If you’ve ever struggled with copywriting, feeling like you’re constantly wrestling with words and never quite pinning down the perfect phrase, you’re not alone. The path to mastery in this craft can feel just as grueling as training for a martial arts competition—full of setbacks, small victories, and moments where you wonder if you’re making any progress at all.
I promise you this: the same principles that create champions on the mat can transform you into a formidable copywriter. By applying the disciplined mindset of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to your writing practice, you’ll develop the mental toughness, technical precision, and strategic thinking needed to create compelling copy that converts.
In this post, I’ll share how my journey from white belt to purple belt in BJJ illuminated surprising parallels to successful copywriting. You’ll discover practical techniques to approach your writing with a martial artist’s mindset, overcome common blocks, and develop habits that lead to consistent improvement—regardless of your current skill level.
The White Belt Phase: Embracing the Fundamentals
When you first step onto a BJJ mat, you’re immediately humbled. No matter your size, strength, or athletic background, you’ll likely be dominated by someone smaller who simply knows the techniques better. The same applies when you begin copywriting.
Lesson #1: Accept That You’ll Tap Out Often
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, tapping out (signaling submission when caught in a hold) isn’t failure—it’s learning. Every time you tap, you discover what doesn’t work and gain valuable feedback.
For new copywriters, your early drafts will get “tapped out” by criticism, rejected pitches, or poor conversion rates. Instead of seeing these as failures, view them as invaluable data points showing you what to improve.
- Don’t take rejection personally—it’s feedback, not failure
- Note specific points of critique to address in your next attempt
- Remember that even veteran copywriters have folders full of rejected work
Lesson #2: Where You Train Matters
In BJJ, the academy you choose significantly impacts your development. Some focus on competition, others on self-defense or technical proficiency. Similarly, where you learn copywriting shapes your approach.
- Seek mentors whose style aligns with your goals
- Join communities that provide constructive feedback, not just validation
- Study diverse copywriting approaches to develop a well-rounded skill set
Lesson #3: Basic Techniques Before Flashy Moves
New BJJ students often want to try flying armbars before mastering a basic sweep. In copywriting, beginners frequently reach for clever wordplay before understanding fundamental persuasion principles.
- Master headline formulas before trying to reinvent them
- Practice clear benefit statements before attempting sophisticated storytelling
- Perfect your call-to-action techniques before experimenting with unusual formats
The Blue Belt Phase: Developing Your System
In BJJ, reaching blue belt means you’ve developed a basic understanding of fundamental techniques. In copywriting, this equates to having a reliable process for producing decent work consistently.
Lesson #4: Focus on One Technique at a Time
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners often spend weeks perfecting a single sweep or submission. This deliberate practice yields better results than dabbling in dozens of techniques.
For copywriters, try:
- Spending a week focusing solely on improving your headlines
- Dedicating a month to mastering one copywriting formula (like AIDA or PAS)
- Studying a single successful campaign and rewriting it in different ways to understand why it works
Lesson #5: Showing Up When You Don’t Want To
In martial arts training, the most valuable sessions are often the ones you least want to attend. Those rainy Tuesday evenings when the couch looks so inviting are precisely when you need to drag yourself to the academy.
Copywriting requires the same discipline:
- Set a consistent writing schedule and stick to it, regardless of inspiration
- Create accountability systems that make skipping sessions uncomfortable
- Remember that professionals write whether they feel like it or not
Lesson #6: Your Gear Doesn’t Matter (Much)
BJJ beginners often think the right gi, rashguard, or training gear will improve their performance. Veterans know technique trumps equipment every time.
Similarly, new copywriters get distracted by:
- Searching for the perfect writing app instead of improving their messaging
- Obsessing over workspace setups rather than doing the work
- Buying courses without implementing what they already know
Focus on your technique, not your tools.
The Purple Belt Phase: Developing Your Style
At purple belt, BJJ practitioners begin developing their unique game—combinations and approaches that work best for their body type and mindset. For copywriters, this means finding your authentic voice.
