There was a time when I’d never get too deep. I’d stay on the surface where I thought I could remain safe. Maintaining appearances was hard work. Then there was that mask, the one I wore when I wanted to keep everyone happy. No one knew just how heavy that mask was to wear. And yet I donned the mask as if it were my best accessory. That was, until, I put on a white belt.
I’ve heard people say, ”Jiu-Jitsu saved my life”. While I don’t personally believe Jiu-Jitsu saved me, I do believe Jiu-Jitsu is the key that helped me unlock the ironclad mask that had been causing me to drown in my pretense. Jiu Jitsu gave me something to focus on without feeling overwhelmed. Each class there was a brand new technique. I realized while I was focused on technique, I was not focused on wearing my mask of perfection. While training I didn't have the relentless pressure of people-pleasing. Little by little, Jiu-Jitsu stripped me of the fake. The more I trained the less
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