BJJ Mental Models Ep. 367: The Weight of Expectations, feat. Jesse Phillips
Dec 8, 2025
Jesse Phillips, a BJJ black belt and head coach at Gentle Giant Jiu-Jitsu in Seattle, talks about the pressures of expectations in martial arts and life. He shares his journey through early burnout from a toxic work environment and a tech career before finding his passion in Jiu-Jitsu. Jesse discusses the importance of recognizing burnout warning signs, building an inclusive gym culture, and defining personal success on one’s own terms. He emphasizes the significance of balancing training, family, and individual values in a high-pressure world.
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Early Martial Arts Burnout Shaped Boundaries
- Jesse describes starting martial arts at 8, teaching at 19, and enduring an abusive Taekwondo boss who drove people away.
- That toxic relationship led to early burnout and shaped his boundaries around teaching and work.
Art School Overcommitment Led To Career Pivot
- Jesse recounts burning out in art school after overcommitting to leadership roles and married life.
- He crashed, dropped out, and entered tech via a contractor job that began a 12-year career.
Values Divergence Drives Career Change
- As career responsibility grows you face value conflicts and choices between stability and integrity.
- Jesse decided he preferred martial-arts-aligned values over swallowing corporate compromises.