A Different Type of Goal

Separate from our one-year, three-year and five-year goals, there is a different type of goal that seems to be frequently not addressed by many instructors and understandably so.  Most instructors and school owner’s livelihood is reliant on their school.  They need students who are willing to pay for their instruction to keep their business alive.  However, I’ve noticed a few times over the last few years that a student’s reason for training doesn’t match their instructor’s philosophy of teaching. 

When determining our one, three, and five-year goals we are materializing milestones and things to strive for, but not we don't really determine why we want these things.  I suggest that at some point we all need to determine our overall goal.  That is, “Why do you train?”  Determining your “Why” is a key development in your game.  The great part of this question is there is no wrong answer.  This is your answer. 


You may train to get in good shape.  Maybe it’s for self-defense or for professional development such as law enforcement.  Maybe you want to relieve stress. Perhaps you want to fight in mixed martial arts competitions.  Perhaps you want to be a future UFC Champion.  Maybe you want to be a BJJ World Champion.  Maybe you just want to have fun and belong to a group.  All of these are great reasons to train!!

Determining this goal sets you expectation of your ROI, or return on investment, from your time on the mats.  You do invest your time and you do invest your money, shouldn’t you have a expectation of what you wish to receive in return from your time and money? 

This goal or ROI is executable from the SMART method of making goals.  This goal doesn’t need a time limit but is should be specific and attainable. 

Our overall expectations in life can change, therefore this should be a fluid goal, meaning this may change over time and that is okay.  As we age our perspectives and attitudes change.  Not allowing your jiu jitsu goals to change as well is foolish.  Either way it is a good idea to keep what your overall objective is fresh in your mind.  Keeping the big picture in mind will help us get through tough days on the mats and the occasional disappointments.    

Once you have decided your expectation ask yourself if you are doing the right things to achieve it.  Are you in the right school? Are you training with the right people?  Are you eating right?  Are you training the right way?

The reasoning of determining the overall expectation of our training is so we do not become disenchanted with our training.  I have met and talked with people that have been training for years and when I asked them “What is your purpose for training?”  They didn't have a definite answer.  They have been training for a long time yet really had no purpose in their training.  Training with no purpose is almost as bad as not training at all.


Take time and determine YOUR reason for training.  Give your goals and training a bigger purpose.