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

2026-02-20

Download

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 peo...

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

⭐️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. It helps more people find the show — and helps us keep these conversations going.

🎧 Connect:

Follow Kendall Reusing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendallreusing

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kendallreusingbjj

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/kendallreusing

Website: https://www.kendallreusing.com

Follow Sula-Mae Loewenthal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sula_mae_loewenthal

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