I have been at this for 12 years. With the exception of my job bjj has been my longest commitment in life. I keep training because first of all it’s fun. I get to work my mind and my body. I can push myself to exhaustion. I can help other people get better. Training is great stress relief. I continue to make new friends as folks come try out. I could go and on. I really would to know what motivates all of you with 20 or more years in the game?

Time in this world has taught me interesting lesson of life it self. In a beginning of this journey, the steps forward were huge. You started get things done. You started understand what to do and when. You got self confidented and started to think Im good at something. After years on the mat you start to realize all the holes in your knowledge. Its the most beautiful thing that I like the most. Be able to admit everyday, that you dont know shit and you can still get so much better no matter your strenght or agility atributs are going down. This is pure art in that You are never ready and done!

I have been at this for 12 years. With the exception of my job bjj has been my longest commitment in life. I keep training because first of all it’s fun. I get to work my mind and my body. I can push myself to exhaustion. I can help other people get better. Training is great stress relief. I continue to make new friends as folks come try out. I could go and on. I really would to know what motivates all of you with 20 or more years in the game?

So far I haven't had a day go by where I didn't want to train. I wanted to reach black belt by year eight, but life happens and you have to switch gyms and affiliations. That sucked at first, but then I realised that the belt colour doesn't matter that much. And I will still want to train every day. I'm never going to be good enough. Or maybe I will, but I'll still want to make others better. Don't think that will ever change. I want my students to become better than I ever will. There's my motivation, I guess. Also, most of my friends are on the mats. Maybe not on the same mats as me, but I can always go visit them. And I've made new friends on the new mats. I guess BJJ is my social life. I'm fine with that. I think 12 days is the longest time I've been without a roll. That was after my brown belt whipping, when a mole in my back exploded in 2 spots. Had to get it removed and got stiches. I still trained and taught classes. Kinda tore my scar a bit and there's a reminder of that on my back. Oh well... I won't see it. =D Even my knee injury wasn't as bad the mole. I was still doing shrimps on my back with a stiff leg, rolling very, very light. I just can't see myself not doing this. This is my first real hobby and my first real love. I hope everybody feels like this about grappling (or anything!) in their lives.

I wouldn't see half my friends if I didn't drop into the gym and roll a few times a week. Roll, get the head straight, and see how everyone's lives are going.

Grappling is a lot of fun. As life goes on, other past times compete for your attention though. https://www.youtube.com/w[...]12dH1lIE74

Grappling is a lot of fun. As life goes on, other past times compete for your attention though. https://www.youtube.com/w[...]12dH1lIE74

Thus my pro tip is to start as old & washed-up, well settled and past beyond your wild years. (Like me.) Then it's more likely that jiujitsu will be the most exciting thing that regularly happens to you. :D

Thus my pro tip is to start as old & washed-up, well settled and past beyond your wild years. (Like me.) Then it's more likely that jiujitsu will be the most exciting thing that regularly happens to you. :D

I like to squash people.