Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: The First Class

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Jul 21, 2017 · 3 min read

Back in the day I used to wrestle. From grades 8 to second year of grade 12. That’s 13 years old to 17 years old.

I learned so much about myself, like:

  • How scared I could be when performing in front of others, even including my friends and family
  • How dedicated I could be to a sport (or lack there of) and
  • How I behave, think, and feel when doing something that is difficult (on the mind and body)

All good things. Even the bad. Like losing and not trying your hardest when you know you could have. Or mercy-ing your opponent because you out matched them. (When you mercy your opponent in wrestling that means you beat them by 10 points, eg. 10–0, 11–1, 12–2, you get it)

What does this all have to do with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Well one night, about 2 months ago, I was drunk with my older brother and his friend. His friend used to wrestle as well. Same high school. He was really good.

We got to talking, like drunkards do, and I mentioned how I missed:

  • the mats, the smell of the bleach when you showed up early to tournaments or have to mop them because you’re a newbie to the team
  • Walking up to a bout sheet that was on the wall (a big bracket of who you were going to be wrestling that day) and then seeing or meeting the guy you were about to tilt with) and
  • The nerves I would feel hours or minutes before a match

Soon after the beer riddle weekend with my bro and his buddy, I joined a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club. Apparently one of the better ones in the city. Or so I’ve been told.

The first class I went to (you guys will like this) I didn’t have a gi. So I had to wear the beater one. It was gross and worn and too big for me. I also had to use a pink gi belt. It was funny.

The first warm up I did almost killed me. Well not really but it did show me how out of shape I was (maybe still am but that’s just the beer and smoke).

The class was good. It was a Beginners class. Which basically means you learn some takedowns and chokes then you roll for 6mins. 2mins with a new partner each time.

My wrestling didn’t help. As wrestlers we’re taught to stay off our backs. Not attack from them. Very trippy. Had to get used to it.

At the end of the first class everyone lined up. There wasn’t any room anywhere else so I went to the very front of the line and made my way in.

A big black guy in a cool looking gi says to me, “Wrong place my man, you’re down there.” As he pointed to the end of the line. I laughed. Others did as well.

We did the bowing thing and all shook each others hands at the end like they do in little league baseball.

I singed up for 12 classes. $115 + the gi $235 = bullshit ($350). Now I’m, “dedicated”

I’m a month in. I’ll tell you about the rest of the classes soon enough.

Have you ever done something like this? Said, “fuck it” and gone to do something you’ve really wanted to?

Let me know.

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