Eternal Unltd1
Yellow Belt
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 165
- Reaction score
- 0
So I was in Jiu-jitsu class a few nights ago and I had a good talk with this kid after class. This kid, (not sure what his real name is but everyone calls him Opie) has been coming class for a few months now. He shows up to the academy 5 - 6 days a week and trains his ass off every time. He is slowly progressing and I have been noticing his confidence level raising as he is starting to get better, but most of all he is having a lot of fun!
So back to the talk I had with him. I asked him what made him want to come in and start training. He said that he got kicked out of school for fighting and Jiu-jitsu was helping him vent some of his aggression. He was in with the wrong crowd and was drinking and smoking a lot of weed at the age of 15 (pretty typical). Ever since he started training he has stopped drinking and smoking weed. Dave Terrell, our coach, has been drug testing him (his parents request) and encouraging him to take his training seriously and give up all the bad stuff that was messing up his life. I think Jiu-jitsu has given him direction in his life, roll models to look up to, and something to dedicate himself to....and he has become a stronger person becasue of it.
This really hit home for me. When I was about his age my parents got divorced and it really messed me up. I was angry all the time and getting into a bunch of shit. I started training in Muay Thai and it was like a breath of fresh air! I was able to vent my anger and when I started training for my first fight I quit drinking and partying because I didn't want to get my ass kicked. I went on to practice other disciplines of Martial arts and now have found my home in Jiu-jitsu and MMA. No matter what kind of martial arts I was doing, it was always helping me in some way. Whether it was helping me vent anger or aggression, or helping me build confidence, helping me get in shape, or just giving me a place to hang out with the guys at the gym and forget about the stresses of every day life....it was always helping me in some way!
When I think about it, I owe a lot to Martial Arts. It has always been a big part of my life and helped me through a lot of tough times. Now I am married with a kid and have a very busy life. I still make time to train and the academy is my sanctuary. It's what keeps me sane at times! When I step onto the mat, I am only thinking about one thing, and that is what is going on that very moment. There is no worries!
So that is my story. What is yours? What has Martial Arts done for you? How has it enriched your life? Whether it is a story of how Martial Arts helped you out in one certain occasion, or how has it helped you as a whole...let us know! In celebration of Martial Arts, Eternal Unltd is doing a contest for the three best stories or explanations. First prize will get a autographed shirt signed by Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez, and Dave Terrell, and an additional two shirts of his/her choice. Second place will get 2 shirts of his/her choice and third place will get one shirt of his/her choice. We will post winning entries to our website and blog. It would also be awsome to get pictures of the winners with their new gear for our website too! Thanks for reading...now start writing!
<a href="http://s301.photobucket.com/albums/nn67/eternalunltd/?action=view¤t=2for1ad.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn67/eternalunltd/2for1ad.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
So back to the talk I had with him. I asked him what made him want to come in and start training. He said that he got kicked out of school for fighting and Jiu-jitsu was helping him vent some of his aggression. He was in with the wrong crowd and was drinking and smoking a lot of weed at the age of 15 (pretty typical). Ever since he started training he has stopped drinking and smoking weed. Dave Terrell, our coach, has been drug testing him (his parents request) and encouraging him to take his training seriously and give up all the bad stuff that was messing up his life. I think Jiu-jitsu has given him direction in his life, roll models to look up to, and something to dedicate himself to....and he has become a stronger person becasue of it.
This really hit home for me. When I was about his age my parents got divorced and it really messed me up. I was angry all the time and getting into a bunch of shit. I started training in Muay Thai and it was like a breath of fresh air! I was able to vent my anger and when I started training for my first fight I quit drinking and partying because I didn't want to get my ass kicked. I went on to practice other disciplines of Martial arts and now have found my home in Jiu-jitsu and MMA. No matter what kind of martial arts I was doing, it was always helping me in some way. Whether it was helping me vent anger or aggression, or helping me build confidence, helping me get in shape, or just giving me a place to hang out with the guys at the gym and forget about the stresses of every day life....it was always helping me in some way!
When I think about it, I owe a lot to Martial Arts. It has always been a big part of my life and helped me through a lot of tough times. Now I am married with a kid and have a very busy life. I still make time to train and the academy is my sanctuary. It's what keeps me sane at times! When I step onto the mat, I am only thinking about one thing, and that is what is going on that very moment. There is no worries!
So that is my story. What is yours? What has Martial Arts done for you? How has it enriched your life? Whether it is a story of how Martial Arts helped you out in one certain occasion, or how has it helped you as a whole...let us know! In celebration of Martial Arts, Eternal Unltd is doing a contest for the three best stories or explanations. First prize will get a autographed shirt signed by Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez, and Dave Terrell, and an additional two shirts of his/her choice. Second place will get 2 shirts of his/her choice and third place will get one shirt of his/her choice. We will post winning entries to our website and blog. It would also be awsome to get pictures of the winners with their new gear for our website too! Thanks for reading...now start writing!
<a href="http://s301.photobucket.com/albums/nn67/eternalunltd/?action=view¤t=2for1ad.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn67/eternalunltd/2for1ad.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
