By Leland Rodriguez
In Grappling Univeristy Martial Arts, or G.U.M.A., participants practice jiu jitsu, judo and wrestling. However, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the best. Being a competitive and combative experience a special way of thinking needs to be developed. It is more than just raw power, but rather a way of responding with strategic counter-moves to beat an opponent. It is way to broaden your mind as well.
I am currently a blue-belt at 16 years old and I got my blue belt in under a year. It is not easy to advance so quickly. It takes a great deal of time, effort and concentration. However there is still a long way to go. Further advancement requires getting purple, brown, black and maybe one day red belt. No, black is not the top rating in Jiu Jitsu, red is. That will all takes a very long time.
Not only a mental sport, or raw physical effort, there needs to be an endurance that can only come with the best workout you ever felt. If any of this sounds interesting, join up. Find a place to learn and practice. It will become your happy place. Though it sounds strange to learn grappling martial arts for peace, that is exactly what happens. It is worth the sweat, blood and tears. It’s worth all of it. If anyone is interested in going to a place where your whole outlook on life is changed and made better, where you can feel needed and you can be a better version of yourself, come on over an join me over by the CVS on Van Houten Avenue.
Not only is this a great feeling, but it is a practical skill set as well. Becoming stronger and learning how to defend yourself, is a skill that can come in quite handy. If you are going to be attacked then the time to learn to defend yourself is before that moment. At that moment it is too late. Even people that are bigger and stronger than you can be defeated with the aid of Jiu Jitsu.
Lastly, the confidence that comes with working and improving a skill set and a point of view makes success in other parts of your life more accessible. Outside of Jiu Jitsu helps me focus on school with its mental challenges.
