Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya recently spoke about his grappling journey and the need to check one’s ego when learning new skills.
During a conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience, Adesanya shared how embracing BJJ and wrestling helped him grow as a mixed martial artist:
I had to kill that ego to really be great at this game.
I knew for a fact I couldn’t beat some nerds in pajamas, so that was for me: “Okay, humble yourself and learn how to grapple.”
He admitted that he initially struggled with grappling after transitioning from kickboxing:
I sucked at first and then I got better.
I never have shown too much of my grappling skills because they never really put me in a position to show as much as I need to.
Adesanya believes staying humble and coachable on the mats has been key:
I’m a purple belt now but I’m like, I know I’m dangerous, but it’s like – there’s levels.
There’s levels to belts, you know?There’s some blue belts who can kick my a**.
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