows are ridiculously low, and somewhere in between, you’ll start questioning every life choice that led you to this point.
**1. “I’m Gonna Be a BJJ Master” vs. “I Just Got Subbed by a White Belt”
When you first start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you’re filled with the purest optimism. You watch some videos, maybe roll with a friend for fun, and suddenly you think, “I’m going to be a BJJ master in no time.” You’ve got this! You’re going to be tapping out everyone in no time!
Cue your first class. You get paired up with someone who has been training for six months, and within 10 seconds, they’ve got you in a submission you didn’t even know existed. Fast forward to two months later, and you’re still getting subbed by the white belts—who are mysteriously getting way better at this sport while you’re still figuring out how to breathe properly when someone is on top of you.
The face you make? It’s a mixture of confusion, defeat, and, if we’re being real, some serious regret. But it’s okay, because this is the sport that teaches you humility, right?
**2. “I’m in Shape” vs. “I Can’t Feel My Legs”
When you start BJJ, you tell yourself: “This is it. I’m getting in great shape.” After all, it’s a full-body workout, right? You’ve seen the muscles on those Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes.
So you train a few times, feel great, and by week two, you’re convinced you’re in peak physical condition. Then, you get a little too confident. You roll for an hour with someone who has absolutely no mercy, and suddenly you realize—no, I am not in shape.
The next morning, you can’t get out of bed. Every muscle you forgot you had is sore. You’re wincing when you try to walk. You made the mistake of thinking BJJ was just about arm locks and sweeps. But no, it’s about conditioning your body for pain—and you will feel it. But hey, at least you’re getting stronger… right?
3. The “I’ve Got This” Face vs. The “Help Me” Face
Before your first class, you feel good. You’ve got your gi on, your belt tied perfectly, and a whole lot of confidence (or at least, that’s what you’re telling yourself). You walk onto the mat thinking, “I can handle this. I’ve watched all the YouTube videos.”
Then comes that first roll. Suddenly, everything you thought you knew goes out the window. Your “I’ve got this” face quickly morphs into a full-on “please help me” expression as you find yourself getting swept, mounted, and trapped in a chokehold within minutes.
This cycle continues for months. You’ll start with the confident face, only to realize you have no idea what’s going on halfway through the roll. It's the most humbling experience of your life, and you’ll constantly be wondering why you thought BJJ would be fun at all.
**4. “I’m Going to Learn All the Techniques” vs. “I Still Don’t Understand How to Open the Guard”
When you started BJJ, you were determined to learn every technique, every move, every detail. You watched instructional videos, you took notes, and you even tried practicing your moves at home.
Fast forward six months. You’ve got a decent understanding of the guard, but when someone says, “Open the guard,” you freeze. What does that even mean? You remember you’re supposed to “break the guard,” but you have no idea how to do it. You realize you still don’t understand half the terminology, and you’re pretty sure your instructor uses words just to mess with you.
The good news? You’ve got a ton of time to learn all of this... because BJJ is a never-ending journey. The bad news? You’re probably going to look like a fish out of water for a while.
5. The Love-Hate Relationship with Tap-Outs
In BJJ, tapping out is a sign of respect. It’s a way of saying, “I acknowledge your skill, I’m not going to fight through this and risk injury, let’s start over.” But let’s be honest, after the third tap-out in the first 10 minutes, you start to question your life choices.
The “Oh, you’re going to tap me out again?” face happens regularly. You tap out, think you’ve learned a valuable lesson, and then... repeat. By the end of class, you’re on a first-name basis with the mat (and the tap-out position).
You’ll love BJJ, but you’ll also love to hate how often you end up tapping out. Just part of the process, right?
**6. “This is Fun!” vs. “When Does This End?”
You’ve been training for a few months now. You’re learning more and starting to feel like you’re getting somewhere. And then... that one day comes where the mat time feels way too long. Your legs are sore, you can barely breathe, and you’re sure that your partner is using 100% of their body weight against you.
Somewhere between trying to escape a submission and counting down the seconds until class is over, you begin to wonder if you really love this sport. It’s a classic case of “this is fun” turning into “When does this end?” But hey, you know you’ll be back tomorrow, because the love-hate relationship with BJJ is real.
Conclusion: BJJ—The Best Worst Thing You’ll Ever Do
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is full of moments that are both amazing and totally ridiculous—and that’s why we keep coming back for more. It’s the sport that humbles you, challenges you, and leaves you laughing at yourself along the way. But in the end, you’ll love the journey, even if you’re a little sore, a little frustrated, and still not sure what the guard is supposed to feel like.
Just remember: No one knows what they’re doing at first, and we’re all in the same awkward, sweaty boat together.
Ready to laugh at yourself while learning some serious skills? Come join us on the mats—your face will thank you later.
