After a long week of teaching, I stepped onto the mats at Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu. Enthusiasm began to fill the gym as my teammates entered, armed not with rash guards and gis, but with paint brushes.
We were all there for the same reason — to give back to an instructor whose life was dedicated to making our team and our gym stronger. We had been planning this gift for weeks, bonding our tightly knit group together in secrecy.
Painting our way into the morning to surprise Instructor Jordan Wilson exemplifies why I choose to train at Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu. It isn’t simply about Jiu Jitsu, though our curriculum is developed by 11 time world champion, Caio Terra; it is about teamwork, patience, perseverance, and humility.
When I started…
When I started training two years ago, I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. At my first class, I decided to observe, rather than participate. Being a teacher, one of the first things I noticed was the amount of attention and feedback Jordan was giving his students. It was clear from the start that he was invested in the growth of each individual on the mats. He would watch intently as a student performed a technique, pinpoint a missing detail that wasn’t distinguishable to an unknowledgeable observer like me, and then execute a detailed correction that would immediately produce results. After watching for that first hour, I was itching to give it a try.
Those first few months on the mat flew by. I felt like I was doing more falling over than anything else. “Keep your base,” Jordan would advise, but down I’d go, again and again. “Never go belly down,” he’d warn, but somehow I would find my nose smushed into a sea of blue mats. Each time, I’d get up, smile, and jump right back into the game. Looking back, I was doing more than just falling; I was learning to move.
Growing…
As I was developing my base, our classes were beginning to grow. When new people joined our group, I found that I had many more lessons to learn. It came as a surprise to me that Jiu Jitsu is a team sport. My training partners are at the center of my own improvement, and I am also influential over their growth. As I developed my triangle, my teammates refined their defenses. When my partners held me tightly in side control, I slowly picked up strategies for escape. It wasn’t about who could tap out whom anymore, but how we could grow and make each other better.
Much to my dismay, there were periods of time when I felt that all I could do was work my defense, and sometimes I couldn’t even do that much. It wasn’t until later in my training that I realized that I wasn’t actually getting worse at Jiu Jitsu. I felt like this, because we were all getting better together, and this growth was happening in both trickles and spurts. Getting through those periods where it seemed like I was being left behind taught me patience and humility. It wasn’t about being the best or about winning. Instead, it was about showing up every day and giving it my all. It was about loving Jiu Jitsu whether I was tapping or being tapped, and growing as a team.
Two years later…
My curiosity and love of Jiu Jitsu have led me to try out other gyms, but doing so has only made my path more clear. Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu is the place where I will become a better athlete and a better person.
Two years into my training, I now know that this is just the beginning of an incredible journey. My commitment to Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu has been strengthened in the understanding that I have so much more to learn.
When it comes to Jiu Jitsu and character, Jordan always leads by example. He shows compassion for his students and seeks to understand their path. He notices our frustrations and is quick to add perspective and balance to our training.
There are times when I get frustrated and other times when my ego takes over. My CTA family is there during those times to remind me of why I train. We help each other, both on and off the mats. This is apparent to anyone who may overhear our locker room chatter or see our line of sweaty hugs at the close of each night.
And through all of this, I have grown. It may not always be in the way I expect, or at the rate I would like, but every day I am a little better and a little stronger.
It hasn’t been easy. I’ve been challenged every step of the way, but I wouldn’t trade a moment of my training. Jiu Jitsu has changed my life, and I could not do it on my own. Thanks to Jordan and my amazing team at Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu, I don’t have to.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can change your life too. If you want to come in and check us out let me know. It’s free! Just call or write to schedule a time or just drop in when we have classes on the schedule.
Karen is a regular contributor to BJJMadison.com and a leader at our academy. You can find her training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu regularly around Madison. Primarily at her home academy Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu.