In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, practitioners find themselves drawn to the mats for reasons that extend far beyond physical fitness. As Jason Rau explains,
“Jiu-jitsu is not exactly like working out. Most people who train jiu-jitsu do jiu-jitsu because they enjoy it.”
This fundamental difference sets BJJ apart from conventional exercise regimens. While many people go to the gym primarily for the results rather than the process, jiu-jitsu practitioners are typically motivated by the intrinsic joy of the activity itself.
Rau elaborates on this distinction:
“There’s some people obviously who love going to the gym and working out. I would say most people who train jiu-jitsu do jiu-jitsu because they enjoy it. Most people, not saying they don’t enjoy going to the gym and working out, but they probably enjoy the results more than they enjoy the actual workouts.”
The difference becomes especially apparent when discussing motivation and consistency in training. When addressing how to maintain discipline on days when motivation runs low, Rau offers nuanced advice that acknowledges the various types of practitioners.
For recreational practitioners—those training two or three days a week without competitive aspirations—Rau doesn’t necessarily advocate pushing through when they don’t feel like training. However, he cautions against letting those occasional breaks become a pattern:
“I wouldn’t necessarily push them to push through. But I would also caution them on taking too many days like that because this thing that you’re doing three days a week quickly becomes one day a week and it could quickly become you’re no longer training.”
For serious competitors, the calculus changes. Whether you’re a young athlete with ADCC aspirations or a masters competitor with goals of winning world championships, maintaining consistency becomes paramount—even on difficult days. The key, according to Rau, is developing self-awareness about whether you truly need rest or are simply avoiding discomfort:
“You’re going to have to train on days that you don’t want to, but I would say you need to develop an honest assessment of whether you should take a day off because you’re actually overtrained or maybe you have an injury, or are you just telling yourself that because you don’t want to train.” – Rau said on BJJ fanatics podcast.
This honest self-assessment is crucial because coaches can’t always distinguish between legitimate physical needs and mental resistance.
“As a coach, I can’t possibly know if you say your knee hurts and your knee really hurts,” Rau points out. “If you’re just saying that because you don’t want to train, as a coach, I can’t possibly know the difference.”
Rau emphasizes that consistency and structure are ultimately more valuable than sporadic intensity:
“If you can program for yourself a set number of days that you’re training, a set number of days maybe you’re lifting weights or doing whatever, and sticking to that as best you can, I think that’s better than being gung-ho twice a day for two weeks straight and then training twice the following week because you’re all banged up and tired.”
What makes jiu-jitsu special is that, unlike many forms of exercise, it’s inherently enjoyable for its practitioners. The technical challenges, the problem-solving aspects, the community, and the constant learning process all contribute to making jiu-jitsu intrinsically rewarding. While fitness benefits certainly accrue to those who train consistently, they’re often secondary to the satisfaction derived from the practice itself.
This fundamental distinction—training jiu-jitsu primarily for enjoyment rather than just results—creates a different relationship with the activity than most people have with traditional exercise. It’s why practitioners often find themselves looking forward to training rather than viewing it as an obligation, and why the jiu-jitsu community tends to foster such deep, lasting connections among its members.
For those considering beginning their jiu-jitsu journey, Rau‘s insight offers an important perspective: you’re not just signing up for a workout; you’re embracing a practice that people continue for years and decades because they genuinely enjoy the experience itself.
