I wanted to do a (combat) sport. I wanted to compete for the experience of it, to test myself. Also it looked cool to me. (Genki Sudo Westside Jiu-Jitsu tournament highlight blew my mind... I was watching that and was like OH MY GOD this is so cool and I want to do that!)

very cool. there are so few sports that adults can truly compete in. I feel most are just for fun and don't bring out that true competitive side of people. thanks for sharing.

Not to get submitted so easily. Took an entire year and worked on nothing but positions.

Simples! I just wanted a Black Belt in BJJ. "How hard could it be?" I said to my 59-year-old self.

Since doing martial arts (20 years now) I always was on the search for the „best“ system for me.
After Training various systems/sports I finally found that in BJJ...
In Kapap/Krav Maga training for example we often trained in full gear,helmet, simulation training, etc... this was kind of mentally exhausting for me after some time and it wasn’t fun, because I had that kind of training on duty and in real situations a lot (defensive tactics, cell extractions, special Transports of inmates, etc...). so I wanted something more positive in my off duty/ free time after duty than putting safety gear and helmet on again after work.
I found in BJJ a more positive, fun and (mentaly) healthy approach for me, although it is a combat sport and you play against alive, resistent opponents.
So definitely a win win for me to have started grappling/ bjj!

I went to try out Jiu-Jitsu with a good friend (we are still friends) and he used to wallop me... he wrestled and even though we were similarly athletic, his wrestling prevailed.

He is now a purple belt (after switching to MMA for a few years, and not taking his J seriously), and the tables have turned.

I hate to say it - my goal after starting was to beat him... it didn't take too long before I became obsessed, and now look.

I actually started training Muay Thai before Jiu Jitsu. Six months in, Iwas introduced to submission wrestling. My goal at that point was to compete in a tournament. I didn’t care what the outcome would be, I just wanted to compete. After my first competition my goal was to become a black belt. After almost 15 years of training, and speaking with Mr. Ross, I realize that that goal is unrealistic. My new goal is to become a brown belt, and be above average skill.

I wanted to fight MMA so I needed 'enough' jits.
I managed to scratch the MMA itch and now bjj 4 life is my goal :)

I wanted a to find a hobby that would help me get back in shape and keep me engaged. I don't have the motivation to go to the gym regularly because I don't enjoy it anymore. I loved wrestling in high school so I found the next closest thing I could find. Jiu Jitsu/submission grappling.

I only get to go 2-3 days a week, but always have motivation to go because I enjoy it.

My goals were to lose some weight and learn. I am doing that, and I even competed last month which was fun.

I lost an MMA fight via armbar. I wasn't entirely ignorant of submissions but certainly never studied BJJ to any serious degree or worn a Gi. I knew what an armbar was, i was just impressed with how calm and smooth the guy was when he applied it. I later found out he was a "blue belt" and made a mental note that it would be a good thing to become. The problem with MMA is that you can't fight too often, my last fight was a huge let down because of nonsense from the promoter. I felt kind of cheated having trained and dieting for such an anti-climax. BJJ offers me the chance to have 4-7 matches per competition and i can do them as often if my work schedule allows. BJJ has its own brand of nonsense, but on balance it's a better thing for a 34 year old to be doing.

Initially my goal was to get a blue belt. Then my goal was to develop a winning record as a blue belt. Now i see myself going to purple in the goodness of time. BJJ sucks you in like that.

I like problem solving and finding ways to simplify all problems.

Jiu-jitsu is a never ending problem to solve that is basically impossible to solve.

With jiu-jitsu trying to figure out how I can basically tear down all the possibilities that can occur by removing as much of the game itself from the equation is interesting to me.

Removing takedowns by pulling guard.
Removing leglocks and 50/50 by always having good foot positioning.

The more options I can take away the less I have to worry about and the more of an advantage I would have in the positions that I have focused my training time around when I am able to force my game plan of where and how I want the match to take place.

Initially I would be at a disadvantage positionally at the start of every engagement but when competing against someone of = training time if they have focused training time on all aspects equally in a "well rounded" and normal way then I would have an immediate advantage in areas that I have spent all my time training if we both have a similar amount of total training time spent.

In my logical mind if I spend all my time on the most fundamental Defense, Sweeps/Offbalancing, Timing and Deception, Positional control and transitions from the most basic but useful positions to the most efficient submissions and chained submission attacks all while being able to remove takedowns and leg locks from the equation It should give me a huge advantage at least in the short term and then can become well rounded slowly over time against less experienced training partners.

An interesting experiment anyways.

Honestly, I started to train jiu jitsu because I did not want anyone to do to me what Royce did to those guys in the first UFC. That's it. That is why I started. I continued because it is not like riding a bike no matter what anyone says. lol Seriously though, I keep at it because I love it and it really has a positive effect on my life.

I thought a black belt in Jiu Jitsu was as close to being a Jedi as I was ever gonna get once I found out ninjitsu was crap.

I was fascinated by joint locks and chokes after being briefly exposed to some during my karate years but lacked details and consistent practice. I always believed that much of karate kata (forms) were joint locks, chokes and throws but were misinterpreted as strikes. BJJ filled that ticket after I looked around at a few traditional Japanese and European Jujitsu styles.

for me i was intrigued by the gi aspect...did no gi for two years....i wanted my goals to be... have fun and learn

For me the initial goal is still be world renowned. Then 100 superfights. Then maybe MMA.

Keep them coming guys - these are great.

I always wanted to do a martial art but never found one that kept me interested... I tried more than a few, let's just say kata's DO NOT hold my attention.
I was working in construction at the time and had fallen into a rut:
Get up at 5:00am, breakfast, watch news, pack lunch, go to work, get home, shower, bed by 9:00pm. Then spend the weekend doing nothing because I was spending most of my money paying for my vehicle.
No social life.
I decided that I wanted to learn a martial art with the intention of making friends. When I first started looking up 'most effective self defence martial art' I thought BJJ looked lame!
I got drawn in by Krav Maga and all the other ball twisting, eye poking arts which naturally no one in NZ taught.
In the interest of finding something local I took my father's suggestion of going to 'Kenpo 5.0', he knew the guy somehow. If you've never heard of it Kenpo 5.0 is an American branch of karate... LAME! they have some sort of dance that they start and finish each lesson with to show respect or something. The curriculum sounds like a list of bad movies : glancing feather, spinning mace of justice and other 'cool' things like that.
At the end the instructor said I should try his friends lesson the next day...
"I don't remember what it is he teaches but he'll be here tomorrow".
I was quite strong at the time, being a builder but I turned up and had my arse handed to me by a 14 year old with 3 lessons under his belt!
I vowed that day to learn as much as possible about the art that had a weedy 14 year old kid controlling me.
I asked Harvey "what is it you teach, your friend didn't remember".
"Brazilian Jiu Jitsu" he replied.
I smirked to myself as I left and said "I'll see you every time you open these doors". And now I have a small but awesome group of friends and am moderately proficient in one of the most affective martial arts in the world.
I have moved from the North Island of New Zealand but my friendships have followed and I have their continued support with my own club.
So to answer your question I started to make friends, instead of wasting money at the pub and to learn to defend myself if required (at the pub