When I was a kid, the moments before Jiu Jitsu were filled with dread. I never really wanted to go — often fighting my dad on it, faking sick or crying to get out of class. Looking back, it’s funny to think about. I didn’t hate training, and once I got on the mat, I usually forgot why I wanted to stay home in the first place.
What I was really resisting was the difficulty itself. Jiu Jitsu can be uncomfortable, intimidating, and stressful. But it’s exactly in those difficult moments that I grew the most. Because of them, I sincerely believe I became a better person.
Jiu Jitsu has taught me to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. It’s shown me that even when I face setbacks, there’s always a way forward: fail, fail again and fail better.
When asked how Jiu Jitsu has changed my life, my first thought went to the skills I’ve gained because of the sport. Growing up, my sister and I would often ask how long we had to do Jiu Jitsu.
“When can we stop doing this?”
The answer was always, “When I feel like you’re ready to defend yourself if needed.”
That standard gave me confidence in my physical abilities. Walking alone at night can be intimidating, but I carry a sense of assurance knowing the training I’ve put in.
Even though Jiu Jitsu is a contact sport, I think the mental lessons it teaches outweigh the physical ones.
The lessons on the mat — beyond just grappling — translate directly to life outside the academy. Chief among them stands discipline.
The Tigers have a chant that they recite at the end of class sometimes:
“Discipline! I do what I have to do, even when I don’t want to.”
Having shouted that probably hundreds of times, I find myself repeating it in my head whenever I hesitate to take action.
That mindset has carried over into every part of my life. In school, at work, and in everyday tasks, I push myself to go beyond what’s comfortable. Over time, it has become second nature — a habit shaped on the mat, but lived everywhere else.
Jiu Jitsu has additionally given me a balance of humility and confidence that I believe hard to find anywhere else. I understand my capabilities and my positive attributes, using them to my advantage – yet, I still know that there’s always room for improvement. There is always something I can become a little better at, which pushes me to work harder every day.
It has also taught me how to assert myself. Learning to set boundaries on the mat helped me learn how to set them off the mat — physically at first, and later socially.
[Navigating Boundaries On and Off the Mat]
And beyond all that, training has brought me some of the best friends I’ve ever had. There’s a unique bond in sharing this strange, demanding sport. Facing challenges together creates a connection that feels less like friendship and more like family.
While working at the front desk, I often tell parents how Jiu Jitsu can benefit attitude and discipline. But it’s much more than that. Jiu Jitsu teaches kids – and adults – how to be a better person. It allows you to fail and grow, to succeed with modesty, and to handle frustration, discomfort and stress.
My entire life, Jiu Jitsu has not only taught me how to fight, but how to live.
