Jiu Jitsu is a grappling-based, self-defence martial art and combat sport for those who are unfamiliar. So you’re probably wondering, ‘what on earth does that have to do with copywriting?’
On the surface, absolutely nothing. However, as I mentioned in last week’s blog, the power of copywriting occurs subconsciously, which is similar to the lessons I’ve learned from grappling! With that in mind I can safely say that BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) has been one of my greatest teachers.
Every session teaches me something new, whether it’s an advantageous new skill to beat my competition or an eye-opening lesson about myself, it’s usually something I can apply directly to my career. So let’s dive in shall we?
It begins with good training.
When you walk into a gym for the first time you’re immediately out of your depth and whilst you’re still learning how to fall to the mat safely, everyone else knows a hundred different ways to choke you unconscious. Sure, it may be a little tedious learning the basics while higher belts are flowing like water. But it’s those basics that save you from drowning.
It is the same for copywriting. You will never be able to bring value to a company if you don’t master the basics of spelling, grammar and flow. From that foundation comes growth and without it you are destined to fail. Potential customer are built through trust; and trust is earned by the confidence you expound in their company. If you have a wealth of experience in content marketing your creative copywriting will target customers in competitive markets with ease.
It requires stamina and discipline.
I am extremely grateful for the patience developed in the gym as it taught me to delay my gratification and work on my skills even when you can’t see the results. So every time I stayed up until stupid o’clock reviewing sales pages, modelling copy and studying the greats, I knew it was only a matter of time until I would follow in their footsteps.
Before I knew it, I was crafting compelling advertising copy of my own and learning new advanced principles that added even more support to the foundations I had laid before. Conversion rates were growing through my high-quality content, it felt like the effort to improve my copywriting skills was paying off. Don’t get me wrong, despite my foundations in BJJ, I still get absolutely demolished on the mats however I have come a long way on my journey and every day I grow as a grappler.
It takes time to become and expert.
Any successful grappler or business owner will tell you the exact same thing: ‘It didn’t happen overnight’.
Things worth having take time, commitment, and thousands of hours of practice. There is simply too much to learn to grasp overnight, and it is a never-ending journey with new things to learn every day.
As a freelance copywriter I probably wrote a few hundred emails before getting paid for one; however when that first gig landed, I felt at home and the words flowed effortlessly onto the page. Sure you can learn the basics of a skill within 20 hours however, mastery takes a lifetime. Expert copywriters know how to use the right tone of voice, turn a blog post into a sales funnel that gets conversions.
Nothing made me realise that quite like Jiu Jitsu. Not only did I get choked for 3 months straight before learning how to escape but the way our coach would move, teach and destroy was simply second nature. Not because he’s a special anomaly, but because he lives and breathes Jiu Jitsu. His advice inspired me to dive deeper into my own craft and become the best freelance copywriter that I could.
Now every time I’m breaking down a customers’ sales funnel, building lists or spending hours building my swipe file, I just think back to the countless times I tapped out before ever submitting someone myself. That was valuable experience from the mats that I can apply as a copywriting expert.
You need to practice.
The easiest way to practice anything is by having a routine and you should dedicate a certain amount of time daily to growing your skills. Whether you want to learn a million different ways to break a man’s arm or a million different ways to generate a click, you’ll have to dedicate countless hours to practice.
Observing the cause and effect principle is the best way to cement this concept in your mind. Because every cause has an effect, if you want to be a skilled copywriter, the cause is plenty of practice.
It’s all about strategy.
Copy without a strategy is just words on a page. Jiu Jitsu without strategy is a sure-fire way to get hurt.
Strategy is what creates the effect you desire and if you want to be successful in anything, you need a plan. It wasn’t until I trained with intent that I saw genuine progression and my copywriting always flopped before I modelled copy from the pros. The point is, if you wander aimlessly, you’re unlikely to arrive at your destination.
A strategy is a roadmap and without one you are lost. Plus, if you are following a strategy that doesn’t work, it is easier to tweak and amend until you eventually get it right. Whereas if you keep free-styling, you have no idea which variables need amending to create the outcome you desire.
This really could be a blog in itself so Instead I’m going to summarise the key points…
Strategy is essential in Jiu Jitsu for several reasons:
- Efficiency: Jiu Jitsu is a complex martial art with many techniques and variations, and mastering all of them is impossible. A strategic approach enables practitioners to concentrate on the most effective techniques for their body type, style, and opponent.
- Adaptability: In Jiu Jitsu, opponents’ styles, body types, and skill levels will vary. A strong strategy enables a practitioner to adapt and adjust their game plan as needed, increasing their chances of success.
- Control: Rather than simply reacting to their opponent, a practitioner can use strategy to dictate the pace and flow of the match. This can aid in the creation of opportunities for submissions, sweeps, and other techniques.
- Mental toughness: Creating and carrying out a strategic game plan necessitates discipline, focus, and mental toughness. These abilities can be applied to other aspects of life, such as work, relationships, and personal growth.
Overall, most of those aspects apply directly to copywriting and I wouldn’t have the ability to strategize as clearly if it wasn’t for Jiu Jitsu!
As you can see, Jiu Jitsu has taught me far more than how to submit another grappler. In fact I dedicate most of my success to my dedication to the mats. To conclude, I think Jiu Jitsu would benefit ALL businesses simply because it develops the following skills:
- Discipline
- Resilience
- Problem Solving
- Adaptability
- Patience
- Focus
- Humility
Thank you for taking the time to read about my passion and if you want to talk about anything from copywriting to grappling, feel free to drop me an email at: morgan@beyondtouch.co.uk