The dropout rates in bjj have long been considered very high. Commonly most academies at any given time have about 50% of class populated by white belts – beginners who opted in for the course but it’s unclear how long they will be able to stick with it.

If you look at your academies pictures through the years you’ve been training you’ll notice the undeniable turn over. But why is that a part of the bjj journey?

It definitely requires a special type of person to become a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt. Only 3% of the people who start training will get there.

And for that we should have respect for any person who has achieved this rank.

“If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.” – John Irving

The truth is also that 99% of the people who quit, does not have a real reason for it… busy schedule, got hurt (not permeant injury), have to take a longer drive, financial, …. those are all things that can be worked around.

Tom DeBlass recently wrote a short essay on his Facebook profile about he was close to quitting Jiu-Jitsu back when he was a blue belt:

“Jiu-Jitsu knowledge..

There was a time as a blue belt I was close to quitting.

It was the first expert division I did and I ended up losing. I waited around at the tournament all day, paid money, and lost. I tried to think of all of the reasons I shouldn’t be “wasting my time” on Jiu-Jitsu, and I had thought of some really good ones. However, there was one problem.

I claimed I loved Jiu-Jitsu, and when you love something you love on the good days, and bad days.

I looked at myself in in the mirror and reminded myself that one day I would look back on that heart crushing defeat and smile.

I was right.

So many people quit before they give Jiu-Jitsu a chance to benefit their life. Anything worth while takes sacrifice and all tough times pass. When I was a blue belt I truly had no idea how beneficial Jiu-Jitsu would be in every aspect of my life.

Where would I be if I quit? I certainly wouldn’t be in the position to lift this little guy up after he tasted defeat that I’m hugging in the picture.

“I’m so proud of you, smile, be happy, you did amazing. Everything is going to be ok, you are a super star. You did the absolute best you can do and that makes me the most proud instructor in the world”. Was what I said to him.

It’s all worth it my friends, never give up.”

Tom DeBlass has a message for all those that have left BJJ:

Who better to show you how to use his own brand of pressure passing and finesse to stop the Z Guard than half guard master Tom DeBlass?!  And if you thought he was only a No Gi player, you’ve got another thing coming.  In his new 4 volume “High Tech BJJ in the Gi” instructional that just hit the BJJ Fanatics charts, he’s going to give you all of his best Gi techniques from sweeps, to passes, to submissions and everything in between.  And keep in mind, everything he shows in the Gi can easily translate to No Gi, so its like getting two instructionals for the price of one.