Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not a fast-track pursuit. And, according to Lachlan Giles, the path to truly peaking in the sport isn’t measured in months or even a few years – it’s measured in decades.
Here is what he had to say on the topic in a recent podcast appearance:
If you want to peak in jiu-jitsu, it’s a process that takes at least 5 to 7 years, probably 10 years in reality.
Giles is no stranger to long-term development, having earned a bronze medal at ADCC 2019 and coached a number of high-level athletes.
For him, excellence in BJJ isn’t something that happens quickly – it’s something that’s earned over time.
That 10-year window he describes is consistent with trends seen across the elite levels of the sport.
Most top competitors started training seriously a decade or more before reaching their prime.
The slow accumulation of mat time, physical adaptation, and strategic insight is what separates elite performers from everyone else.
Equally important to Giles is how one trains across those years.
He doesn’t advocate for a nonstop grind – instead, he emphasizes longevity and balance:
I feel like if you’re going hard all the time, a lot of people are just going to drop off.
Giles’ philosophy is clear: patience, consistency, and sustainable effort are the real keys to mastery in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
For anyone looking for shortcuts, his message couldn’t be more direct – there aren’t any.
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