Who’s your favorite training partner?

Do you think you’re anyone else’s favorite?

Over the years, I’ve rolled with maybe a hundred¹ different people. 80% of them, I no longer see. Excuses to quit are usually a lack of time or injury.

If you want to train forever, one way to do that is to try to become everyone’s favorite training partner. Help them. Connect with them. And stop thinking about them as stepping stones or names on a list.

You want to win. But it’s not about winning a round today. It’s about being on the mat in twenty years. I’ve logged over thirteen years now. Some years, I had a few weeks, or even a couple months, off. And as a blue belt, I had serious thoughts about quitting. It seems like every white and blue belt has thoughts of quitting at least once.

It’s very rare to hear of a purple belt quitter, though I did meet one a couple years ago. Don’t be someone that says, “I used to train.” Why? Because in six months, it’s the same as never having trained. You’ll have wasted a lot of time. Opportunity cost is real.

You can win by helping someone beat you. As a teacher, I give my students the blueprint to submit me. Some do. And I’m OK with that.

As a student, you should do the same. Because it’s not about having an edge over your partners. Share it all.

In the end, remember that no one cares bout your jiu-jitsu. They care about themselves. Stand out by caring about them too. If you do that, you’ll stay on the mat long enough to reach mastery. I know because that was my path.²

Help others, to help yourself. Be everyone’s favorite training partner.