26 Inspiring BJJ Quotes (Motivation for Jiu Jitsu)

Do you need some motivation for your next BJJ training session? Nothing gets me moving again like reading some inspirational quotes from the finest people in Brazilian jiu jitsu. So here I share with you 26 motivational BJJ quotes to get you excited to go to training today (and bookmark this page so you can find it again when you need it). Happy training!

“Think street, train sport, practice art.” – Chris Haueter

The art of jiu jitsu is to make a strong man weak, a fast man slow and a heavy man light. – John Danaher

“Why do I beat a lot of people? Because I love it so much, that’s why. Everything about Jiu Jitsu, I love it – the school, the mat, the ring. I always believe that. Maybe I am not better than my opponent, but I know for sure I love my training more.” – Marcelo Garcia

I want to show that in a violent sport like MMA, you don’t need to hurt anybody in order to win. – Demian Maia

He didn’t give me any room, all I could move were my eyes! – Fernando Tererê (in 2004 on his loss to Roger Gracie)

Jiujitsu is simple, you just gotta do it right.- Roger Gracie

“If you train worst case scenarios consistently, they will no longer be worst case scenarios” – Rener Gracie

“He who manages the distance, manages the damage.” – Rener Gracie

“The idea of jiu-jitsu is to give the little guy a chance to beat the big guy.” – Royce Gracie

“Jiu jitsu transcends the mat and embraces life in a much more complete way.” – Rickson Gracie

“Jiu jitsu is not just movement patterns and physics, it’s an art.” – Roy Dean

“There is no losing in jiu jitsu. You either win or you learn.” – Carlos Gracie, Sr.

“My opponent is my teacher, my ego is my enemy.” – Renzo Gracie

“Jiu jitsu is the science and art of control that leads to submission.” – John Danaher

“Always assume that your opponent is going to be bigger, stronger and faster than you; so that you learn to rely on technique, timing and leverage rather than brute strength.” – Helio Gracie

“Good defense gives you the confidence you need to attack.” – Gordon Ryan

“It’s not who’s good, it’s who’s left.” Chris Haueter

“Ten years is gonna go by either way – might as well be a black belt in BJJ” – Chris Haueter

“The Ground Is My Ocean, I’m The Shark, And Most People Don’t Even Know How To Swim” – Carlos Machado.

“Catch him in between the movements.” – Xande Ribeiro

“A champion should ask himself: ‘if I were to compete against myself, what would I practice to beat me?’ – Leo Vieira

“Learning defense improves the attack. I f the lion knows how the prey can escape, it’ll capture it in a much more precise way” – Rillion Gracie

“To train in BJJ is to continually drown—or, rather, to be drowned, in sudden and ingenious ways—and to be taught, again and again, how to swim.” – Sam Harris

“The art of Jiu Jitsu is worth more in every way than all of our athletics combined.” – President Theodore Roosevelt (most other Theodore Roosevelt quotes are about politics, but this is a real quote from one of his letters)

“If you think, you are late. If you are late, you use strength. If you use strength, you tire. If you tire, you die.” – Saulo Ribeiro

Jiu jitsu doesn’t end. It goes on forever. You can always get better.” – Joe Rogan

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