Digital illustration of a focused male martial artist in a grappling stance, with bold text overlay that reads 'Ego: Enemy or Ally?'. The design emphasizes the internal struggle between pride and discipline in Jiu-Jitsu and life.

11 Aug Ego: Your Ally in BJJ, Gym Training & Everyday Growth

Posted at 05:06h in Clarity by Anvar Mammadov 0 Comments
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Ego in Jiu‑Jitsu, gym, and life shows up everywhere…

Ego—it’s a powerful force.
It’s not strictly bad or good; it can push you to greatness—or drag you into drama.

Since day one in Jiu-Jitsu, I heard: “Leave your ego at the door.”
Fair enough. BJJ humbles any human. But it’s also a human behavior worth exploring.

As I like to say: “The observant person finds many teachers.”
I’m driven by reflection—learning from every roll, every failure, every conversation.

Ego shows up everywhere: on the mats, in the gym, in our lives. Let’s dive in.

1. Ego in Jiu-Jitsu: Poker Face? Not Possible.

In BJJ, ego never leaves the room—but how you use it matters.

🔴 The Bad Ego

After 13 years of rolling, I’ve seen it all:

  • The friendly athlete outside class who turns into a ruthless grinder when the gi goes on.
  • A partner who bites or scratches intentionally.
  • A Black Belt slapping a blue belt with a fast wristlock—and blaming them instead of checking if they’re okay.
  • A blue belt pleading, “Brother, take it easy—I’m just coming back,” only to be met with pride, not kindness.

That ego blocks learning. It prevents taps. It fuels injury.

My approach? If I’m caught in a move, I own it, tap early, and hit the books to fix it.
Training isn’t about toughness. It’s about skill.

🟢 The Good Ego

Your ego can push you to make gains, study more, fix holes in your game, and chase consistent progress.
This competitive ego—*“I want to improve, I want to get better”—*is fuel. Not arrogance.

Some Black Belts use their rank as a shield to look down on others—don’t be that person.
Instead, let your ego motivate constructive accountability and resilience.

The Gentle Art of Humility: Ego and Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu

2. Success Shows Your Real Colors

Want to know who someone truly is? Give them success, money, or recognition—and watch how they respond.

Sure, some say “money corrupts.”
But I’ve seen wealthy men who are kind, humble, and generous.
Meanwhile, some broke or average people act like jerks.

Achievement is a spotlight—it doesn’t cause flaws; it reveals them.

If you were giving before success, chances are you’ll give more after it.
If you valued humility before, you’ll stay humble later.
That’s reputation.

3. Ego in Everyday Life

Real growth means staying open—listening, learning, asking questions.

When your ego says, “I know this,” beware.
I’ve learned from kids younger than me, from older sages, from people across cultures—because I’m open to truths.

When I doubt, I say: “Tell me why I could be wrong.”
I’ll research, test, and return with what I found.
Not to prove I was right or wrong—but to keep the conversation moving forward.

The ego that says only you are right is the ego of insecurity and stagnation.

Ego Is the Enemy of Good Leadership
Character Is Revealed in Success, Not Just Failure

4. Ego in the Gym: Train Smart, Stay Humble

Gyms are breeding grounds for ego—especially when some folks treat personal training clients like they own the mirror.

Every gym instinct I’ve had—every time someone asked for technique feedback—I’ve seen two choices:

  1. Right or learn.
    ➤ If you’re wrong, thank them. Tell them you’ll check on it.
    ➤ If you’re right, share why—and help them learn too.

There is no third option.
Remember: “…It’s not shame not to know; it’s shame not to learn.” —My dad

What Are Character Strengths & Virtues?

✅ Final Takeaways: Your Ego, Your Choice

  • Don’t suppress ego. Use it. For accountability, growth, and staying honest with yourself.
  • Be open—stay wrong occasionally. That’s where growth lives.
  • Let success amplify who you already are. It won’t fix character—you must build that yourself.
  • Tap early, learn hard. On the mats and in life. That’s how your ego becomes an asset.

Ego isn’t the enemy.
It’s a tool. Use it wisely.


📣 Ready to Take Action?

If you’re tired of waiting for motivation and ready to build the discipline that leads to real results, check out my other posts:

Remember, the journey to success starts with a single disciplined step. Take that step today.

Ready to Level Up Your Discipline?
Check out my free PDF guide on building real strength through discipline, not motivation. If you’re serious about taking ownership of your goals, this is where it starts.
👉 https://theanvarmethod.com/courses/
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