*pictured lawyer and BJJ competitor Paul Ardila
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Adele Fornarino recently shed light on what truly distinguishes professional BJJ athletes from amateurs—and it’s not what most practitioners might think.
During her appearance on the Partizan podcast, Fornarino offered a candid perspective on the misconceptions many have about professional BJJ training.
“They do a hard session a day and they go, fuck, it’s so hard being a jiu-jitsu athlete,” Fornarino remarked. “And no, this is the easy part. It’s all the other shit that’s hard.”
According to Fornarino, the difference lies not in simply showing up for training sessions but in the deliberate approach professionals take toward their craft. She emphasized that true professionals bring intention to every aspect of their training.
“It’s like, are you going onto the mats with some kind of intention on improving a particular skill? Are you planning your sessions? Are you doing your tape study?” she questioned, highlighting the methodical preparation that separates elite practitioners from hobbyists.
The commitment extends beyond just technical training. Fornarino explained that professionals prioritize comprehensive preparation: “Are you coming in early to make sure that your body is warm by the start of class? Are you, you know, getting strength conditioning?”
Perhaps most importantly, Fornarino stressed that professionalism in BJJ requires consistency even when motivation is lacking. “It’s doing things we don’t want to do on the days we really don’t want to do it,” she stated.
Self-respect and surrounding oneself with the right support system are also crucial elements in the professional approach. “You have to have enough respect in yourself to treat yourself like a professional. You have to make sure that the team around you is behaving and treating you like a professional,” Fornarino concluded.
