Here for a Good Time & a Long Time: On Jiu Jitsu Longevity

When I started jiu-jitsu I was 19. Young, and a little dumb. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

It wasn’t my fault. Like a lot of young people, I was full of ideas but didn’t yet have the knowledge or experience to filter them.

So I fought hard and fast. I smashed through brick walls, thinking I had gas to burn for years to come. I got tired, I made mistakes, I brushed it off and came back for more.

I’m 38 now. My teacher, Master Pedro Sauer, is 64.

I’ve seen plenty of people come and go in my time on the mats. He’s seen even more. And what impresses us now is very different to what impressed us in our 20s.

Long-Term Thinking Changes Everything

James Clear puts it well:

“Long-term thinking changes your short-term actions. When you intend to invest long-term, it changes which stocks you buy. When you intend to be in a relationship long-term, it changes the type of person you look for. When you intend to stay injury-free for the long term, it changes the type of workouts you do. Build what lasts.”

Long games are played very differently to short games. The one you choose decides how you play it.

Short games are hard and fast. Time is of the essence and forceful effort gets rewarded, because the finish line is within reach.

Long games are different. Patience matters more than speed. Sustainability becomes the priority. And efficiency, not excess force, is what moves you forward.

The Short Game vs the Long Game in Jiu-Jitsu

Jiu-jitsu works the same way.

Most of the excitement, and most of the Instagram clips, centre on the short game. Athletes put their bodies on the line, fight hard to win and chase glory in the moment. There’s an end in sight, and the rush to get there is palpable.

The long game is far less flashy. It’s a bit like watching grass grow. You see the fruits of your labour years later, and by then a lot of the people playing the short game are broken, retired or have sailed off into the sunset.

There are schools built around the short game, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You see their athletes winning medals and having a great time. They’re doing great things in a finite game.

Why Higher Jiu-Jitsu Plays the Long Game

At Higher, we play the short game too. But our priority is acing the long one.

I want our students still here in decades, with the mats still part of their lives, their joints intact and their lives in better shape than when they started.

When I was younger, I revered the short game. I looked up to the people who were great at it and studied how to play that way myself.

Now I’m older, nursing a few injuries, and the short game doesn’t pull me the way it used to. I still love the technique and the athleticism, and I enjoy watching it. It just isn’t where I want to put my eggs.

Finesse Over Force

Not everyone wants to play the short game.

Higher Jiu Jitsu is full of legends who are delighted to play the long one. We prioritise finesse over force. We negotiate more than we fight. And we understand the real reasons we train.

It isn’t the medals or the accolades. It’s the lifestyle that keeps bringing us back.

We design the path with the end goal in mind, and that’s how we build quality of life. It’s been our mission all along.

Ready to Play the Long Game?

If you want to be part of a crew that plays the long game, I’d love to hear from you.

I’m building a legion of everyday people improving their quality of life through jiu jitsu, and there’s a spot on the mats for you.

Make an Inquiry & get started at Higher Jiu Jitsu in Woolloomooloo today.