I first stepped into a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) class while training at a MMA gym. I wanted to see what it was like to fight—but safely. What I didn’t expect was how humbling (and eye-opening) my first class would be.

I came in strong and athletic, doing well in striking classes, but when I sparred with a blue belt who was smaller and less athletic than me… I learned strength isn’t everything in BJJ. A few months later, I rolled with a black belt and saw firsthand how skill, technique, and experience completely dominated strength.

That moment lit a fire in me. I vowed to become a black belt one day. Fast forward 10+ years of on-and-off training, and I’m proud to say I’m a 3-stripe brown belt on the journey to black belt!

BJJ has not only made me more prepared for real-life emergencies but has also taught me the value of patience, humility, and persistence. I still love striking and teaching beginners how to punch and kick, but BJJ is the ultimate tool to close the gap in any self-defense scenario.