Unequivocally, I would encourage a path with jiu jitsu. Candidly and emphatically speaking of finding one’s truth; how one stacks up in a controlled, kinetic simulation of a fight to the death. A “safe space” where all efforts to choke and break limb are reasonably paused at the simple act of a tap; we edge to crazy degrees in the practice of grappling. To the uninitiated, this must sound as crazy enterprise, but to the initiated, a lifestyle that asks for more and takes heartily as the quest of mastery (a utopic ideal never to be reached) quenches its thirst in time, energy, and ultimately body.
In pursuant of a On Path state of mind, you will become accustomed to swimming with the sharks. You will crave the need for adrenaline, risk, and haunting late night rumination of close to death encounters from your cannibalistic tribe. You will be consumed, and your lifestyle changed to accommodate adaptation and progress. Jiu Jitsu should not be prescribed to most. Perhaps even a thought I often have for myself.
Jiu Jitsu will forge your mind, body, and provide a community of like minded and conversely eclectic people that you get to choke. Although, this tempering does not come without sacrifice. Let’s be clear: you will get injured. You will break bone, tendon, and ligament. You will be sore, you will find it hard to move, you will ask of your body often which it is not accustomed and it will attempt to dissuade your momentum. You will learn to fight. But are you willing to sacrifice all that is in between?
Jiu Jitsu isn’t for everyone. And somedays when I first awake, it isn’t for me. As my body creaks remembering past trauma, and providing feedback of needed recovery that is purposefully ignored (shut up bitch), I pack my bag and gear up in Gi for the day’s class. I keep coming back because the fog of pain is always forgotten when the drills begin. When the hands slap and bump, when the hugs are issued after rounds, and we bid farewell and slide back into our lively life distractions, we are always left with a calmness; a undeniably sense of accomplishment and belonging from earned brotherhood in arms. I know what I seek, and this skill cannot be acquired without sacrifice of mind, body and time. We all pay Charon eventually as there is no such thing as a free ride.
I don’t portend that this addiction (trust me we all get it after a few classes) is healthy. It is more likely that Jiu Jitsu is a contraindication of overall physical and mental health. In fact, it will add limp, limited motion, and most assuredly surgical scarring. I don’t advocate most to embark on this crucible of skill acquisition. However, within less time it will take to graduate with college degree, you will earn the ability to physically submit 99% of untrained humans. You will have earned the ability to defend and offend in a physical altercation; you will have peace of mind to be confident while the respect of others to avoid these situations at all cost due to you knowledge of combative chaos. You will forge a body of capable combat.
Hunter S. Thompson said it best:
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967
~That all being said….go train jiu Jitsu.
