How Martial Arts Changed my Life. ~ 3 mins.

This picture is of me last week, in a nasty leg log which manipulates the ankle and knee joint.

1 year ago, if you asked me about my fighting & self defence capabilities, I’d probably laugh.

I’ve never been a fighter, or a physically  violent person. However, being able to defend yourself, others or de escalate a potentially violent situation is an invaluable skill, whether you ever need to use it in anger or not.

This is something I previously didn’t understand, and had never thought about prior to learning Nogi BJJ, and Striking at BMA Halifax.

For the first 4-6 months, virtually anyone who attempts BJJ will bet destroyed in rolling. 4-6 8-minute rounds per session ensures you get a healthy dose of well-matched grappling. Anyone who outlasts this initial stage, is a warrior in my eyes. It’s one thing to turn up, but infinitely more brutal to turn up knowing it’s going to be difficult.

But when you progress, get that first submission completely organically, something changes in your brain.

Something primal, an instinct reliant on behaviour which can only be emulated in a physical exchange of defence/attack with another human being. I have never felt it before training, and it’s the only thing which stimulates this part of the brain for me.

Martial arts teach you discipline, respect and to be humble. It is the only thing which cannot ever be improved through financial investment of equipment - the only thing which is going to tell you if you’re better than your opponent, is your bare hands and body, and performance in that moment. No one can take away the skill or technique that you learn. No one can tell you you’re better or worse than you are.

Striking produce’s the same feeling. 4 6-minute rounds per session. Amateur fights last 3 minutes per round.

The first session I attended, my nose was so soft, and it bled upon every jab, for 4 weeks straight. Now I can take a clean shot to the nose no problem.

My technique has improved, but not as much as the grappling. My movement is still slow, but I’m working on it. I need to improve my guarding, especially during exchanges.

I should also say that it’s incredibly fun, and the people are what makes the gym what it is, as well as the coach.

Overall, it has produced the best mindset shift I could have hoped for. My personality, now more self aware, and I carry myself with less ego, more humility and I would say I’m more humble than before in conversation. Don’t expect anything from anyone, and you can never be disappointed. Do what you need to do for yourself, don’t think that anyone is guaranteed to help you out of your position. If they do, it’s a gift and should not be expected to recur.

Fail fast, thank you for reading with me.