The only time I’ve ever taken a deliberate break from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was when Laura and I moved from Connecticut to Florida. At that point, I couldn’t train because I hadn’t found a new gym yet. If I remember correctly, it took me about three weeks to settle on a place, but from then on, while we lived in Florida, I was back to training three times a week.
When we later moved from Florida to Maine, it was a similar story, though that transition only set me back about a week. Aside from illness or minor injuries, I’ve only ever missed a few scattered weeks of training since I began in 2008. I’ve never taken a true hiatus. But here we are in the year 2025, and my mind is tired, so I’m finally taking some time off.
What is a hiatus, anyway, and why are they important for just about anyone to take advantage of? In regards to Jiu-Jitsu, a hiatus is often what someone claims they’re taking right before they quit the sport altogether. White belts usually don’t announce anything; they just stop showing up. Blue belts often say their work schedule is getting in the way and promise they’ll be back (but they rarely return). Purple and brown belts tend to fade in and out before quitting completely, while black belts quit, then come back, then quit again – often repeating that cycle for pretty much ever. I suppose black belts never truly quit. A more appropriate description would be that their mental participation lingers while their physical bodies appear and disappear for weeks, months, and years on end.
I know people who’ve taken black belt hiatuses that lasted for years before finally returning. My plan is to take some time off and eventually find people to roll with in a more casual setting. Something like local meetups, just to get excess energy out of my system. I’ll do that for as long as I can. When it comes to structured classes though, while I’m still effective at what I’ve done in the past, I think fresh blood would probably be more effective at this point.
Benefits of Taking Time Off
I never had a plan for how long I’d train, so technically, I don’t have any obligations tied to it. Still, for some reason, I feel guilty about stepping away. Jiu-Jitsu was my primary form of exercise and also a way to connect with some really great people. Now that I’ve stopped, I’ll need to find something else that helps me stay somewhat in shape as well as a little social. The social side isn’t a big deal for me, though. I’d be perfectly happy living quietly and alone for the rest of my life, so that part doesn’t weigh on me nearly as much as the fitness aspect does. Maybe Laura and I will step up our walking routine now that fall is almost here.
To ease some of my guilt, I decided to add a few sections below to help rationalize my decision. After a bit of digging online, I was relieved to learn that it’s actually rare for someone to train for 17 years without taking an extended break. Come to think of it, it’s probably unusual to do anything for 17 years straight without a break. That said, I was only training once a week for the past seven years, so it’s not like I was under heavy pressure. Burnout is just the condition I’ve found myself in. Ask any teacher about burnout; they’ll give you more than enough to think about.
To Consolidate Mentally
I know myself well enough to realize that I miss things once they’re gone. I also know my mind processes information later than it should. More than once, someone has said something to me that left me speechless, only for me to shout days later, “I’ve got it! I should’ve said —– in response to that jerk!” Of course, Laura has no idea what I’m talking about by then. I usually laugh it off and say I’m just slow on the uptake.
That’s part of why I think this break might help. Stepping back should give my mind the space to sort through all the clutter so everything feels neat, clean, and orderly. As an instructor, I juggle a lot of ideas, and some distance might help me cut through the noise. I can already imagine myself teaching from a clearer syllabus instead of winging it so often. With structure, I’d feel less like I’m making things up on the fly. Maybe this is what people mean by mental consolidation. Simply put, it’s being given the space to make something better than it was.
To Prevent Burnout
Burnout happens when you just don’t care about something anymore. A good synonym for burnout is apathy. Stick with anything long enough, and you’ll hit that stage. It’s impossible not to. Before deciding to take some time off, I read through a few forum posts on the topic. A handful of people admitted honestly that they’d dealt with burnout, but others tried to claim they never had. They’d write things like, “I’ve got 27 years under my belt and I’m still learning every day! I’ll never quit. I’ve got too much to do!” Yeah, right. Either they’re white belts who’ve been training for two weeks, or they began training at 17 years old and spent their 20s, 30s, and 40s golfing instead. No one trains for 27 years straight with the same fire they had on day one.
The best way to deal with burnout, especially with something you love, is to step away for a while. If your passion is real, it’ll draw you back eventually. That’s what I’m counting on. I hope to return when the absence itself feels heavier than the effort of training.
To Renew Motivation
Picture this: it’s been six months since I’ve trained. I’m walking through the yogurt aisle at Walmart, and some guy gives me a look. I step up to settle our little issue, and he beats me into oblivion. Now that’s some motivation to get back to training. The longer I stay away, the rustier I’ll get, the weaker I’ll become, and the less capable I’ll be if a situation like that ever actually arises. In dangerous times like these, we need every edge we can muster, so training a martial art is critical, even for guys like me. So yes, I hope this break will help renew my motivation.
Dangers of Taking Time Off
It’s pretty obvious what can occur when we step away. We get used to skipping class. We gain weight. We get lazy and come up with endless excuses for not doing something we once loved. I’ve seen plenty of black belts take time off and come back, but I’ve also seen just as many take a break and disappear completely, never to be heard from again. Because of that very real concern, I’d like to start a casual group of friends rolling on a Friday night, or some other time. Once a week, at a neutral location, and free – just a few hours for all of us to learn and improve together. I think that would be pretty swell.
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