Something about the return of fall always makes me nostalgic. The fact that today is the anniversary of the first day I set foot in a jiu-jitsu school, and this Sunday marks the anniversary of the first class I took. It's funny reading my own writing and words. You can almost sense the overwhelmed attempt to put it all in context. To explain is to understand, and I was struggling at both. Now I am so comfortable with the concepts and mechanics I tried to describe that my first fumbling attempts are almost quaint. That was six years, two kids, a condo, and a house ago. I sold my old truck and bought a sensible compact car that saves on gas. I went from vegetarian to paleo. So much of my life has happened in those 6 years, and much of it either happened or was discussed on those mats. The school has changed too. People come and go. There are people you think are integral to the function of the school who move on and the place is never the same. The school has moved once. The head instructor is the same guy. He's a pillar around which we all revolve.
A jiu-jitsu mat is a microcosm of life. We all have our struggle, we all try to eek out our space and understand how things work.
One of the best decisions I've made was to go and visit that class. To take note of the quality of the people there. Without that first step, none of the rest of it is possible.
If you're pondering taking up something.. anything.. just go and check it out. If you've checked it out, then go try it, and if you enjoy it keep enjoying it. Life is too short to hesitate.
Right now I'm a 3 stripe brown belt. Some day I'll be a black belt. The day doesn't matter because at this point it's inevitable. I'm going to keep training till I'm physically unable; it is part of who I am.
Weighed in at 198 last night after training. Haven't been this light in.. I don't actually know how long. I might have hit this low when I was rowing, but I doubt it. If not then, then college would be the last time. I've still got a little ways to go, but I feel great.
Mahalo.
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2 comments:
JB, it is nice to see you writing again.
I got mat nostalgia reading this. I am working on a plan to start training jiu-jitsu again. I don't know if it will come to fruition, but it has been a year since I last stepped on the mat and I think I miss more than I realize.
Sorry to hear that your strength gig did not go as planned, but I am sure you will reload at some point. Although you mentioned ability was not the issue, I still would like to re-enforce the notion that you definitely know what you are doing. After that one time we met I know have a clean that looks like an athletic movement ( though far from perfect, or even good perhaps). The day we met I could "clean" 205 on very good day. For the last few weeks I have been doubling 220 on a regular basis and I even got up to 239 for a single. Still baby numbers of course, but a noticeable improvement, thanks in large part to that one session we had.
Hey, glad to see you're still reading.
I understand totally. You just have to make it happen.. which is easily said when one has kids.
It happens. I appreciate that, it's easy to doubt your abilities when you fail in the free market. Don't sell yourself short, 239 at your bodyweight is very respectable.
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