Don’t try to do it like them.

There was a time when I said yes to every round. It came from a story I heard about Marcelo Garcia. One of his students said Marcelo became so good because he rolled with everyone. Any size, any style. Never turned anyone down. I took that as a rule. If I wanted to improve, I had to do the same.

It’s normal to look at champions and assume they know what’s best for everyone, including you. Their choices come from their goals, their bodies, and their daily lives. Yours might be completely different. We do this in other sports, in hobbies, and in regular life. A lot of advice just isn’t useful unless it comes from someone who understands your life.

Copying a routine like that didn’t fit my life. I wasn’t a full-time competitor. I was training a few times a week, with responsibilities outside the mat and no room for unnecessary injuries. For me, saying yes to everyone wasn’t a smart way to train.

You can admire people who reached the top. You can study their game and learn from their mindset. But their habits only make sense if your goals match theirs. Train in a way that fits your body, your schedule, and your future. That’s how you stay in it long enough to actually get good.