So last Tuesday I survived USMLE Step 1, but also marked ONE YEAR of training jiu jitsu! Hard to
believe. This year has definitely flown by.
So what’s changed in a year? What has jiu jitsu done for me
so far? And each one of these applies to lessons learned in jiu jitsu that also
have a greater extension into everyday life.
10. It’s given me an
outlet for stress/frustration. Life isn’t always fair, and school is often
frustrating. And at the end of a really long day there’s no greater way to
relax and clear your mind than on the mats in what really are life and death
situations. I may have had the worst day, but once you walk through the doors
of the academy and are greeted by all your teammates with a smile the bad day
doesn’t seem so important.
9. It’s helped me get
into/stay in shape. It requires an entirely new level of physical fitness
to grapple for 5 or 6 matches in a row, and even more to do that at a
tournament. Sure, I may not run 6 miles a day, but I know I’m in incredible
shape. Plus, I have these crazy things called muscles (specifically abs, biceps, and triceps) now.
8. It’s taught me
self-discipline and that you get out what you put in. If I don’t go to
class, I won’t improve. It’s that simple. And when I’m in class if I only
half-heartedly drill or train, I will only get half the results. And if I eat
terrible foods and don’t drink enough water, I’ll suffer that night at
training. And the ONLY person who decides that is me.
7. It’s given me
confidence in myself. I’ll be the first to admit that I tend to be an
introvert and don’t always believe in myself. Since starting jiu jitsu I walk
around with much more confidence because if I can survive every day on the
mats, I know there’s not much more that life can throw my way that I can’t
handle.
6. It’s taught me
that even the worst possible scenario has a way out. Sometimes that means
being patient for a little while in a very terrible spot, but with patience and
the right technique there’s always an escape.
5. It’s taught me
endurance and perseverance. I started 1 year ago with absolutely no martial
arts experience, and looking back between then and now it amazes me how much I’ve
improved. That comes with showing up day after day, getting smashed day after
day, and tapping day after day. It’s a long journey.
4. It’s taught me how
to lose. Actually, it’s taught me that losing isn’t the end of the world,
and that more often than not it teaches you more than winning. Winning, obviously,
is awesome. But when you lose you realize what it is you need to work on and
improve.
3. It’s taught me how
to love to learn. Every single class we learn 4 new techniques. I’ve
learned that I won’t remember them all, but I love to see what really cool new
trick I’ll be able to have up my sleeve. Life, after all, requires you to never
stop learning.
2. It’s given me the
chance to be part of an incredible family. I genuinely believe I have the
greatest jiu jitsu family out there. The outpouring of support and willingness
to help in whatever way possible is second to none. I personally think it’s the
greatest thing about jiu jitsu.
1. It’s taught me
that your dreams are never too big. A year ago I would have never in my wildest dreams thought that a goal of mine would to be a black belt, or to be a world champion. But now I know that those dreams, while extremely hard, are within reach.
Special thanks to EVERYONE at the Toledo academy for pushing
me to always do better. And especially to Chris, Aaron, Juan, John, William,
Justin, Mike, Jeremy, Jed, and all the teens because at one time or another
each one of you kept me coming back, pushed me harder, and gave me that
confidence I needed. And to all my family and friends for their support at tournaments and every single day.
I've come a long way from my first day of jiu jitsu class where I couldn't figure out how to do the shoulder rolls or shrimping across the floor and the flower sweep seemed impossible.
So… one year down,
the rest of my life to go. Really excited to continue onward.
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What my backyard has turned into.... |
Labels: anniversary, BJJ, BJJ girl, lessons