The Surprising Way Grappling Helped Me Confront and Accept My True Self! What if I told you that practicing jiu-jitsu grappling may reveal your true identity? Six years ago, I walked onto the Jiu-Jitsu mat for the very first time, not realizing that it would become a mirror, revealing my true self. The Mat Is […]
What if I told you that practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu might transform not just your physique, but also your mentality and outlook on life? When I initially stepped onto the mats, I had no idea what I was getting into. However, over time, BJJ became a strong instrument for personal development, uncovering strengths I had no
How grappling helped me forge meaningful bonds in training, work, and life. What if I told you that rolling on the mats may change the way you interact with others in all aspects of life? This is exactly what Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu accomplished for me. How Jiu-Jitsu Became My Unexpected Gateway to Connection! Building connections might be
How grappling taught me to thrive in chaos and stay grounded under stress. I found myself in the bottom-side control position, also called “100 kgs.” The pressure was massive, but I stayed calm. I embraced Elizabeth George’s words. “Gentleness is strength under control. It is the ability to stay calm, no matter what happens.” Calm Under
How Jiu-Jitsu teaches the triumph of intelligence over aggression I was on my back and pinned under a person who was almost twice as big as me. Almost every part of my body told me to fight my way out, to push, shove, and beat him. But all my brute strength could not move the
My love for Jiu-Jitsu has never changed. The mats are where I get strong, face challenges, and win. But I learned the hard way one day that taking care of your body is just as important as getting better at what you do. It was just another training session, nothing unusual about it. Over and
Mats are like home to grapplers like us. In all honesty, though, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not easy on the knees. Believe me! You hurt your knees a lot when you do knee-on-belly drills or when you defend against takedowns. It was hard for me to learn this lesson. During a tough sparring session, I slightly
When I walked into a Jiu-Jitsu academy for the first time, I felt scared. The mats were full of experienced practitioners. Some looked like experienced warriors, while others looked like wiry tacticians. They were all moving in a way that I could not understand. As a beginner, I did not feel like I belonged. I
How Jiu-Jitsu taught me to thrive in adversity! I never thought I would find comfort in being uncomfortable. He really did mean that when he said, “Jiu-Jitsu teaches you to find comfort in very uncomfortable situations.” At the start of my training, I did not understand how this could be true. I liked being in
Life has a way of hitting you harder than anyone else. You are put to the test, broken, and pushed to your limits. I used to think being resilient meant standing strong and never giving up. But as Roberto Cyborg Abreu once said, “Nothing will beat you more than life will, and I think that
