My Jiu Jitsu Journey
When I wrote my “about me” page, I only gave a small outline of how I got here. There is so much more that lead me to where I am today.
About 3 years ago, I was in the middle of a very ugly divorce. I have always been into working out, I was a gymnast since I was about 6, I took aerobics, step class, lifted weights and was even a competitive wake boarder. So….my natural place to turn for stress relief was exercise.
I was training at a fitness gym and was taking yoga, palates and zumba. This helped but, I was still under a tremendous amount of stress. While driving home from work one day, I passed a boxing gym. I immediately turned around and went to check it out. I got a free pass and attended a cardio-kick boxing class the next day. I actually thought I was in really good shape until about 10 minutes into the warm up. OMG! I thought I was going to throw up …or die! I struggled to make it through the hour but, I was determined to be able to handle this type of training.
I took boxing & kick-boxing for 2 ½ years. This intense work out saved me! (Punching and kicking the heavy bags helped to get that “I wanna punch someone in the face” feeling under control too)
This past year I have gone through a tough child custody battle, losing my job, and some extremely difficult personal family problems (btw…not trying to complain, everyone has their problems. Just making the point of how amazing Jiu Jitsu can be during stressful times)
Many times I struggled to get through my days but, getting to class was the one thing I looked forward too. The gym was the only place I wanted to be, the place where my teammates were, my friends, brothers….Family! For all of you involved in this sport, you know this camaraderie! This is a big part of the Jiu Jitsu addiction.
I happy to report that life is good! Things worked themselves through and great things have come through this journey. I have some amazing friends that I feel I have a strong bond with (I hope they feel the same) and a wonderful boyfriend who also came to me though Jiu Jitsu. I also have a great bond with my son Tyson, who wouldn’t walk in the gym with me when we started…teenagers!! Now we are both encouraged and pushed by each other and enjoy being training partners.
I am still excited to go to class! I love the intellectual challenge, the great workout, the fight, the sore muscles and injuries but, what I love most of all is the family that I have at Siege (this includes several wives, girlfriends & parents of my teammates as-well) and the extended family I have met through competing. And the journey continues......
When I wrote my “about me” page, I only gave a small outline of how I got here. There is so much more that lead me to where I am today.
About 3 years ago, I was in the middle of a very ugly divorce. I have always been into working out, I was a gymnast since I was about 6, I took aerobics, step class, lifted weights and was even a competitive wake boarder. So….my natural place to turn for stress relief was exercise.
I was training at a fitness gym and was taking yoga, palates and zumba. This helped but, I was still under a tremendous amount of stress. While driving home from work one day, I passed a boxing gym. I immediately turned around and went to check it out. I got a free pass and attended a cardio-kick boxing class the next day. I actually thought I was in really good shape until about 10 minutes into the warm up. OMG! I thought I was going to throw up …or die! I struggled to make it through the hour but, I was determined to be able to handle this type of training.
I took boxing & kick-boxing for 2 ½ years. This intense work out saved me! (Punching and kicking the heavy bags helped to get that “I wanna punch someone in the face” feeling under control too)
This past year I have gone through a tough child custody battle, losing my job, and some extremely difficult personal family problems (btw…not trying to complain, everyone has their problems. Just making the point of how amazing Jiu Jitsu can be during stressful times)
Many times I struggled to get through my days but, getting to class was the one thing I looked forward too. The gym was the only place I wanted to be, the place where my teammates were, my friends, brothers….Family! For all of you involved in this sport, you know this camaraderie! This is a big part of the Jiu Jitsu addiction.
I happy to report that life is good! Things worked themselves through and great things have come through this journey. I have some amazing friends that I feel I have a strong bond with (I hope they feel the same) and a wonderful boyfriend who also came to me though Jiu Jitsu. I also have a great bond with my son Tyson, who wouldn’t walk in the gym with me when we started…teenagers!! Now we are both encouraged and pushed by each other and enjoy being training partners.
I am still excited to go to class! I love the intellectual challenge, the great workout, the fight, the sore muscles and injuries but, what I love most of all is the family that I have at Siege (this includes several wives, girlfriends & parents of my teammates as-well) and the extended family I have met through competing. And the journey continues......
