The reason I continue to learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu 柔術を学び続ける理由

It’s been a year and half since I started training the art of Graice Jiu-Jitsu.  

I am a regular mom who is not athletic, not flexible, definitely not strong. It was just a few month before I turned 40 when I started to learn this.

It takes me at least 45 minutes one-way.  When it’s a bad day, the trip can take 2 hours sometimes.  But I drive at least twice a week, to the other side of the mountain, on a very curvy narrow highway. 

Why did I take the challenge?  Why did I choose this when there are plenty of martial arts schools on my side of town?  And why do I keep training?

Because through Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, I experienced I am worth defending for.  Not just understand it in my head, not because I was told or taught that, but really experience it in every class, in every move.  

Through Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, I learned how to believe in myself, and forgive myself.

It’s ok to stand up for myself.  It’s ok to exist.

I am worth defending for.

I would like to share my journey with Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and how it impacted my life.

特に運動やスポーツに興味はなく、体が硬くて力もない主婦の私が、４０歳直前からグレイシー柔術を始め、学び続けている理由。毎週二回はグネグネした高速を通り山を越え、片道４５分、渋滞がひどい時は片道２時間かけても１年半通い続けている理由。

それはずばり「自分は護るに価する者だ」と体を使って落とし込んでいくことができるから。

誰に言われるでもなく、諭されるでもなく、自分を信じ、許すことを、頭で理解するだけではなくて体感しながら自分に許可を出し続ける術を、教えてくれるから。

「自分は護るに価するものだ」

私、生きてていいんだ。私、存在してていいんだ。

大きな気づきを私にくれたグレイシー柔術。これから勇気を出して柔術の歩みも少しずつ書いていこうと思います。