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 charge, having a routine, and staying away from things that pushed me past my limits.
But Jiu-Jitsu? Actually, it is the exact opposite of comfortable.
I thought I was going to die the first time I got caught in a deep armbar. My arm felt like it was going to break, and my body was twisted in a way that hurt and scared me.
All I could think was, “This is it.” “This is not part of my nature.”
I did not tap, though. Even though my gut told me to bail, run away, or escape, I held on and tried to fight through the pain.
However, something odd took place at that time. The longer I stayed there, the more I focused on my breath, and the more I accepted the pain, the less scary it seemed.
In that moment of giving up, I realized something very important: pain was not the enemy. It was just a part of the journey, and how I dealt with it made all the difference.
And, it became clearer as I did more bad things on the mats that it was not about avoiding pain or hard times, but about learning to find peace in them.
It took a few weeks, but I started to enjoy things that used to make me freak out. It did not feel like a loss to be stuck in a tight guard, under a heavy side control, or in a bad position. They turned into chances to learn, change, and grow.
I quit trying to get away from the pain and began to look for ways to make it work for me.
The pain was not the only thing that bothered them. I was not expecting how hard Jiu-Jitsu would be on my mind and emotions.
Getting tired, getting angry, and having times when I thought I could not go on were all parts of the training. I almost gave up, but I learned to keep going with a clear head.
The struggle became the teacher. The uncomfortable place turned into a classroom.
Soon, I began to use this new way of thinking outside of the gym. Life became a little less intimidating. I no longer saw the problems I was having at work, at home, or in my personal relationships as things I had to run away from.
I saw them instead as chances to learn, change, and grow. I thought about what Jiu-Jitsu had taught me: to find comfort in pain, whether it was a hard project or a tough conversation.
Jiu-Jitsu taught me more than just how to get out of tough situations. It taught me how to do well in them. I learned that being uncomfortable is a sign of growth and a necessary part of pushing yourself to get better, stronger, and more hardy.
Gui Valente’s words resonate with me now more than ever. Every roll, every workout, and every tough time is a chance to find comfort in pain and get better through struggle.
I have also learned that the key is not to avoid pain or hardship but to accept them and find peace in the process.
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