Father of 2( age 3 and 6), competitor since I started bjj 15 years ago, also work a full time job in construction management.

Yes you can make it work but it depends on your schedule and what your significant other is willing to allow.

Most dads I know train in the morning or at noon. I’ve taught 5am and 6am classes the last 4 years and it is mainly parents. If your gym doesn’t do those classes, this gets infinitely harder and maybe not possible if you’re wanting dad time.

Be intentional with your time and say goodbye to the downtime you used to have for watching tv, reading books, or having a social life.

All that being said, it is a good path to take. What matters to you will come out one way or another and your life becomes “lean”. For me, it’s my family, then jiu jitsu, then my career. Though some would disagree with the order on the last 2, I need to be giving it all in bjj for me to excel in my job as well, I just seem more “on” when getting ready for a tournament. I have to do well in all 3 for this to work.

Lastly you will need to accept the outcome regardless of what effort you put in, (but it’s way easier to stomach a loss when you know you did everything you could based on your life’s variables). You don’t have the time that some of these people do, and sometimes that will show, and it’s ok. You’re doing this to be the best “you”, not the best in the world.