I got beat up by a black belt and decided to quit

I used to be obsessed with jiu-jitsu. I loved the competition, the strategy, the subtle moves you could do that would results in tremendous results.

 

I almost quit soon after I got started though. Things were going really well in the beginning. Great instructors, really enjoyed my teammates, and I seemed to have a knack for the sport.

 

A few months into it my instructor talked me into signing up for a tournament. He thought I would do really well because your opponent was based on your current belt.

 

I couldn't wait! I was so excited that I splurged and spent $60 to enter the tournament. That was big money to me back then. My wife was in nursing school and I wasn't exactly making big bucks. But I knew this was going to be worth it.

 

Saturday morning rolls around and we drive over to beautiful Hartselle, AL for this tournament that I figure is about to be won by handsome ginger.

 

Things were great until I signed in and was told that because they didn't have enough newbies like me sign up the tournament was now an open tournament. Meaning you could be facing someone who just started jiu-jitsu or you could face dudes that had been doing this for 15 years.

 

Guess who I drew for my first opponent?

 

The guy was not only a black belt, but also ran his own jiu-jitsu school. I gave it my all and promptly got tapped out in two minutes.

 

Since it was double elimination, I had the opportunity to face off against a guy who was a purple belt. He didn't tap me out, but scored so many points it was not even close.

 

I was pretty mad about the whole experience. Paid my hard earned money, felt like I had been misled, I was never doing a tournament again, and on top of everything else I decided I was terrible at jiu-jitsu and should just quit.

 

Something similar to this happens every year in the fitness world. Chances are it is happened to you. You signed up for a gym membership, personal training, or group fitness class and you could not wait to get started!

 

Then two things happened: your expectations were not met and you felt like a failure because everyone else in such better shape. You were compared yourself to people that had been doing this for years, it's no wonder they are ahead of where you are!

 

I did the exact same thing, but I made one crucial decision. I decided from then on I was only competing with myself. It didn't matter what anyone else did I was going to measure progress by whether or not I was progressing.

 

That puts the power in your hands! You get to decide what success looks like and will keep you from getting discouraged when others seem to have it so easy or appear to be so much more advanced.

 

Been passed by a 70 year old man during a 5k? I have. Instead of being mad at myself, I gave him his props and kept doing my race.

 

In a class and you think you are the oldest, heaviest, or most uncoordinated person there? Stick with it and I guarantee you will find your comfort zone.

 

When you look around the gym, do you say to yourself "Why am I here? I don't belong?" You are wrong! You have every right to be there. Unless you have serious BO and you don't put your weights up when you're done.

 

Your fitness is your business and your business only. Your weight, age, and fitness level do not hold you back when you're the one who decides what progress looks like.

 

Be proud of every step you take, every rep you push out, every healthy meal you eat, and everything else that you do on this journey. You are already awesome, you just don't know it yet.