I find that my life is a series of restarts. I have again begun something that I really enjoy —Brazillian Jiu Jitsu.
I started my BJJ training a little over three years ago in Montrose California at a place called The Fight Forum (it is now called M3). The very first person to show me any official BJJ techniques was Rudy Fischman. As he went through explaining each position and giving me a basic primer I fell in love with the art and knew it was for me.
For many years as an adolescent I was a student of Kenpo, but I got tired of being punched in the face so I decided to go another route. BJJ isn’t a striking art. The whole point is to try to submit your opponent on the ground by bending, torquing, and choking various areas of the body with a repertoire of techniques. So after a stint at the Fight Forum, I trained with Alexandre Novaes. It was under his mentorship that I received a Blue Belt and a good deal of education on what works best for my body type.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an art that allows me to use my body in an extreme way. There is nothing like going full contact with someone while rolling trying to submit them and avoiding being submitted. It’s kind of hard to think of anything else when the person across from you has one goal in mind–to tap you out. That is why I find it cathartic, it allows me to live in the moment in a way that I seek to live off the mats.
It has been about a year since I’ve trained, but I have started again.
Newton’s first law of motion is basically, “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon.” Well, my body has not been in motion for a long time. And because I have been so sedentary, it is very difficult to get momentum going. I have felt petrified with concrete boots weighing me down.
In this case I am my own worst enemy.
I come up with excuses.
I talk myself out of getting off the couch.
I tell myself that I need to physically prepare myself before I go back.
I am the only one stopping me.
BJJ and I have a rocky relationship. I take bits of time off, but I am back again. The first couple times back are always the worst. My body is pain, I can barely walk, and afterwards even simple tasks are a chore. But it is worth it.
My mind is right; I feel like I can think clearer.
My soul is right; The discipline of training transfers to my spiritual well being.
My body is right; I have more energy.
So i’ve started again.
-jpserrano