I was born in the Soviet Union and witnessed its dissolution. Those times were really hard for families. People tried to survive at all means possible. Lots of kids my age or older who were into sports became criminals. I was bullied a lot, and because of that I got interested in martial arts in the early age. At school we fought at every break. When at school I did try sambo (a Russian wrestling type martial art) and Wushu (a Chinese martial art). Karate was illegal in our country back then.
When I was in high school my parents got me connected with their friends’ son, and he taught me and a classmate of mine karate and some throws.
Then, when I was studying at a University in Belarus, I got interested in aikido. I studied aikido in Gomel, Belarus, Hendersonville, NC, and in Moscow, Russia, for a total of 3 years. My aikido Sensei, Igor Chaplinsky, has always been a role model for me and taught me to respect Japanese samurai traditions, the gym, and my training partners.
Also, I tried taekwondo for one month, but I didn’t like it much.
When my family moved to the United States in 2011, I got into Krav Maga and learned it for about 3 years, first in San Diego, then in Los Angeles, and then in Plano, TX.
I started studying BJJ at Gracie Gym Plano 6 months ago. My experience so far has been tremendously positive. The professors and coaches have been doing fantastic job at explaining bjj techniques and concepts. Their attitude to students is fantastic. I have met lots of great people and made new friends, and I can say that Gracie Gym has become a second family for me.
I started training BJJ because of several reasons.
First, I wanted to be an example for my daughters. My elder daughter started learning Brazilian jiu jitsu at Gracie Gym Plano in January 2017. I brought her to the gym because I wanted her to get anti-bullying skills and to be confident and be able to defend herself when needed.
Second, my job involves lots of sitting and my body literally was crying for some kind of regular physical activity. I think martial arts overall is a perfect choice, as it touches multiple aspects.
Third, I think that BJJ helps you explore your limits, and push the boundaries. I am that kind of a person. Once I set myself a goal and achieved it I need the next one. I can’t sit still.
I believe that when you learn a new skill, it’s better to approach it from as many angles as possible and use different ways of learning (reading, watching, listening, drilling, etc). The more channels your involve, the more complete your education will become.
Also, I read that it’s a good idea to have a BJJ game plan. My first version of my BJJ game plan was growing very fast. I added all the techniques that I learned or saw on YouTube. Now I understand that this approach is incorrect, because you should only focus on a handful of techniques and master them. I will be working on version 2 soon.
I recently watched an interview of Rafael Lovato Jr. and he mentioned that he was writing a BJJ diary. This helped him to progress a lot. I also started a BJJ diary. It’s a good thing to do if you want to track your goals, accomplishments, etc.
Overall, I believe that jiu jitsu at Gracie Gym Plano has changed me lot in these 6 months:
1. I have learned to control my emotions better.
2. I met lots of great people.
3. I lost about 10 lbs of weight.
4. My mobility and agility have improved.
5. And of course, I learned a few chokes as well.
When thinking about whether you should or should not start learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you might mistakenly believe that you will be learning techniques only. At Gracie Gym Plano they teach you not only the techniques. They teach you many other things that make you a better person than your former self. I hope that one day you will stop hesitating, decide to change something in your life, and on that day I will see you on the mat. Many years ago one wise man said: “A journey of one thousand miles starts with one step.” I like to add another phrase: “When I don’t know what to do next, I make the step forward.”
Oss!
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