So You’re a White Belt: 7 Things You’ll Learn at Jiu Jitsu (that aren't technique)
- Josh Vogel
- Aug 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Starting Jiu Jitsu is about way more than learning how to shrimp or escape mount. It’s a crash course in humility, sweat management, and creative problem solving. Whether you're fresh into your first month or trying to convince your friend to finally try a class, here are 7 things you’ll learn as a white belt — and none of them are techniques.
1. You’re Not Out of Shape, You’re Just Using Muscles You Forgot You Had- No jog, spin class, or deadlift prepares you for the first time someone mounts you and you panic like you’re under a weighted blanket in August.
2. Ego Is the First Thing to Tap- You will lose. Often. On camera, maybe. And your belt won’t save you. You’ll learn to laugh, tap, and reset.
3. Clean Laundry Becomes a Personality Trait - You’ll start judging your week by laundry cycles. You’ll also start developing strong opinions on detergents.
4. You’ll Meet 7 Different Versions of Tired - Cardio tired. Brain tired. "Why are my elbows sore?" tired. You’ll learn to train smart, not just hard.
5. You’ll Start Noticing Mat Culture — And How the Upper Belts Don’t Flinch When They Lose - One of the first things you’ll notice? The black belts get tapped — and don’t care. They smile, nod, and reset. They’ll laugh mid-roll, talk through failures, and treat getting swept like it’s part of a warmup. It’s not that they don’t care — it’s that they’ve done this long enough to know that losing small battles is how you win the big ones.
6. You’ll Learn to Lose Without Losing Your Mind - Progress in Jiu Jitsu is rarely linear. The sooner you accept the “two steps forward, one ego death” rhythm, the more fun you’ll have.
7. You’ll Find Your People - It won’t happen overnight. But one day, you’ll look around and realize: you’ve built a crew. A sweaty, respectful, slightly deranged crew.
Starting Jiu Jitsu isn’t just a workout — it’s an identity shift. And for many of us, it’s the beginning of something we didn’t know we were missing. If you’re thinking about trying it, here’s your sign. There’s space for you on the mat.
