FourOuncesToFreedom.com - January 9, 2008
Entry 2: What just happened?
I get into work the next day, still sore and frustrated from my first day of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I've never felt so utterly helpless in my life. Everything was a confusing flurry of arms, legs, and breathlessness. This wasn't like when you get into a bar fight; everyone knows how to throw a punch, even if it's a drunken haymaker. I got my ass handed to me, and I don't even understand what happened.
I head over to one of the interns, the guy who convinced me to take BJJ class, and recommended Rickson's school.
Stein "Yo. What the fuck?"
Raul "Everyone says that the first time. If you don't have any sort of grappling background, you're in trouble."
Stein "That was the worst experience of my life. These little dudes were working me over, I got overheated and nearly threw up, and I don't have any idea what the hell is going on. And it's just sweaty guys rolling all over each other."
Raul "Yeah, I said the same stuff the first time I did it too."
Stein "I'm not going back. That sucked."
Raul "Everyone hates it at first, everyone is confused at first. But trust me--give it a week, and you'll be in love."
Stein "How? Why? I can't imagine ever liking this."
Raul "I know you man, you are too competitive to just let this go. How much did the guy who beat you yesterday weigh?"
Stein "I shit bigger than those guys."
Raul "Doesn't that tell you something about BJJ? Let me explain this to you: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is like The Force. No matter where you go, it's always with you, and once you master it, you can defeat anyone."
Stein "Get out of here."
Raul "Here, I'll forward you some YouTube videos where the BJJ guys smoke everyone else. Just watch them. You'll be back in class tonight."
These are the videos he sent me:
1 Royce whipping everyone
2 BJJ versus Hapkido
3 BJJ versus Karate
4 BJJ versus San Shou
5 BJJ versus Kenpo
I watched them once and then got back to work. I probably got two hours of work done, then I watched the videos again. And then looked up more.
The kid had a point. Those guys really laid the wood. They were like sticky monkeys; once they got on you, you didn't have a chance. You were going out.
I did some research of my own. I checked out this piece about the history of BJJ. Basically, it was invented by a tiny 120 pound half-Brazilian, half-Scottish guy named Helio, and he went on to beat some of the toughest guys in the world. Then his sons created the UFC to pit all the different styles against each other on an even playing field. You probably know what happened, it was in one of the videos: His grandson Royce whipped everyone. Boxers, wrestlers, kick-boxers, sumo, tae kwon do, most major styles were represented and defeated.
I walked down to his cubicle.
Stein "OK, you're right."
At 5:30, I was back on the mats at Rickson's.
And basically the same thing happened. Except this time, instead of almost puking, I did puke. At least I made it to the bathroom first.
Posted by Jeff at 1:50 AM