Kurt Osiander, a fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, multiple-time Pan-American champion, and no-gi world champion, has a simple yet powerful message for those struggling to find motivation to train: “suck it up and go.”
On a recent episode of the BJJ Fanatics Podcast, Osiander addressed a question from a fan who was having trouble getting to the gym on days when motivation was lacking. His response was characteristically direct and unfiltered.
“F*** it, suck it up and go,” Osiander advised. “It’s better than where you are. If you stay home, you’re just going to feel even worse.”
The BJJ legend, who currently teaches at Lamorinda Jiu-Jitsu in Lafayette, California, and Ralph Gracie Academy in San Francisco, emphasized that even a difficult training session is better than no training at all.
“Even if I go and have a bad day, if I have a bad day, it’s better than not going,” he explained. “A bad day at the gym is better than a good day on the couch.”
Osiander speaks from experience. Having recently overcome significant health challenges including double hip surgery that kept him sidelined for years, he’s found a renewed appreciation for being able to train. He’s dropped from 250 pounds to his current weight of 195 through consistent training and intermittent fasting.
“I’m very lucky that I can get up, I can put on my clothes, I can do my normal routine, I can do moves and at velocity and show people what I do,” Osiander reflected.
Despite facing ongoing challenges with mobility in his right leg, Osiander continues to train and roll. He acknowledges that he may not be able to return to the level he once was, but he’s determined to make the most of where he is now.
“I want to be who I was, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, so I have to be who I am,” he said.
Osiander’s no-nonsense approach to training and life has made him a cult icon in the BJJ community. His YouTube “Move of the Week” series has been a hit for over a decade, and he’s even appeared on Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown.”
