226: Progress v. Perfection and How to Manage Your Jiu-Jitsu Expectations

Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you train, you’re never quite “enough?” There’s a fine line between pushing to be your best and letting the pressure to be “excellent” suck the joy right out of Jiu-Jitsu. This week, we’re grappling with what excellence actually means, why perfection is a trap, and how you can make progress) no matter how much time you’ve got on the mat.

If you find yourself replaying mistakes on your drive home or wondering whether you’re improving fast enough, this episode is for you. We share stories about our own struggles with expectations, how to spot real progress, and what happens when you let go of perfection and focus on getting a little better every day.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have new ways to measure success (even when class feels tough), tips for enjoying the journey, and a fresh perspective on what really matters—both on and off the mat. This is about finding what lights you up and building a practice that makes you proud.

Highlights

(00:00) How would you define excellence in Jiu-Jitsu?

(01:25) How your attitude, expectations, and coachability shape every class

(03:11) The battle: Perfection vs. Progress in your Jiu Jitsu journey

(05:47) Tiny wins count: Tracking progress no matter what

(09:02) How to keep moving forward—even when you can only train a little

(11:02) Wrestling with slow Jiu-Jitsu progress and plateaus

(12:49) Why journaling and video can totally change your perspective on your Jiu-Jitsu

(16:29) Creating a culture of growth (not perfection) in your gym

(18:34) Making progress on and off the mat

(20:05) Our Jiu-Jitsu community challenge

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