LEARNING from STRANGERS

If you know me then you know I am very selective on who I train with. But in the world of Martial Arts sometimes stepping into another gym or dojo is just what the Dr. ordered, and a few things get accomplished by doing this. First - every instructor has a different way of teaching, meaning explanations and applications come in from another view point. Second - by learning from different practitioners you learn different styles. Everyone has their own style and vision of how martial arts work. Third - if you do not step out of your comfort zone you will never grow and progress. So read along as I tell the story of how stepping out of that comfort zone helped me learn that Learning from Strangers isn't such a bad thing.

Yep, that's me in the black Gi, thank God the guy beside me was wearing a non white Gi too. I was really getting nervous while I was watching everyone get ready and they were all putting on white Gi's. This past weekend on March 2, 2024 I took the opportunity to visit a friend of mine at her Jiu-jitsu gym for a seminar lead by two guys I had never even heard of. Both black belts in BJJ and owners of a facility that I believe is in Tennessee. Regardless of that it was, well a little uncomfortable. Not knowing how exactly things are ran at this school as I have only been for open mat night, I was nervous to say the least. But to my surprise, once things got rolling it was just like any other Jiu-Jitsu class I had been to before. The strange thing to me was as I sat there for the first few minutes and just took in the situation I began to realize that this moral high horse I've been riding of "only training with people I know" just sort of drifted right out the window and I quickly came to my senses and saw that well this is where I belong. So the class goes on and I get paired up with a guy that was obviously a bit larger than I, but as a slim 170 lbs I'm quit used to that. The instructors went through answering questions and teaching techniques just as it would be in my home dojo. Then we would work the techniques and so on. Through out the time I spent there learning and fellowshipping, it was a fresh reminder that everyone has something to offer and I really don't need to know them personally to gain from their knowledge.

So... lets break down the things I gained from this venture:

Number 1: I met some really awesome Black Belts!

Meet John and Gabe from Hosford Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Both black belts under the Pedro Saure Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association. Their skill and knowledge was beyond apparent and their teaching skills were topnotch. They just radiated the eagerness of wanting to share with and teach us. That really was a breath of fresh air knowing that these guys, even at that level were just like us and really just absolutely love Jiu-Jitsu and wanted to share that with us. Typically when you hear the word Black Belt in any martial arts you immediately thing WOW these guys are just on another level at everything. And yes their skill and knowledge are but their egos and personalities are that of everyone else and that really makes training with these young men for the first time a pleasure (for lack of better words).

Number 2: The techniques I learned.

John and Gabe allowed us to ask questions about techniques or scenarios that we were curios about and how to perform/react to. Through out this like anything it lead to rabbit holes of breaking each question down and giving us not just a single answer but multiple solutions to our questions. But one regret is I did just sit back and let everyone else ask the questions (hind sight is 20/20). But not to be despaired I was able to learn so much just from the questions that were asked. The next time I'm in a situation and have the opportunity like this I will fall into the no holds bar mentality and just let the curiosity loose and ask as many questions as they will allow lol! Of course this was a learning experience in way more than one way!

Number 3: Living the Experience and Conquering the Unknown.

More often than not I pass on the opportunity to participate in similar functions in fear that because I'm unfamiliar with things like, maybe I don't have the right uniform, or I'm not part of that school and so on and so on. But this time I felt it was time to let that all go and just jump right in (It did help that I knew the owners of this particular school). And to be fair I have always had that issue. Which may come as a surprise to so many as I am probably one of the most friendly people you may ever meet. But as it stands, I - like most of you have some insecurities. By jumping in and taking this chance to push myself and to go and learn and be a part of something that I may other wise choose not to. I learned so much more other than Jiu-Jitsu; there is a certain comradery that comes with people coming together that have the same interests. There comes a time when you have to set aside all that may be holding you back and experience the things you would other wise brush to the side. And in my experience, this one in particular I learned that its just not so bad. Strangers are fun and can add so much to your experience. Now that doesn't mean go and find some crazy stranger off the street and see what they have to offer you. But don't let the insecurities hold you back. Go and do, its often said that the white belt is the hardest to get because its hard for people to walk through that door, and this is so true with many things in life. So as I went and Learned from Strangers I have learned that its ok to be a little out of place and to stick out, these people understand that too and will be there to help and support you. So make the jump and go out there and learn something that you have always wanted to learn.

In closing this out I want to really give my thanks to my good friends Vickie and Daniel at Motion Works Martial Arts Academy for hosting John and Gabe from Hosford Jiu-Jitsu Academy, and having this great seminar so that I and the others that attended could learn from great teachers and share in the knowledge that they have to offer. Until my next experience that wraps this one up.