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I sat in the car, speculating who I was. Had my whole time training in the gym been for nobody? That was my second Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) session. I’ve done a scarce hundred since.
Voluntary pain beats involuntary pain
My face has six cuts on it, my hip flexor is creaky, and my chin has an egg growing out of it. All temporary, but I’m pleased with them. They’re from last weekend’s BJJ competition.
I’m used to it now. Minor damages and being sore are part of the game.
The Buddhists guessed this out 2500 years ago. Life is suffering. And if you don’t seek it voluntarily, it resolves to show up involuntarily.
After doing it for a year, Bill’s disagreements make more and more sense. Wrestling, practicing techniques, and drilling hard it all becomes a meditation. A way to block out the respite of the world.
It’s hard to worry about what somebody said at work when you were training out.
Voluntary pain beats involuntary pain
My face has six scratches, my current flexor is creaky, and my chin has an egg growing out of it. All impermanent, but I’m proud of them. They’re from last weekend’s BJJ competition.
I’m used to it now. Minor injuries and life sore are part of the game.
The Buddhists guessed this out 2500 years ago. Life is suffering. And if you don’t seek it voluntarily, it will appear involuntarily.
Dave, one of my training partners, messaged me last night. He said someone he trained with spent too long conversations instead of working.
Win or learn
Deep down, every man loves belligerent. Even if they don’t admit it, it’s primal. It’s what we do as kids. Leave a group of kids calm on their own for long enough, and eventually, they start wrestling.
I remember not getting a job and crying. Not in receipt of elected school captain and crying. Not getting selected to go on a trip besides crying.
The professional stays calm under pressure
A year in, I know why I was sick after my second session. Apart from being dominated by Bill, I was tiresome too hard.
I knew no techniques, so I was dependent on pure strength. It was trying to muscle my way out of every grip and hold. I let the epinephrine of being in a fight fuel my attempts to escape.
Confidence comes with existence, being able to defend yourself. It went to a workout class at a non-martial drawing gym to mix things up. It ended up being one where you partner with somebody and go through different drills.
We practiced getting up and off the ground while our husband tried to lunge towards us. The objective was to not let them touch your head.
A lot can change in a year. I sent my brother Josh a message while I was overseas.
“When I get back, let’s get into a martial art.”
He replied with a photo of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym opening down the road the day I returned. We went to the first-ever session along with our Dad and my arch nemesis Dave.
Importance of resilience
On the mats, you face countless challenges and setbacks. You get submitted, you lose rounds, but it’s how you bounce back that matters. Life throws curveballs too—failures, rejections, unexpected twists. BJJ taught me to embrace those setbacks, learn from them, and come back stronger. Resilience is not just about avoiding difficulties but navigating through them with grace.
Both patience and resilience have become my companions off the mats, shaping my approach to life. It’s funny how a sport can be a metaphor for the bigger game we play every day.
Power of patience
In the world of BJJ, progress is gradual. You don’t become a black belt overnight; it takes time, consistent effort, and a whole lot of patience. This mirrors life so well. We often want instant results, but real growth and mastery take time. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and trusting the process.