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 […]
The Power of Surrounding Yourself with Greatness in Jiu-Jitsu and Life Read Post »
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
Jiu-Jitsu Uncomfortable Path to Comfort! Read Post »
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
Jiu-Jitsu Taught Me to Embrace Struggles with Passion Read Post »
I sat on the edge of the mat and watched a match between two skilled grapplers. A beautiful dance of control and resistance was going on as muscles strained and sweat poured out. As one player tapped, giving way to the other player’s skill, John Danaher’s words kept playing in my head: “It’s such an
Jiu-Jitsu Teaches Me to Be Strong and Humble! Read Post »
How Jiu-Jitsu taught me to stay calm in the chaos of life. Before I started Jiu-Jitsu, I had no idea what it was like to really be under pressure. I thought I could handle anything life threw at me and deal with stress. Soon, though, each time I stepped on the mats, I saw how
The Art of Problem-Solving Under Pressure Read Post »
The most important rule that changed how I do Jiu-Jitsu and life in general In the beginning of my Jiu-Jitsu journey, I was crazy about submissions. I was eager to learn all of them—armbars, chokes, and heel hooks. It felt like a race every roll to see how fast I could knock someone out. But
Position Before Submission Read Post »
I had no idea how much Jiu-Jitsu would change me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually when I first started training. Rickson Gracie’s words hit me hard the first time I heard them; “Jiu-Jitsu can support you in terms of giving you more confidence, giving you more capacity to handle stress, handle emotions…” I was just a
Jiu-Jitsu Became My Anchor in the Storm of Life! Read Post »
“I didn’t think that getting on the mats would help me come out of my shell.” I’m Emma, and this is how Jiu-Jitsu helped me get over my shyness around other people. Since I can remember, being around other people has always been the hardest thing for me. Meeting new people, starting talks, or even
Jiu-Jitsu Helped Me Overcome Social Anxiety Read Post »
Lessons from the Mats! So, I’ve been teaching physics to middle schoolers for over twelve years. Imagine trying to explain motion and energy to a bunch of 12 to 14-year-olds who are more interested in the next school dance than Isaac Newton. It’s fun but definitely keeps you on your toes! About six years ago, I started
Jiu-Jitsu Helps Me Keep My Cool in the Classroom Read Post »
“I thought constant exhaustion was just part of life—until Jiu-Jitsu showed me it wasn’t.” Hello, my name is Tom, and this is how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helped me get over being tired and find my energy again. I have always been the type of person who says “yes” to everything. I did everything—work, family, and side
Jiu-Jitsu Helped Me Break Free from Burnout Read Post »
