by Coach Don Cooper
At first glance, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and Pinewood Derby races couldn’t seem more different. One involves sweaty gis, chokes, and ground battles. The other? Whittling blocks of pine into tiny race cars and hoping they blaze down a wooden track. But if you’re a parent who’s stepped onto the mats and also spent late nights sanding axles with your kids, you’ll start to see the overlap.
When I was 7 years-old I was a Cub Scout and had to build a pinewood derby car. When I got the kit I instantly wanted to build it out. I was so excited that I started cutting and sanding and painting all in one night. I didn't understand that to make the car look nice, and to get everything right and built with precision and care, it would take more than just one night. But I was determined to have my derby car now!
You can imagine what it looked it like when I was done with it by the next morning. Everything was a mess. And it drove about as good as it looked. Yes it would roll down the driveway but it was slow and immediately going off course.
I entered the competition with this car and of course my car was probably the ugliest and slowest of the bunch.
But fortunately I didn't quit there. I realized that I needed to be patient with process. And that taking the right amount of time at each step would pay off in the end. That patience would reap a reward.
I went ahead and purchased another kit. Even though the competition was already over and in the past, I was determined to build a better car and do it right. I took time at each step to be more careful and precise. I cut out to the perfect shape. I sanded it over many days making it smooth and symetrical. When I painted it, I did it in steps allowing each coat of paint to dry. I taped in sections so I could have pin stripes and a professional look. I made sure the axels and wheels were mounted even and straight. I weighted it with hardware so it was perfectly balanced so it would go straight, with low-friction, and be fast. It took me a couple of weeks to make it. But it turned out beautiful.
I will never forget that lesson. Some things take time to build correctly. And the process can be a joy and the end result very satisfying.
As I look back on this experience I realize that BJJ is very similar in a variety of ways.
Here’s how BJJ is just like prepping a Pinewood Derby car:
1. It All Starts With a Block of Potential
In both BJJ and derby racing, you begin with something basic—raw and unshaped. In BJJ, that’s you: untrained, awkward, maybe a little stiff. In Pinewood Derby, it’s literally a block of pine with wheels in a bag. Neither looks impressive at first.
But the magic? It’s all in the shaping.
2. Technique Over Flash
A derby car with cool flames painted on the side won’t win without proper weight distribution and smooth axles. Likewise, a flashy BJJ move (hello, flying triangle) won’t work if you haven’t mastered the basics. Speed on the track and success on the mat both come from solid fundamentals, repeated over and over.
3. Details Matter More Than You Think
That extra bit of graphite on the wheels? The perfect placement of your car’s center of gravity? Tiny adjustments make a big difference on race day. In BJJ, it’s the same: an inch here or there in your grip or hip position can be the difference between escaping a choke or tapping.
4. You Learn by Doing (and Re-doing)
Ask any parent who’s built a Pinewood Derby car with their kid: mistakes happen. Maybe the wheels wobble. Maybe you drill the axle holes too low. You fix it, try again, and learn. In BJJ, you’ll tap (a lot), forget to shrimp, get stuck in mount. But you keep showing up, refining, and growing.
5. Community and Competition
Both worlds are full of camaraderie. Whether you’re cheering your kid’s car down the track or rolling with a teammate during sparring, there’s something uniquely bonding about striving to improve together. You celebrate wins, learn from losses, and share tips to help everyone level up.
6. The Final Outcome Is Built at Home
Sure, the Pinewood Derby race happens on one night, and that BJJ competition may last a few minutes on the mat. But the real work? It’s done in the garage or on the training mats—late nights, early mornings, small victories, and a lot of patience. That’s where champions (and fast cars) are made.
So, What’s the Point?
Whether you’re helping your kid race their first Pinewood Derby or stepping onto the mats as a white belt, the process is the same: Start simple. Embrace the journey. Learn from mistakes. And don’t forget to celebrate the little wins. And perhaps most of all, grow that character muscle called "patience". Patience is where you really grow in becoming a great fighter and a better person overall.
And hey—if you’ve ever tried to get a stubborn wheel aligned and escape side control in the same weekend, you deserve a stripe just for surviving.
Want to try BJJ or have your kids join in the fun? Come visit our gym and see how both BJJ and derby building are about building more than skills—they’re about building confidence, resilience, and a whole lot of memories.
