White Belt
Stripe 1 - Show up consistently!
A black belt is a white belt who never stopped training – Renzo Gracie
Dwayne Johnson is quoted as saying “Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” The longer you live, the more you will come to agree with this statement, unless you never completed anything in your life. If that’s you, then Jiu Jitsu is probably not for you. The Jiu Jitsu journey is definitely a marathon, and for each player it will be a different journey with a different timeline, but I can say with a 100% guarantee that if you ever want to become a black belt you must show up…consistently.
The first day, month or even months of your BJJ journey may seem daunting; I recall thinking about quitting multiple times during my first few months. It seems all you experience is pain, agony, and defeat, but that’s life in many ways, isn’t it? The longer you train BJJ you more you will begin to see the parallels between what happens on the mats and what happens in life. Life is filled with…yes, pain, agony, and defeat. As you keep showing up on the mats, you’ll begin to build a skillset that allows you to experience less pain, agony, and defeat (although as in life, they will always come lurking back around). Yet, for many of us, we can never seem to alleviate the pain we experience in life. We seem to be in a proverbial cycle of disappointments, fear, failures, and pain. How do we get out of this cycle? How do you find peace, joy and contentment? I’m glad you asked!
To earn stripes and ultimately get promoted in BJJ, there’s a certain level of mastery that is expected, along with expected mat time. In life, however, there is no such system. You’ve tried them already…drugs, alcohol, relationships, sex, money, career; the list is long of failed systems. That which is missing in your life is a Person, and his name is Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Romans 15:13 “…God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” The key to hope, and joy and peace in this life is living in relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the most well-known verses in the Bible is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, and whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” You may have heard or even know this verse by heart, but do you know Jesus? Knowing the Bible does not always mean you know Jesus. The better, more pertinent questions are “Have you given your life to Jesus? Is he the Lord of your life?” If no, please see the comments and prayer at the end of this chapter for how to do so. If yes, please see below!
Showing up consistently on the mats is necessary to mastering BJJ. In that same vein, consistently meeting with Jesus is necessary for having a relationship with Jesus. We have a saying in the BJJ community, “drillers are killers”, meaning the ones who continue to drill technique will most likely be some of your toughest opponents. Drilling on the mats is equivalent to reading your Bible and praying on a daily basis for your walk with Jesus. There is no better way to know about Jesus and hear from Jesus than by reading his word on a daily basis. Drilling the word every day, and memorizing scripture every day are 100% necessary to living the life Jesus wants for you. As a white belt you are just beginning to build your arsenal of technique; in life you’ll also need an arsenal of God’s promises for when life hits you unexpectantly.
One of my life passages is found in Joshua 1:7-9. It reads “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Several things stand out to me namely: 1) God wants us strong and courageous 2) strength doesn’t always mean physical, and I believe in this instance God is calling us to a spiritual strength, something that we can’t conjure up on our own 3) that strength comes in the form of knowing and obeying God’s word 4) success comes from knowing and obeying God’s word 5) we need to “drill” it every day and night 6) we will not only be successful, but we will won’t be afraid or discouraged.
If you are already showing up consistently on the mats, you’re well on your way to stripes on your white belt! If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior yet, please read the comments and prayer at the end of this chapter, and then start reading his word and praying on a daily basis! You will be well on your way to building your arsenal of God’s promises before you know it!