The Mental Game of Injuries in BJJ

How a mysterious injury changed my perspective on Jiu-Jitsu and life.

Photo from my Instagram, when I took third at Pans on one leg.

When I was younger, if I got an injury at Jiu-Jitsu practice or in a competition, I’d lose my shit.

I’d have a mental breakdown that would last for days. I’d cope by eating like an obese 11-year-old at the volume of an athlete who was still training 3 times per day.

My identity was wrapped up in being good at BJJ, so if I couldn’t train, I felt like I was losing myself. I was unable to be happy without training.

I was one of those people who thought “BJJ was therapy” and when I couldn’t train Jiu-Jitsu, I didn’t have my therapy anymore.

But nowadays?

Things are different.

If you’re dealing with an injury that’s limiting your ability to train, this one’s for you.

This is the story of my scariest injury — one that almost altered the course of my life and forever altered my perspective on Jiu-Jitsu.