Jiu-Jitsu is an adventure.  Any adventure worth having is full of hiccups, and problems to be overcome.  Not all problems are serious, and sometimes can be comedic.  Just remember, it’s part of the journey!

I’m injured! Does that mean I can’t train?

Injury is a reality of any sport, especially in a combat sports.  Although training safely is a priority among good Jiu-Jitsu academies, accidents happen.  More often than not I find Jiu-Jitsu practitioners more upset they can’t train because of an injury, rather than worrying about the injury itself.  Know when you have to take some time off in order to prevent further injury.  When in doubt, consult a doctor, not the Internet.

I don’t have any clean gis!

Train often enough and you will undoubtedly run into someone without a clean gi.  How will you know?  Trust me, you will know…

Remember – respect your training partners.  Wash your kimonos and invest in more than one if you train frequently.  With proper upkeep and rotation, Jiu-Jitsu gis can last several years.

I would love to eat that, but I have to make weight…

Eating healthy is part of the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle.  It’s no secret that eating right is the best way to go but that doesn’t mean we don’t miss eating certain foods. There is some evidence, however, showing that the occasional cheat meal can be beneficial.

Okay, I’ll just watch one more Jiu-Jitsu video, and then I’ll go to sleep…

The Internet is full of Jiu-Jitsu videos.  Hours can be spent clicking around watching different techniques.  It’s easy to get lost in it and forget you had a list of things to get done today.  Using YouTube’s “watch later” feature helps manage this a bit.

Explaining to people why Jiu-Jitsu is so incredible. 

Oftentimes people ask why I love Jiu-Jitsu.  My main response tends to be asking them if they have ever tried it.  Jiu-Jitsu is something that needs to be experienced first hand to really understand its beauty.  “Martial” essentially means war or warlike, which easily gets associated with Martial Arts.  People often forget the “Art” portion.  Martial Arts are no different than traditional forms of art.  Some may see two people fighting, but I see two artists hoping to one day create their own masterpieces.

These are just a few examples.  What problems, however serious or funny, have you come across on your Jiu-Jitsu journey?

 

Written By: Patrick J. Flores

Gracie Barra Chino

Twitter: patjflores