"One evening, I walked into a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class for the first time. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know the rules, the language, or even how to tie the belt on my gi. But I was drawn to it-maybe because I was desperate for something to pull me out of my mental spiral. I needed structure. I needed challenge. I needed escape."
"My breath would quicken; my thoughts would race. But then I'd hear my coach's voice in the background: "Slow down. You're okay. Just breathe." That simple instruction saved me more than once-not just on the mat, but in life. Over time, I started to notice something: I was calmer outside of training. More patient. More aware. Jiu-Jitsu didn't fix my mental health overnight, but it gave me tools to deal with the days when everything felt like too much."
I felt weighed down and disconnected, functioning outwardly while trapped in negative thoughts and self-doubt. I joined a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class with no experience, seeking structure, challenge, and escape. Training became therapeutic, reconnecting body and mind through movement, breath, and focused problem-solving. Moments of being pinned forced slow breathing, adaptation, and patience, reinforced by a coach's reminder to slow down and breathe. Over time I became calmer, more patient, and more self-aware. Progress stalled with multiple injuries, requiring recovery, adaptation, and renewed resilience, while the practice continued to provide tools to manage overwhelming days.
Read at Tiny Buddha
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