Learning to Fight
According to the critically acclaimed information hub Wikipedia, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a self-defense martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds.
It is a sweaty roll-around with another person until one of you quits. Basically.
When I walked into my first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, I believed that I was in shape and ready to roll. I knew I was clueless about technique, but I thought I would be able to use my strength and stamina to at least keep up. I was also counting on my viewership of the UFC (a mixed martial arts fighting league) to give me an edge. Boy was I wrong. Turns out, no matter how much you prepare, BJJ is a wildly difficult sport that leaves you humbled, exhausted, and outmatched. Also, watching some fights on TV only gives you false confidence. This art form is a different type of exercise, unlike any I had done in the past. It’s not a long run through a park, sprints up a steep hill, heavy weightlifting, long hypertrophy workouts, yoga class, or a wrestling match with your friend. It is every one of those, combined.
In one of my first classes, I paired up with a blue belt (the belt after white) who was at least 50 pounds lighter than me. He was a scrawny 28-year-old guy who did not have a lot of muscle on him. He works in IT and enjoys acting in the local theatre. I know this doesn’t paint the best light on myself, but I actually thought to myself,
“I am going to beat this nerd's ass easy.”
You can see where this is going…I did not beat him and he submitted me within 30 seconds. He then proceeded to submit me 6 more times in the following 5 minutes. Oh, how the turn tables.
Herein lies the crude beauty of BJJ; smaller, weaker nerds can beat up a much bigger opponent. This is one of the only Martial Arts that doesn’t play favorites with size and strength, it favors technique, and I have none.
BJJ is the most difficult physical thing I have ever done in my life. There have only been a few sessions where I did not leave wanting to throw up from exhaustion. But, each time you train, you get one step better, and one step closer to your goals. No matter what level you are, from white belt to black belt, everyone started as a helpless noobie on the mat getting choked out week in and week out. This is the right of passage that comes along with being a white belt and is the reason so many quit at this stage. But the feeling of your first submission after months of yourself tapping is what keeps you hooked. The tangible feeling that you are getting better, and that you are able to beat up someone.
In an art that is about fighting, BJJ has the most friendly people in the world teaching and attending. Higher belt holders have every right to teach you nothing, submitting you time and time again in brutal fashion, then moving on to the next guy. But they do not. They teach and encourage you even while teaching you moves they mastered a decade ago. They encourage you not to quit and point out where you have already improved. If not for the teaching and positivity of these folks, I would have quit a loonnngggg time ago.
BJJ has a way of pulling you in and taking up all your head space. I look forward to each training session, and I can honestly say; I’ve found my new obsession.
Grace and Peace,
Justin
