Brooklyn Brazilian Jui Jitsu

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Along with the more obvious physical and technical benefits of my six years training with Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I've also noticed some unexpected, welcome side-effects.



Today when I entered the locker room, two young beginner students were walking out for their intro lessons, wearing white Basic Class gi's - still creased from the manufacturer's original folding job. Seeing those new students, just about to take the plunge into the martial arts lifestyle, I was of course reminded of my own beginnings here at the dojo.



I felt a sense of responsibility to those two new students. I remembered my responsibility to uphold the tenets of this academy; the respect for teachers and fellow students, the commitment to safety - to discipline as a martial arts practitioner, and an eagerness to really give, as a training partner. As a student, I also have a responsibility to my instructors. It's my job, when I walk into the dojo, to make certain that I actively play the part I'm meant to. I come to class to learn from these incredible teachers, not to instruct anyone.



Believe it or not, some of these tenets - paraphrased from the Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Student Creed - can slip one's mind from time to time. Without fail, life offers daily opportunities for us to cast off the invaluable teachings of our instructors. Someone at work, on the subway platform, or even in one's own family, offers an aggressively negative critique of our performance, pushes past us into the train, or makes a snide remark they know will touch a nerve.



At that moment, it's up to each one of us, as individuals, to parry that cheap shot with a proven technique. One of the amazing things about training at BBJJ is that we learn not only techniques for defending ourselves - but techniques for upholding our best selves, for our own peace of mind as well as the benefit of those we interact with and even love.



When I saw those two young beginner students, walking around the Bay Parkway dojo on their first day of training, I smiled and said hello. I introduced myself. Chances are, they're going to have a great time in their lesson, and we're going to become training partners. That will increase the feeling of family here at the school, and that brings the energy up even higher. The more of that we have around, the better the learning environment for the individual.



Come down and sign up for your first lesson as soon as you can. The benefits are many, but it only takes one visit to see for yourself what I'm describing.



Jeff Taylor

Student at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2010