Shelby Murphey is one of the most promising BJJ competitors to emerge from Art of Jiu-Jitsu in recent years and she believes that everyone who trains BJJ should compete in the sport at least once. It’s not an uncommon opinion to be fair, and in her position as a top competitor in the sport it’s unsurprising that she might be in favor of competing. Murphey was actually promoted to black belt immediately after an impressive competition performance, while she stood on the podium after winning the brown belt roosterweight division at the 2023 edition of the IBJJF world championship.
Shelby Murphey has plenty of experience on the mats, and she can see how making the decision to compete would benefit anyone who trains BJJ:
“Everybody who does Jiu-Jitsu should at least try competing one time. Stepping out on the competition mat is the most honest way to realize that you are in this by yourself. When we train Jiu-Jitsu, we feel a community around us. The people on the mat with us and the people who are supporting us off of the mat too. When you step on the mat and it’s just you and a referee and your opponent… Things change a little bit because now you realize that it’s just you that’s out here, supporting yourself.”
That moment where an athlete is on their own out there can lead to some stark realizations that may very well change how they approach Jiu-Jitsu:
“To realize: ‘Oh, whether I win or I lose, that’s something I did. Not because of my peers or my teacher, but because of me.’ Anything that you want to do, you have to do because you walk on to the mat, you start the fight, and you can see that everyone loves you and everyone supports you, but there’s a little bit of distance.”
Shelby Murphey shared the video where she explains why everyone should compete in BJJ in a post to her official Instagram account:
