If you go on almost every high level BJJ practitioners page, and scroll down long enough, you will probably see that they represented a different team(s) at some point.

A long time ago, a successful business man told me that “no student will stay with their coach forever. There will be a time they will leave. It will happen to you too, you won’t be with shaolin forever.” 

The reason for him telling me this was because he was explaining to me the significance of making the new students the primary focus in the “martial arts business”. But, that’s a whole other topic, for a later post. 

At that moment I was a purple belt and I couldn’t fathom this, but many years later it makes sense. And, it’s ok. 

There are several reasons to break away and go off on your own.

There is an old expression, too many cooks spoil the broth. If there are too many high level instructors and either their ideologies, vibes, styles, don’t match, it can be beneficial to all to break away. 

Or, if you feel like you are no longer flourishing because the structure is too rigid and you will not reach your full potential under the current environment. 

In any relationship, it should be a win-win. If one party isn’t getting their fair share, it should be brought up, spoken about face to face and worked out. If not, going off on your own is the way. 

But, at the same time, I don’t see why splits can’t happen amicably. Too often fingers are pointed and selfishness, ego and feelings get in the way. But, if we do things with honesty bridges that aren’t traveled any longer don’t need to be burned down, either. You never know if you could use some help or be of help to your former coach/team in the future. 

Is walking into an event and having “bad blood” or trying not to make eye contact necessary? In most cases, I think not.