In Victory or in Defeat: Humility Always

On September 27, two Brazilian icons — Acelino “Popó” Freitas and Wanderlei Silva — faced off in a boxing match that ended in a brawl between the teams . I’m not here to judge, but to highlight a lesson: when humility gives way to ego, everyone loses .

This post is a shorter version of one I shared in The BJJ Mental Coach Masters Community.

Sport teaches. And Jiu-Jitsu teaches humility from day one . One day you shine in training or competition ; the next, you leave frustrated, even in tears . That’s the “humble pill.” Tough to swallow , but full of lessons .

Recently, I revisited Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection . She reminds us that authenticity is a daily practice that demands courage , compassion , and connection . Without humility, it’s hard to show up as your best self — not just as an athlete, but as a human being .

As I shared in a recent post, I haven’t always lived this way. As a purple belt , I once refused to step on the podium after losing a final . I’ve argued with opponents and even told a crowd to stay quiet after a win . Looking back, those were moments of immaturity and ego.

I like to think of emotional maturity as a spectrum, from 0 to 100 . No one hits 100 — unless maybe a monk. But each season of life should move us further along . Ask yourself: where were you at 18? And where are you now?

Humility is what helps you grow on that spectrum . It’s what allows you to accept losses , practice self-compassion instead of self-criticism , and extend compassion to your opponents — who, just like you, carry their dreams and sacrifices .

The Popó vs. Wanderlei episode is a reminder: ego can erupt at any level . But martial arts call us higher — to see wins and losses as temporary and to embrace humility as the golden thread that keeps you authentic, on and off the mats.

In victory or in defeat: humility always

Na Vitória ou na Derrota: Humildade Sempre

No dia 27 de setembro, dois ídolos brasileiros — Acelino “Popó” Freitas e Wanderlei Silva — fizeram uma luta de boxe que terminou em pancadaria entre as equipes . Não estou aqui para julgar, mas para destacar uma lição: quando a humildade dá lugar ao ego, todos perdem .

Esse post é uma versão reduzida para o Instagram de um post que fiz na comunidade Masters The BJJ Mental Coach.

O esporte ensina, e o Jiu-Jitsu ensina humildade desde o primeiro dia . Um dia você brilha no treino ou no campeonato ; no outro, sai frustrado, até em lágrimas . Esse é o “comprimido da humildade”. Difícil de engolir , mas cheio de aprendizado .

Recentemente, revisitei o livro A Arte da Imperfeição, da Brené Brown . Ela lembra que autenticidade é prática diária que exige coragem , compaixão e conexão . Sem humildade, fica difícil ser a sua melhor versão não necessariamente como atleta, mas como ser humano.

Como mencionei em um post recente, Nem sempre vivi dessa forma. Como faixa roxa , recusei subir no pódio após perder uma final , já discuti com adversários e até mandei torcida ficar quieta depois de vencer . Hoje vejo: eram momentos de imaturidade e ego.

Gosto de pensar em maturidade emocional como um espectro de 0 a 100 . Ninguém chega ao 100, mas a cada fase da vida podemos evoluir . Pergunte a si mesmo: em que nível você estava aos 18? E agora?

Humildade é o que nos faz crescer nesse espectro . É o que permite aceitar derrotas , praticar autocompaixão em vez de crítica e ter compaixão pelo oponente — que, assim como você, também tem sonhos e sacrifícios .

O episódio com Popó e Wanderlei mostra que o ego pode aparecer em qualquer nível . Mas as artes marciais nos lembram que vitórias e derrotas são passageiras . A humildade é o fio condutor que mantém você autêntico, dentro e fora dos tatames.

Na vitória ou na derrota: humildade sempre . #thebjjmentalcoach #ibjjf #authenticity #jiujitsumindset #bjjmindset #bjjlife

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Master BJJ Competitor vs. Overtraining — Free Webinar
Premiere: Saturday, September 20th, 2025 – 8:00 AM MST
Channel: The BJJ Mental Coach on YouTube

Have you ever trained so hard for a tournament that instead of peaking, your body broke down? That’s exactly what happened to me during my How High Can You Fly? project — and it cost me at Master Worlds.

In this webinar, I’ll share my story and break down Mental Mistake #15: Overtraining — one of the biggest hidden traps Masters competitors face. You’ll learn:

The difference between overreaching (productive) and overtraining (destructive)
How to spot early physical, performance, and mental symptoms
Prevention strategies: periodization, recovery, nutrition, sleep
What to do if you’re already burned out

This isn’t just about medals — it’s about authenticity. How to show up as your truest self on the mats and in life.

