Ah, the innocence of earning that first colored belt for adults involved in the sport of Jiu Jitsu, the long-awaited and eagerly anticipated blue belt. When you earn that blue belt, it is a mixture of pride at having solidified your rank at this incredibly difficult sport where you will see a large fraction of […]
Read morePutting the ‘Pans’ in Panics
Woo lawd, I am busting my little rump over here trying to get ready for my first major IBJJF competition of the year, and lucky for me, it happens to be one week after my wedding. That was sarcasm by the way, in case you didn’t pick up on it. My brain and body definitely […]
Read moreShould I Compete?
I could probably make a list of the top frequently asked questions asked in grappling pages and groups on social media, and the one in the title would be in the top 10, and probably crack the top 5 if I am being perfectly honest. It makes sense; many people are unsure of themselves when […]
Read moreOmega
I’d rather be the lone wolf than the Omega; the last in the pack, the scapegoat, the ones who eat last. There are many who probably (wrongly) assume I am the alpha, keen to lead the pack and be the strong and constant vigilant ruler. But I hate, nay, loathe that type of responsibility. I […]
Read moreIt’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like F*** This
My current attitude may or may not be a reflection of my current state of mind being that I am these days relegated to the couch instead of the gym more often than not. I mean, earlier this week I was literally struggling to hamstring curl 10 freaking pounds. Granted, I had knee surgery only […]
Read moreLet Those Tears Flow
Cry it out sis (or bro, or whomever; we don’t discriminate around these parts). Let those tears flow. You worked harder than you ever though possible, sacrificed time, and put in the effort. And you know what? Sometimes the stars don’t align and it just isn’t your day. And yeah. That shit fucking hurts. I […]
Read moreWhat’s Wrong With Being Confident?
Always a tough line I’d struggled with finding the right balance between for a long time. I wanted to have faith in my demeanor and abilities but suffered with the fear that it would come across as arrogance and cockiness. How can I exude an air of being strong and confident in myself without portraying […]
Read moreKnowledge Bombs
s been a hot minute since I slapped this blog with some well-thought out wisdom from the back corners of my brain. Am I an expert on any type of life advice? Nay I say, but I do now how to execute words proficiently through paper and to say it with conviction through my chest until it penetrates the skulls of those who need to hear it and would benefit from it most.
Read moreComing Out of My Schell
joke with my partner about his social abilities and extroverted abilities while I’m often perfectly content in my solitude and the quiet. While this can be perceived as stand off-ish, it’s honestly just because my mind needs time to recharge and my emotional state to recuperate
Read moreIdentity Crisis
Trying to find and navigate your place in this world in a role that not only suits you but that is also found to be fulfilling is a struggle many of us face. If we are successful in our athletic endeavors, do we assume that we are nothing after a loss or a switch in […]
Read more