If you’ve been doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for any length of time, you’ve probably asked at least one friend to come check it out. That friend or those friends probably showed interest but couldn’t make it on a specific date. They likely said they’d come the following week instead.
We all know how this story ends, of course. The following week comes and goes. The following week has passed, and the friend still hasn’t shown up. Yes, you will still talk about BJJ because you love it so much. Yes, you will try to get your friends to come along occasionally so they can see how great it is for them, but you know that only about 5% of the time will they actually show up. Why does that happen? 4 types of people might be interested in BJJ, and your friends are one of them.
Being Polite
It is impossible to get this individual through the door. The problem is that they are not interested in learning martial arts. Still, it’s possible that this person was raised always to accept any invitation, as they don’t want to be seen as rude.
Status Seekers
This person bases their sense of self-worth on how other people see them. They want you, others, and everyone else to know that they will train hard and become a great MMA fighter one day. You might be able to get this person to go to the gym, but it’s not likely that they will stay for long. The thing is, people who do things to please other people or to get along with others won’t be successful for long. The person will get tired of the activity, possibly much sooner rather than later. Either this person will never go to the gym, or they will only stay there for a few months.
Firm Believers
This person has no doubts about their ability to compete in Jiu-Jitsu or become a successful fighter. This person genuinely thinks they are tough and will “definitely start training one day. However, they never do! This person tells themselves they are strong or a good fighter based on their words and actions, but they may not genuinely believe it. Like the others, this person will frequently have a long list of justifications for not being able to begin training immediately. This individual avoids having to tell himself that maybe he isn’t as tough as he believes he is by generating excuses and sincerely believing in them.
Nervous and Interested
This person wants to learn more about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other types of martial arts. This person is really interested in what you are talking about. But martial arts can be scary to start, especially for adults who have never done it before or trained in fighting. Though they are interested, they don’t have the courage or all the information they need to jump in and try it.
Final Thoughts
As a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, you must spread the word about the art. Be kind and polite when answering any questions or addressing any worries someone might have about the art and sport. That’s how we can get these really interested friends to come try a BJJ class, maybe join your team, and get better.