Don't Half-Ass It: The Secret to Longevity in BJJ

We often talk about "discipline" in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We talk about the grind, the embrace of the suck, and the sheer willpower it takes to get to the gym after a long day of work. But what if we’re looking at it wrong?

I recently watched a clip from Tim Ferriss’s interview with legendary investor Bill Gurley, and it touched on a concept that completely reframes how we should approach our training. It starts with a story about Matthew McConaughey, but it ends with a lesson that every white belt, blue belt, and competitor needs to hear.

The "Don't Half-Ass It" Rule

In the video, Gurley shares an anecdote from Matthew McConaughey’s life. When McConaughey wanted to drop out of law school to go to film school, he was terrified to tell his tough-as-nails father. When he finally broke the news, his dad paused and simply said: "Well, don't half-ass it."

That phrase didn’t just give him permission; it gave him responsibility.

In BJJ, we see a lot of people "half-assing" their journey—not out of laziness, but out of fear. We play it safe in rolls because we don’t want to get tapped. We skip the specific training rounds because we’re tired. We hold back from competing because we aren't "ready."

To apply the "Don't Half-Ass It" rule to Jiu-Jitsu means giving yourself the full permission to be a grappler. It means accepting that you will get tapped, you will be frustrated, and it will be hard—but deciding to go all-in anyway.

Obsession > Discipline

One of the most interesting parts of the interview is when they bring up Joe Rogan—who, as we know, is a 10th Planet and Gi Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Rogan has famously said that he isn’t actually good at "discipline" or "willpower." Instead, he is good at obsession.

"It's all on or all off," Rogan says.

This is a massive cheat code for BJJ. Relying on discipline is exhausting. Discipline is a battery that runs out. Obsession is an engine that generates its own fuel.

If you are dragging yourself to class every day purely on willpower, you might burn out at Blue Belt. But if you let yourself become obsessed—if you genuinely fall in love with the mechanics of a sweep or the details of a choke—showing up isn't a chore. It’s the only place you want to be.

The "Nerd" Advantage

Gurley mentions a test he uses to see if someone will be successful: Do they self-learn on their own time?

"Would you not watch Breaking Bad and read about this field and be energized by that activity?"

In the context of BJJ, this is the difference between the guy who just shows up for class and the "student of the game."

• Are you watching instructionals?

• Are you analyzing match footage?

• Are you thinking about gripping sequences while you’re driving to work?

Gurley notes that knowledge is free now. You can learn almost anything if you are curious enough. The grapplers who improve the fastest are usually the ones who are "nerding out" on the technique when they aren't even at the gym.

The Takeaway

Society—or perhaps your own doubt—often pushes you toward the pragmatic, safe path. In BJJ, the safe path is quitting when it gets hard or coasting through rounds.

But if you want to reach that next belt, or just get good at this impossible sport, take the advice from the video:

1. Give yourself permission to chase it.

2. Lean into your obsession.

3. Don't half-ass it.

If you’re ready to dive into the world of authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, consider visiting The Jiu-Jitsu Foundry at 72-C, Jalan SS21/62, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, WhatsApp 011-11510501. Embrace the challenge, improve your skills, and discover how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can transform your martial arts journey!

See you on the mats.