Where Dreams Die
“Comfort is a drug. Once you get used to it, it becomes addicting.
Give a weak person consistent sex, good food, cheap entertainment and they will throw their ambitions out the window.
The comfort zone is where dreams go to die.”
If you are training BJJ and have a really good guard, and every time you go to train you constantly pull guard and make that your “go to” then you will 100% beef up your strength.
But, if you really want to test your armor, you need to start in bad positions. If your takedowns are non-existent and you’re terrible at them, you need to focus on that to make yourself a more complete fighter.
The days where you don’t want to go to the gym are the days you need to show up and get through it anyway. If you want to make yourself mentally tough, you need to find a place where you can test yourself.
The reason so many people find BJJ to be a mental toughness builder?
Well, first of all, let’s explain exactly what is happening on a typical Tuesday night in the gym:
You will be in a room with others who are all wearing a Gi (a thick article of clothing on your legs and upper body all wrapped together with a belt), and it’s hot, and there is someone who is literally trying to hold you in a bad position, choke you, or catch you in a submission hold. Of course you “tap out” when it becomes too much and or to prevent any injury.
If you are reading this and are thinking to yourself “That sounds insane or ridiculous and I would never try that” Well, I get it. I wasn’t very tough growing up and the grappling arts (started in BJJ) took me to new levels and introduced me to some very tough people! (Mentally, Physically and Emotionally)
They all were fighting something in their life. Divorce, breakups, being overweight, anxiety, stress, depression, having a hard time at work, losing a family member or friend. Some were just trying something new that looked like it would challenge them!
And let’s get completely real: Them showing up into a hot room while wearing a heavy Gi, and having another human to physically fight with and trying to choke each them is way more stressful and in the moment. They weren’t home in their heated or air-conditioned homes watching TV and boozing it up.
They say when you die your entire life flashes before your eyes, and me personally, I would rather see me in a room with other humans training to be the best we can be. Not sitting at home doing nothing with my time where I’m not sleeping or working. (Fortunate enough to my work is what I love!)
The endorphins released in the body from BJJ are different than those of a regular physical exercise activity or cross training. Even though the above sounds intense and very challenging, you will see every person in that room leaving out the door with the biggest smile on their face and happy as can be! Why? Because they are trying to reach their human potential and leave their comfort zone to grow themselves in all different aspects.
Your stress in life is probably happening in a building that is 70 degrees and no one is trying to physically attack you. When you start BJJ, the rest of life just seems so easy!
And if your stress in life is someone trying to physically attack you, and you know BJJ…well, look what you’re used to
“After fighting, everything else in your life got the volume turned down. You could deal with anything” – Tyler Durden