Gracie Combatives© Testing – Conviction
“One man with conviction will overwhelm a hundred who have only opinions.” – Winston Churchill
In the world of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the physical movements we see on the mats are just the tip of the iceberg. When a student prepares for their Gracie Combatives© test, they are often focused on the technical details—the hand placement, the weight distribution, the timing.
But there is a hidden reality to this journey. Mastery doesn't start with the body; it starts on the inside. By the time a student reaches their test, a conviction must have started to bloom within them. Anyone who has practiced long enough can spot it instantly.
Before the technique becomes "real," a student must first experience three internal shifts that no one else can see, but everyone can feel.
1. Unshakable Determination
I have seen the most naturally gifted students come and go because they lacked determination. Conversely, I have seen students struggle for months or years, only to finally "get it" through sheer force of will.
Jiu-Jitsu is not a race to see how quickly you can learn a move; it is a measure of the quality of your relationship with the art.
The Physical Cost: Showing up hour after hour, practice after practice.
The Sacrifice: Choosing the mats over leisure, family, or friends to earn those stripes.
The Result: A mental will that remains calm and centered, even when you reach a new level and the path forward seems unclear.
Each stripe on a white belt is a trophy of determination. It proves that you had the mental will to be there regardless of time constraints or self-doubt.
2. Emotional Control
You name the emotion, and Jiu-Jitsu will make you feel it. Happy, loved, confident, playful—but also sad, scared, angry, and embarrassed.
Throughout my journey—from earning technical stripes to teaching others—I have felt the full spectrum. I felt playful when a new move went off the rails, loved when a student finally understood a concept, and sad when I failed my BBS2 test or watched a student quit. I’ve felt angry at organizational shifts and embarrassed when judged by other schools.
The secret to progress isn't avoiding these feelings; it’s learning how to address them:
Uncomfortable emotions are teachers that offer lessons in resilience.
Comfortable emotions are reminders to remain humble.
How do you address the emotions you feel on the mat? Do you let them stop your movement, or do you let them fuel your conviction?
3. Perseverance
Perseverance is the answer to a single question: What do you do when you are tired, injured, or repeatedly failing?
My path has been marked by obstacles. I’ve dealt with minor setbacks like skin infections that kept me off the mats (forcing me to study via video) and major injuries like a back issue and a two-year battle with an inguinal hernia. I had to move slowly and rely on the grace of my training partners.
I have also faced the sting of failure. Failing my first BBS2 attempt because I didn't take it seriously enough was a wake-up call. Watching other instructors pass me in rank made me feel like I was falling behind.
But I kept working. I recovered, I reworked my study habits, and I deepened my understanding. Perseverance is the bridge between the "failure" you feel today and the "mastery" you show tomorrow.
Summary: Movement Follows the Soul
With unshakable determination, emotional control, and perseverance, a student develops an inner conviction. This conviction is what eventually expresses itself in physical movement.
There is a saying in the martial arts:
"A technique performed 50% correctly with 50% conviction is better than a technique performed 100% correctly with 0% conviction."
By all means, learn the details. Sharpen your reflexes. But never forget that the soul of the warrior is what wins the fight. When your heart is certain, your body will follow.