You Don’t Need to Be in Shape to Start Jiu Jitsu
One of the most common questions we get is:
“Should I get in shape before I start Jiu Jitsu?”
The short answer?
No.
In fact, it’s one of the most backwards questions people ask.
Think about it for a second. Nobody says, “I’m going to get really good at swimming before I take swimming lessons,” or “I’m going to become a great guitarist before I buy a guitar.”
You get in shape by doing Jiu Jitsu. You don’t get in shape so you can do Jiu Jitsu.
Every black belt started as someone who got tired after a warm-up. Every competitor has been smashed by someone better than them. Every person who walks through the door has a first day.
If you’re overweight, out of breath, haven’t exercised in years, or feel embarrassed about your fitness level, you’re exactly the kind of person who should start.
The hardest part isn’t the training. It’s walking through the front door.
Here’s what actually happens during your first class. You’ll probably get tired. You’ll probably make mistakes. You might feel awkward trying new movements. That’s completely normal. Nobody expects you to be an athlete on day one.
At a good academy, your instructors understand that everyone starts somewhere. They’ll teach you at your pace, pair you with good training partners, and help you improve one class at a time.
The truth is, Jiu Jitsu is one of the best workouts you’ll ever do because you don’t have to force yourself to exercise. You’re learning a skill, solving problems, and having fun. Before you know it, you’re moving better, breathing easier, losing weight, and getting stronger without staring at a treadmill for an hour.
So if you’re waiting until you’re “in shape,” you’re waiting for the wrong thing.
Start now.
Let Jiu Jitsu be the reason you get in shape, not the reward you think you have to earn first.
At Immortals Jiu Jitsu, we’ve helped complete beginners of all ages and fitness levels take that first step. You don’t need experience. You don’t need to be flexible. And you definitely don’t need to be in shape.
You just need to show up.
We’ll take care of the rest.
If you’d like, I can also make this more aggressive and humorous by leaning into why it’s such a “stupid question” without coming across as insulting to potential students.
You Don’t Need to Be in Shape to Start Jiu Jitsu
One of the most common questions we get is:
“Should I get in shape before I start Jiu Jitsu?”
The short answer?
No.
In fact, it’s one of the most backwards questions people ask.
Think about it for a second. Nobody says, “I’m going to get really good at swimming before I take swimming lessons,” or “I’m going to become a great guitarist before I buy a guitar.”
You get in shape by doing Jiu Jitsu. You don’t get in shape so you can do Jiu Jitsu.
Every black belt started as someone who got tired after a warm-up. Every competitor has been smashed by someone better than them. Every person who walks through the door has a first day.
If you’re overweight, out of breath, haven’t exercised in years, or feel embarrassed about your fitness level, you’re exactly the kind of person who should start.
The hardest part isn’t the training. It’s walking through the front door.
Here’s what actually happens during your first class. You’ll probably get tired. You’ll probably make mistakes. You might feel awkward trying new movements. That’s completely normal. Nobody expects you to be an athlete on day one.
At a good academy, your instructors understand that everyone starts somewhere. They’ll teach you at your pace, pair you with good training partners, and help you improve one class at a time.
The truth is, Jiu Jitsu is one of the best workouts you’ll ever do because you don’t have to force yourself to exercise. You’re learning a skill, solving problems, and having fun. Before you know it, you’re moving better, breathing easier, losing weight, and getting stronger without staring at a treadmill for an hour.
So if you’re waiting until you’re “in shape,” you’re waiting for the wrong thing.
Start now.
Let Jiu Jitsu be the reason you get in shape, not the reward you think you have to earn first.
At Immortals Jiu Jitsu, we’ve helped complete beginners of all ages and fitness levels take that first step. You don’t need experience. You don’t need to be flexible. And you definitely don’t need to be in shape.
You just need to show up.
We’ll take care of the rest.
