By: Austin McCanless
It is known as “the gentle art”, yet it is renowned for its effectiveness and destructive potential. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu exists as an evolution of tradition with its roots firmly planted in Japanese Jujitsu and Judo. Yet this is not an account of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s power as a martial art or a history lesson. Rather, this is an exploration into the heart of the art itself: the practitioners whose lives it has so greatly influenced.
The beauty of Jiu Jitsu lies in its adaptability. This is incredibly true in practice, as the art is free-flowing and constantly evolving. However, that adaptability carries over into how it molds to the individual practitioner as well. “BJJ is many things to many people,” says Jason Finnell, brown belt and professor at Veritas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Dalton, Georgia. “For me, it’s something I love and enjoy. But more than that, it is a vehicle through which I have developed some of the best relationships in my life. It has allowed me to share something with others that adds tremendous value to their lives.”
Finnell has personally watched the dedicated practitioners who train under him grow. Kenneth Everett, another brown belt at Veritas, speaks of the confidence boost that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu provided him: “I’ve always been a passive person and still am, but about a year after I started Jiu Jitsu my confidence increased significantly. Now I can easily look people in the eye and assert my opinion without any anxiety.” White belt Drew Stuckey describes how Jiu Jitsu “transformed [his] mental health just as much as [his] physical health.” The mentality that comes with the training provides a new measure of self-assurance for those who practice. Through determination and motivation, new perspectives can be gained.
Leaving one’s ego at the door is a prime example of the mental shift that Jiu Jitsu brings. Submitting and tapping out when in an inescapable choke or joint lock is not a sign of weakness, but of humility within the Jiu Jitsu community. In her online article “The Gentle Art of Humility: Ego and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu”, black belt Valerie Worthington of Princeton, New Jersey writes, “We are human. It can be exceedingly difficult to put our egos aside. But there is no other way to get better at BJJ, or, truthfully, at life. If we’re not willing to be bad at something first, we’ll never get better at it.”
The physical benefits of training are even more apparent to its practitioners. The toughness that mat time brings is challenging yet highly addicting. As purple belt John Davies tells it, “I tried jiu-jitsu. And it was hard. Physically hard… And after a period of effort…it still didn’t get easier. I realized that’s part of the reason why I still do it.” Perhaps the most inspiring example is the story of blue belt Kevin Bruce. Over the course of two years of intense training under Finnell, Bruce went form 388 pounds to 225 pounds, and he is still losing weight. In Bruce’s own words, “Jiu Jitsu has given me…the confidence I needed to help beat a compulsive eating problem and a drive to be the best version of myself that I can in all aspects of my life.” To read more testimonials, including Bruce’s, visit Jiu Jitsu Changed My Life.
The spirit of competition burns strong within the Jiu Jitsu community as well. Though it is by no means required, many practitioners choose to compete in regional, national, and international tournaments to test their mettle against similarly skilled opponents. The prospect of sport commonly draws in those who have previous athletic experience, especially former high school and collegiate wrestlers who have naturally transitioned to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as grapplers.
No matter the reason for taking up the martial art, practitioners will find themselves in supportive, close-knit community from all walks of life united by their love of Jiu Jitsu. Pac Lewis, a brown belt instructor at Veritas, explains that, “With Jiu Jitsu, it’s different because each of you can help the others to achieve their goals and push each other to become better in any area.” Jiu Jitsu gyms operate as team units designed to give its members tools to learn and grow both on and off the mat. Ultimately, the art is what one makes it out to be. Everyone has a different goal in mind, and the greater community enables the achievement of that goal. To learn more about Veritas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Dalton, Georgia, click here. To learn more about schools and upcoming competitions, check out ibjjf.org.
Tags: Jiu Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Veritas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, martial arts, BJJ
Hashtags: #jiujitsu, #BJJ
References:
Jason Finnell
Brown belt and main instructor at Veritas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
706-694-8797
Pac Lewis
Brown belt and assistant instructor at Veritas
423-637-0014
Kenneth Everett
Brown belt at Veritas
706-694-2667
Kevin Bruce
Purple belt at Veritas
706-934-3428
John Davies
Purple belt at Veritas
706-260-5115
Drew Stuckey
White belt at Veritas
706-934-5429
Valerie Worthington
Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Princeton, New Jersey
https://breakingmuscle.com/coaches/valerie-worthington
Journalism 3190 