Stay until the end, where I’ll also introduce The BJJ Mental Coach Masters Community — an online space with courses, e-books, live classes, and peer support to help you become your best, most authentic version.

Subscribe to The BJJ Mental Coach channel and don’t miss it.
https://www.thebjjmentalcoach.com/the-bjj-mental-coach-community
Learn more: www.thebjjmentalcoach.com
Follow on Instagram: @gustavodantasbjj

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BJJ Mindset Tips
#2 Make Your Opponent Carry Your Weight

I asked a question about the best advice BJJ practitioners received when they were beginners. I categorized these tips into Mindset, Technique, and Training Habits.

In this video, I share popular Mindset-focused tips and whether this is useful advice or not.

Have other pieces of advice that you think is helpful? Share them in the comments below!

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BJJ Mindset Tips
#1 Make Your Opponent Uncomfortable

I asked a question about the best advice BJJ practitioners received when they were beginners. I categorized these tips into Mindset, Technique, and Training Habits.

In this video, I share popular Mindset-focused tips and whether this is useful advice or not.

Have other pieces of advice that you think is helpful? Share them in the comments below!

Please use the code “JITSEASY10” for all your DVD & Digital Download orders at Digitsu bit.ly/2S9kMg4 to get 10% off (and help my channel out)! Thanks for the support
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2025 @ibjjf European Championship Final Match M5/Feather Gustavo Dantas vs Cristian Kadow. This was my fourth and final match at the tournament. Cristian is a tough opponent, and he didn’t win 2024 European by accident; I was glad to have the final match with another high-level master competitor .

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Here’s a quick wrap-up video of my experience at the 2025 IBJJF European Championship in Lisbon, Portugal.

I share three key takeaways from the competition that you can keep in mind for your next event.

#bjj #jiujitsu #brazilianjiujitsu #thebjjmentalcoach #mindset #ibjjfeuropean2025

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Você já se viu poupando energia para uma próxima possível luta?

No episódio número 6 do podcast Mente Blindada 24/7, o campeão mundial faixa preta da IBJJF e campeão do ADCC, Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes @tanquinhojj , falou sobre um erro mental que ele já cometeu: se poupar para a próxima luta. Esse é o erro número 12 da nossa lista dos Top 30 erros mentais que os atletas cometem e como evitá-los.

Esse é um erro perigoso porque, às vezes, pode se misturar com o erro número 11: excesso de confiança. Pensando nos próximos oponentes e não focando totalmente na luta atual.

“Tanquinho” compartilha uma experiência em que ele cometeu esse erro e como conseguiu virar a chave após essa situação.

Lembre-se: até grandes campeões já cometeram ou ainda cometem erros mentais. Ninguém é perfeito! O mais importante é identificar esses erros e trabalhar neles.

Se você quer aprender mais sobre a lista dos Top 30 erros, visite o canal The BJJ Mental Coach no YouTube, com mais de 300 vídeos disponíveis!

Aprenda a controlar a sua mente, ao invés de deixar sua mente te controlar.

#Top30Erros #augustotanquinho #bjjcompetition #ibjjf #thebjjmentalcoach #cbjj #thebjjmentalcoachpodcast
#BJJMentalCoach #JiuJitsuMindset #authenticity #jiujitsubrasil #jiujitsulifestyle #jiujitsulife #bjjlifestyle #bjjlife #BJJMindset #MenteBlindada #JiuJitsuCompeticao #JiuJitsuParaVida #BJJPerformance #MentalSkillsTraining #BJJGoals

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Returning to BJJ after an injury or surgery can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, you can make a successful comeback! Whether you’re recovering from a minor injury or major surgery, these insights will help you get back to rolling safely and effectively.

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This video I talk about standing up when on the bottom not just for yourself but because it makes the top player better at passing and being on top. Enjoy! If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please comment below. More videos to come! Please like, share, and subscribe!!

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The NextLevelGuy Podcast with Coach Brian Peterson has been released!!

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Reflecting on your performance after a competition is vital to enhancing your skills. This involves examining four critical areas. The goal is to recognize what you did well and areas that need improvement, pursuing not the success others expect from you but the success you seek for yourself.

For further guidance on mental preparation, consider exploring thebjjmentalcoach.com or view the complimentary content on the BJJ Mental Coach YouTube channel. Any sales made from the online courses contribute to the nonprofit Jiu-Jitsu Tribe.

www.thebjjmentalcoach.com
www.jiujitsutribe.org

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