UFC veteran and BJJ legend Ryan Hall believes the biggest factor in earning a black belt has nothing to do with natural talent or athletic ability.
Speaking on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Hall argued that persistence, not brilliance, is what ultimately separates those who reach the highest levels of the sport from those who quit along the way.
Referencing a quote from former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, Hall explained the mindset that has guided his own career:
Determination, persistence is the only thing that will win in the end. Not brilliance, not toughness, not education.
Having the belief that no matter what happens to me, I will proceed forward and figure out how to make this happen.
Hall explained that Jiu-Jitsu teaches practitioners to adapt to resistance rather than fight directly against it.
But that lesson comes at a cost, requiring years of setbacks, failed attempts, and difficult training sessions before meaningful progress becomes apparent.
And according to Hall, many naturally gifted athletes dominate the lower belt ranks but eventually lose motivation once the competition catches up to them.
By contrast, he believes the people who ultimately earn black belts are often those who simply refuse to quit.
So, rather than relying on exceptional athleticism, they continue showing up through injuries, career changes, marriages, raising children, and life’s many other responsibilities.
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