Why Winning Doesn’t Change Your Life: Burnout, Mental Toughness, and Growth Through Jiu Jitsu | Sula-Mae Loewenthal

In this episode of Get A Grip, Kendall sits down with elite jiu-jitsu athlete Sula-Mae Loewenthal to explore what it really means to have a grip on your life — on and off the mats.

From the early days of launching Get A Grip in an Austin Airbnb to navigating burnout after ADCC 2024, this conversation goes deeper than wins and losses. Kendall and Sula break down mental toughness, balance, and wellness basics for high achievers chasing big goals, while also unpacking why competition doesn’t always “change your life” the way people expect it to.

They discuss standout moments like beating Helena Crevar at Polaris, the pressure of elite competition, and how to stay grounded when you’re not winning everything — yet still becoming an influential, impactful athlete. This episode is especially for the driven person who may never be a “pro fighter,” but still wants to give their absolute best, grow through discomfort, and pursue something meaningful.

If you’ve ever felt burnt out, questioned the point of competing, or wondered whether your goals are big enough, this conversation will challenge how you define success — and why chasing something that feels just out of reach might be exactly the point.

🎙️ Topics include:

- What it really means to “have a grip” on your life

- Recovering from burnout and inconsistency

- Mental toughness beyond winning titles

- Competing for growth, not validation

- Why achievable goals aren’t always worth chasing

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Episode Show Notes:

00:00 Launching Get A Grip in an Austin Airbnb

01:30 What does it mean to have a grip on your life?

02:45 The tightrope analogy: balancing life

06:25 Wellness basics when chasing big goals

07:04 Recovering from burnout after ADCC 2024

09:50 Why ADCC doesn’t really “change your life”

12:51 Beating Helena Crevar at Polaris

13:46 Sweet Sweat Ad – recovery, consistency, and showing up for your goals

15:17 Mental toughness without winning everything

17:11 Connecting through loss and struggle

19:51 What’s the point of competing?

22:41 Message to the high achiever

24:37 Why achievable goals aren’t worth chasing