At Gracie NEPA, we don’t train jiu-jitsu because it is easy; we train jiu-jitsu because it is hard. Training that is difficult, and truthfully at times extremely unpleasant, makes us better people. The challenges we impose upon ourselves in our daily training improve us mind, body, and spirit. When studied and practiced in the correct environment, the martial art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu teaches you to handle both physical and mental stress; mostly due to the hours of sparring you log over a year of training. You could study a ‘traditional’ style for a decade and never deal with as much opposition and pressure as you encounter during a single month of BJJ training.
Sustainability Over Time
People are born different. There are those that are born fast, or strong, or tough and then there are those born incapable of walking and chewing gum at the same time. No matter the genetic hand you are dealt everyone can improve themselves through training over time. The first day of training you may puke just from warm-ups. A month later warm-ups are easy and you experience your first sparring match which leaves you contemplating booking an appointment with an emotional support group. Once you become accustomed to sparring you begin sparring with only one hand, then with no hands, then you allow everyone to start from mount or back mount, and so on and so forth until you have exposed yourself to every imaginable scenario within the gym. Then you take yourself out of the comfort zone of your gym and you road trip to a gym a few hours away. Then you enter a competition!
The key is to progressively challenge yourself. Intentionally attempt to freak yourself out! The reason is that by exiting your comfort zone, you will force an adrenaline dump situation; a nerve wrecking gut wrenching, mentally taxing moment and that’s exactly the point! It is when we do difficult things that we grow not only as jiu-jitsu practitioners but as human beings.
About The Author:
Jeff Reese, Gracie Jiu-jitsu black belt, has had the honor of learning from two generations of Gracie family members including Royce, Royler, Rodrigo, Rolker, Ralek, Rener, and Ryron; he teaches at Gracie NEPA in Scranton, PA.
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