Why? Part 1 of Many

I have been thinking about this lately. Why do I like Jiu Jitsu so much? I have thought about it, and I have come to this conclusion: I like what training brings out of me.

I have this belief that every action in your life causes a reaction that cascades across all facets of your being. Try as you might to resist, you will be changed by each encounter. I believe that each time I face my fight or flight response, and choose fight that it sets off a chain reaction within my personality. The more times I opt for fight, the more I feel confident in that option. Training isn't meant to be dangerous, in fact we go to great pains to make it safe but that doesn't mean engaging another person as a combatant doesn't exercise that part of your brain that yearns for the kill. Somewhere in those dark recesses and folds of gray matter a dormant instinct is awakening, and as awareness sharpens those instincts they become a more active part of day to day life.

I find I am more prone to say "no" when I mean no, and I don't get intimidated like I had occasionally been before training. There may even be a small voice in my psyche that is begging to use new skills in anger. Sort of an open invitation to test myself. Don't get me wrong I'm not looking for fights or anything, but I'm not avoiding them like I used to. For a guy who used to apologize to people that ran into him, this is a nice step forward. Meekness gives way to self assurance and that breeds confidence.

Introduction

It started innocently enough, a free introductory course at a local school. My best friend had started studying BJJ about 5 months before. He kept telling me how different it was as a workout, and as an extracurricular activity. I resisted, citing finances, family obligations and an asortment of other excuses. He finally just signed me up for the freebie class, and told me when and where to show up. Here I am 8 months later a regular student attending classes three times per week, well on my way to earning my Blue Belt.

I doubt anyone would have picked me out of a crowd as a person who would become enamored with grappling. I don't have a wrestling background, nor have I ever been the aggressive sort. I don't have a lot of fighting in my background, and I am not very quick to temper, nor am I the sort that looks for a fight rather than a good time. Still, I find myself training in BJJ, and seriously considering expanding into Muay Thai. After trying many many sports I have found something I really love, and I can't imagine what life would be like without it.

Some basics about me: I am a 35yr old white collar worker. I toil for 8 hrs a day in a fabric box managing accounts for small business. Account manager= Sales guy. I have to work over the phone, and I have a boss who can listen to my calls, and tap into my computer screen so she can see what I see and micro manage my activities all day long. Work is not fun, it is a chore. It also appears that I am pretty good at my chore as I meet performance metrics month after month. I make a reasonable living that allows me to provide for my family. We have an average home in the suburbs of Denver CO.
I have a wife, and a 2yr old daughter. My family is very supportive of my career, and my martial arts aspirations. I come from a suburban upbringing and like many of my peers I am a product of divorce. I am very close with all of my parents, including my step parents on both sides. It hasn't always been easy, but it is the life I have, and I like it.

I wouldn't say I have a lot of experience fighting outside of training, but I have had my share of scuffles which I will likely cover in more detail as time moves on. I can recall seven bouts off the top of my head. Each fight was unique to that time in my life, and outcomes varied but they each shaped my personality in some way. You have to expect that fighting will do that. It alters your perception of yourself, and it also shapes the way you are viewed by others. I hope to get into that a bit as the blog moves forward.

In your reading you will likely note that I am a bit of a gear head. I like equipment, and will do some testing and reviewing as part of my writing. I will also be doing some book reporting, as well as observation of amateur and professional competition. I will do my level best to remain fair in my reviews, but I'm not a journalist and make no oaths to impartiality, nor do I claim any specific expertise. Please trust that I will be honest in my opinions, but that my opinions are just that: mine.
I will discuss training. There will be observations, and opinion. I may mention individuals whom I will not name specifically. I will likely designate these individuals through elements of their nature, and I will do this to avoid bumming anyone out. If I want to make a joke, or a critical observation I don't want these folks finding themselves in a Google search. For the same reason I will likely never specifically name the school I am attending. Most of the men and women I train with are awesome, but it is still a mixed bag and that assortment may lead to some interesting posts down the line.

So there you have it: A basic intro to Sweep Grapple and Roll. I hope to get better at blogging as I go forward. Please bear with me as I learn the intricacies of the available formatting, and technology. I look forward to sharing this experience with a few readers, and I look forward to hearing the comments that may come as the blog develops.

Enjoy!

P