Lesson #7: Everything Evolves
Just when you think you’ve mastered a technique in BJJ, defenses evolve, and you must adapt. Similarly, copywriting tactics that worked brilliantly five years ago may fall flat today.
- Stay current with marketing trends without chasing every shiny object
- Test messaging regularly against changing audience preferences
- Build adaptability into your skill set by studying timeless principles, not just tactics
Lesson #8: Learn to Chain Techniques
Advanced BJJ practitioners don’t rely on single moves but chain techniques together: if the opponent defends the armbar, transition to a triangle choke, then to an omoplata.
Elite copywriters similarly chain persuasive elements:
- Connect emotional triggers with logical justifications
- Transition smoothly from problem to solution to proof
- Create copy that addresses objections before they arise
Lesson #9: Sometimes Things Suck (and That’s When Growth Happens)
In BJJ, the most growth happens during the most uncomfortable periods—when you’re smashed under side control, gasping for breath, or struggling against a much better opponent.
Copywriting growth similarly accelerates when:
- You’re tackling projects outside your comfort zone
- You receive harsh but accurate criticism
- You force yourself to study and implement difficult techniques
Embrace the suck. That’s where transformation happens.
The Brown and Black Belt Mindset: Teaching and Mastery
While I haven’t yet reached these ranks in BJJ, the principles are clear: at the highest levels, practitioners become teachers and innovators.
Lesson #10: The Best Way to Learn Is to Teach
In martial arts, teaching techniques to others forces you to understand them at a deeper level. The same applies to copywriting:
- Explain copywriting principles to others to solidify your understanding
- Mentor beginning writers to reinforce your own fundamentals
- Articulate your process to identify gaps in your knowledge
Lesson #11: Develop Your Signature Moves
Elite BJJ practitioners become known for specific techniques they’ve mastered and often modified. Top copywriters similarly develop signature approaches:
- Create frameworks unique to your experience and strengths
- Develop distinctive ways to handle common copywriting challenges
- Perfect approaches that consistently work for your ideal clients
Applying the BJJ Mindset to Your Copywriting Practice
Here’s how to implement these principles in your daily writing routine:
1. Create Your Training Schedule
Just as BJJ requires consistent mat time, copywriting demands regular practice:
- Set specific days and times for writing practice
- Establish measurable goals for each session
- Track your progress over time
2. Find Your Academy
Surround yourself with the right training partners:
- Join copywriting communities that provide constructive feedback
- Follow thought leaders whose approach resonates with your goals
- Consider hiring a coach who can identify your blind spots
3. Drill the Fundamentals
Create deliberate practice sessions focusing on:
- Headline writing (create 25 headlines for a single product)
- Lead generation (write 10 different lead paragraphs for the same article)
- Calls-to-action (craft 15 different closes for one sales letter)
4. Spar Regularly
In BJJ, controlled sparring (rolling) tests your skills in real conditions. In copywriting:
- Submit work for peer review regularly
- Test variations of your copy with real audiences
- Analyze campaigns from competitors to identify strategies
5. Earn Your Belt Promotions
Create milestones that represent significant skill advancement:
- White belt: Mastering basic formulas and frameworks
- Blue belt: Consistently producing effective copy for standard projects
- Purple belt: Developing a unique approach and handling complex projects
- Brown belt: Teaching others and innovating techniques
- Black belt: Consistently producing transformative work that influences the field
Conclusion: The Never-Ending Journey
Both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and copywriting share a humbling truth: there is no final destination, only continuous improvement. The day you think you’ve mastered either discipline is the day you stop growing.
The most valuable lesson BJJ has taught me about copywriting is this: show up consistently, embrace discomfort, focus on fundamentals, and trust the process. Progress happens so gradually you barely notice it—until suddenly, you’re handling challenges that would have overwhelmed you a year ago.
Whether you’re struggling with your first sales page or refining your hundredth email sequence, approach your copywriting with a martial artist’s mindset. Respect the craft, honor the process, and commit to the mat time. Your words will develop the power to submit even the most resistant reader.
Now, I’d love to hear from you: What disciplines outside of writing have informed your approach to copywriting? Share your experiences in the comments below.