Jiu Jitsu 6/30/2011

Jiu Jitsu, what a frustrating challenge to choose.  My husband and my two teenage daughters wanted to get in shape and do something fun as a family.  I have a room full of free weights in my basement that I use on a daily basis.  Squats, curls, cable pulls, abs workouts and the monotonous treadmill and such.  Daily I do my workouts to keep myself fit. Then my family says "let's all try Jiu Jitsu!"  So, we got a membership and started going to class four days a week with out fail.  In my mind I thought I can do this I am in good shape. Have you ever taken a jiu jitsu class?  After the first class every muscle in my body was spent to its limit.  My legs and arms where shaking and my Cloths where drenched with sweat.  When I woke up the next morning my whole body ached in spite of my weight lifting and running routine that I have had for years.  Jiu jitsu is so much fun and so much frustration all at the same time.  We go to class and the instructor shows us proper form. We go through the moves step by step until we thing we have it in our head.  We learn how to use leverage to get to the positions we want.  We learn how to take someone to the ground, how to get out of their guard, how to get side control and knee on belly positions with proper form. We learn how to submit our opponent with a triangle, an arm bar, a chock.  We practice over and over again until we get it right.  Then the last 30 minutes of class we roll full speed against one anther using what we think we have down in our heads.  It is funny how the mind works.  Once you start trying to submit your opponent and keep them from submitting you while you are rolling on the ground with every ounce of energy and strength and mind power that you have Everything thing that you think you know disappears from your mind.   My instructor tells me that each time we learn something it needs to be practiced correctly three to five thousand times before it comes naturally.  That my friends is a lot of times!  It has now been three months sinse I began my class. I have woke up with bruises and pains and broken toes. I am learning to be strong and have confidence in myself. I am improving, getting stronger, learning to be patient and wait for the right time to make my move to get a submission or points for a position.  I am a simple white belt learning the sport.  I love it because it challenges my body and my mind.  It is giving my girls confidence in themselves and my husband has lost 30 pounds.  We are all getting something out of it, especially me.  The great thing about jiu jitsu is that it is always evolving so, you can always learn something new.  Anything that teaches confidence and focus, that makes you think and react, that physically challenges you to your limits and helps you be a more centered person is something I defiantly want to be a part of.  Jiu jitsu is just that for me, an awesome challenge, you should try it.