Jiu-Jitsu

I was first exposed to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when Royce Gracie was featured in the first UFC in 1993. I I could understand was this little guy would take clearly bigger stronger guys down to the ground and then he would win.  Over and over again against people representing other martial arts, Gracie kept winning. Then BJJ was offered at UCLA and I took it there and then at the Rickson Gracie Academy where I got my blue belt, year ago. I got distracted by teaching and dating and traveling since then, but BJJ was always in there somewhere and I something regret not sticking with it (however, I am not sure that's how it's appropriate to view the past as me then was different from me now).

Later in my 40's I went to Morumbi in Ventura and hurt tore a muscle in my side pretty quickly and didn't go back for 7 years. I finally went back there and after almost a year hurt my neck and took another year off. Then I went to Evolve in Ventura for about 1.5 years and got my purple belt. I was taking Jiu-Jitsu pretty seriously and even taking private lessons with a guy named Oscar Felix once a week in Camarillo.  Of the different things I've put effort into during my life so far, getting my purple belt is way up there. I may not be a very good purple belt compared to someone 20 years younger who would be faster and could train harder and recover faster, but it still gives me a feeling of accomplishment having done that as it's considered the first "big boy"/you have arrived belt. 

After 2 other Ventura gyms, I am now I am going to Archer Jiu-Jitsu in Ventura.  I really like that at Archer they've really done away with the ritual and tribalism you find at other places. You can wear any Gi you'd like, there is no bowing, no worries about training at other gyms on the side, no having to placate the instructor's egos, or worries about disrespecting someone by not knowing the proper etiquette. It's the fun and positive stuff without the things that, for me, a 51 year adult, add no value. and diminish the brotherhood we all share as a community of people doing  a hobby we enjoy. 

I don't know how many more years of Jiu-Jitsu I have before I hang it up. Injuries happen more easily and take longer to heal and could always leave behind chronic conditions.  And sometimes Jiu-Jitsu pushes against how peaceful I want to live here with love and kindness for my fellow humans. But I try to keep it light and fun, and it's still working. Roll on.