10 Reasons Why I Train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

What an interesting article from the Huffington Post by Peggy Nolan. Peggy talks about her Jiu Jitsu experience and the 10 reasons why she trains. Peggy is a real inspiration and we think you'll enjoy the article.. My decade of 40 is nearing its end and it's been a great ten years of learning and growing. I got divorced. I battled breast cancer. I married the love of my life. I became a certified yoga teacher. I achieved both my first degree and second degree black belts in Muay Thai Kickboxing. When I turned 49, I asked, "what's next?" I decided to begin training in the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It took me a few years to reach this decision, step out of my comfort zone and to quit believing the excuses I told myself:

• I'm too old
• Rolling around on the floor with sweaty guys is not my idea of fun
• I might get hurt
• I'm too old
• I'm afraid of falling

After two years of watching two of my Thai kickboxing sisters have fun practicing Jiu-Jitsu, I thought I'd give it a try. Right before Christmas vacation, I took a class just for the ladies. I LOVED it. And of course, I wondered why I created such a big stink in my mind. If I had started two years ago when my friends started, I may be a blue belt like they both are. But instead of beating myself up, I decided to simply start now.

In the beginning Jiu-Jitsu was the hardest physical thing I'd ever done. Forget all the burpees and squat thrusts in Muay Thai. Forget holding Goddess pose for minutes on end. I literally felt like I had been steam-rolled and flattened like a pancake every morning after each Jiu-Jitsu class. I could have easily played a walk-on role in The Walking Dead. I had the stiff zombie limp down without even trying.

I thought about quitting after my 4th or 5th class. "I'm too old to feel this way" was a common argument that ran through my brain. I'd push the thought aside and show up for my next class anyways.

Eight weeks into my Great Jiu-Jitsu experiment I received my first white stripe. I wasn't expecting it and I felt like it was Christmas morning, Easter, and Halloween all rolled into one. Maybe, I thought, I could do this.

Read more by clicking the link below...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-nolan/jiu-jitsu_b_4112136.html