'Oss'

The smell of sweat, the sound of feet shifting around on the mat, deep breathes being exhaled and inhaled as your partners struggle to catch their breath, fill the air. you take a look to your left, and then to the right, catching the eye of the person next to you, both smiling in pure excitement, happily exhausted. The professor stands at the head of the room and as he bows 'oss' loudly rings from his lips, then a loud hiss from the line you stand a part of responds in unison 'OSS'.

Jiu-Jitsu is more than a martial art. It's more than 'cool' or 'badass' chokes or techniques you see in the UFC, more than tournaments, and competitions. Jiu-Jitsu is community, its camaraderie, It's learning to get back up when you've gotten stuck in a bad spot. Jiu-jitsu is figuring out new ways to solve a problem, facing humility, being out-smarted, out-worked, and then being able to look up and take the hand of the person who just beat you, as they offer to help you to your feet. The first time I stepped foot in a Jiu-jitsu gym I was nervous, unbelievably anxious. I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea that I would learn to love it and all the hardships that came with it, and most importantly I had no idea I would fall in love with all the people who were there. The gym became a home away from home, a place that I found myself to enjoy being at, more than most other places. I formed friendships and made connections, I found a community I wanted to be a part of. More than that, I found a second family.

There hasn't been a day that I haven't thought about all of the people I grew to know from that gym since leaving. I miss them all very much, but Jiu-Jitsu is also about growth and seeing your flaws, and trying to work through them. I made mistakes, some worse than others and I know that now. I also know that giving up wasn't the answer, blame wasn't the answer. As a white belt I make a lot of mistakes, clumsy and uncoordinated, I rush moves and i'm spazzy, same applies to how I am in everyday life. I'm still learning, getting knocked down, struggling to get back up, constantly making mistakes and constantly trying to fix them, trying to be better. I hardly ever know what the correct next move should be, where I should move an arm or position a leg, sometimes I even forget to breathe.

-Dive. Lift. Jiu-Jitsu. Repeat