Why I Chose BJJ

If you had told me a while ago that I’d be training in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

The first time I walked in just to see what it was like, I was honestly a little horrified. It felt intense, unfamiliar, and very far outside of anything I saw myself doing. I definitely felt out of place, especially since I tend to come across as a pretty calm, docile person. Watching people roll and move so quickly, shifting through positions like side control and closed guard, was a lot to take in.

But when I actually decided to try it, everything changed.

From the first day I stepped onto the mat and started learning, I was all in. Every new move felt like picking up another piece of a jigsaw puzzle. At first, none of it fully made sense, but with each class, things started connecting. Positions, transitions, timing, it all slowly began to come together.

One of the biggest challenges was being surrounded by people who were clearly more experienced than me. It’s not easy walking into a room where everyone seems better, faster, and more confident. But what stood out was how supportive everyone was. No one expects you to be perfect. When you’re rolling, people meet you where you’re at. They adjust, they help, and they make it possible to learn at your own pace.

That environment made a huge difference for me.

Even on days where I felt like I wasn’t doing everything right, I knew I was still gaining something just by being there. Not just physically, but mentally too. It builds discipline, awareness, and patience in a way that’s hard to explain until you experience it.

Then comes the gi. I was not prepared for how much a gi costs. That was a bit of a shock at first. But once you’re in it, learning, training, and being part of that space, it starts to feel like part of the process. Its definitely worth it.

BJJ has become more than just something I do. It’s something I’m growing into. It challenges me, keeps me learning, and connects me to a community that’s been nothing but encouraging.

It turns out, stepping into something that felt completely out of place at first was exactly what I needed.