In addition to personal training and helping people get fit; I also am very engulfed in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I have practiced the "gentle" art for about 1 year and 8 months now. Today (July 29th, 2024) I received my blue belt from Coach Michael Stratton at Esteem BJJ in Petaluma, CA. BJJ has been quite the experience. Seeing the good, and the bad, and feeling the "embrace the grind" type moments have exceeded any sort of expectations that were there when first starting the sport.
The Good
Fingers wrapped on the handle of the entrance door, eyes staring at the colors of the Petaluma, CA located Esteem Jiu-Jitsu Academy logo. The blue, yellow, and green all stared right back at me. I couldn't twist the handle open until a friendly face walked up, and pretty much opened the door for me. My first footsteps in the gym were muffled by the hype music playing over the speakers. The first face I saw and words I heard were "Welcome to Esteem I am Brett one of the instructors here". Little did I know I was talking to and shaking hands with one of the most amazing BJJ instructors on this Earth Brett "Bluntforce" Bryon. From day one it felt like Esteem was the place to be. Immediately felt like family. Esteem and BJJ have helped me form new bonds, and strengthen old friendships. It's truly magical.
The Bad
Three matches down one to go. So far all three matches have lasted a total time of about four minutes. All three ending in submission wins; one triangle and two rear naked chokes. The day has been going according to plan. Only one more match and I will be able to relish in that sweet first-place gold medal around my neck. Now it's only the white belt division in Santa Cruz, CA. However, it was my first competition so excitement was off the charts. Coach is there, my teammates are there. Will they be disappointed if I lose? I must make the academy proud. The last match is underway. A fellow white belt in an all-black GI stands across from me. We bump fits, and the ref shouts "combate!" Portuguese for combat. Grips are established, pulled guard, my legs weave around his head like a boa. However this time he stuffs and breaks out of my triangle. I try to counter and fight back against his flurry of guard passes. To no avail, my defenses break down, and I am scored on. My last match turned into an embarrassment losing by points. I've failed in many sports before including football, soccer, and track. Most left me with a feeling of "I'm not good enough". This time it was different. Everyone on the team congratulates me. Gives me pointers on what to improve on which turned the loss into a learning experience. Instead of gold, I got silver. Was this truly a bad moment? Not at all! One of the best moments of my life. There are truly no bad days doing BJJ. Just like the saying "the worst days fishing are still better than the best days at work". That saying completely applies to BJJ.
Embracing The Grind
Some days are hard, some are easy, some are sweaty, and some are bloody. Many mornings are spent waking up sore, many nights are spent wondering "What if I over hook the arm instead of under hooking?". It's all part of the process, and needs to be embraced; maybe even cherished. The journey from white to blue comes with many lessons to be learned. Sometimes you think you're ready, but you're not. Sometimes you feel like a god, and others you feel like an ant (mostly like an ant). There are many great people out there who only want to see their peers and training partners succeed. Some people just want to watch the world burn and take no prisoners. Both types of people are necessary for improvement. New moves are learned and implemented into your game, and some new moves don't work out. Overall it comes down to how much of the grind you're willing to embrace. It doesn't come easy because nothing worth doing is easy.
Conclusion
If anyone wants or thinks about trying out martial arts then BJJ is highly recommended. If you're in Sonoma County then Esteem BJJ in Petaluma, CA is the best. Great people, great building, great instructors. Shoutout to Michael Stratton, Rosie Stratton, Brett Byron, and Jack Coyston for the world-class instruction. Of course, thank you to all my training partners who helped me continue and keep helping me with great tips! I'll see all of you on the mats!
On another note I need to of course talk about the services that Plank Fitness and Performance offers. Bjj conditioning is some of our specialty! Whether it has to do with getting stronger or not gassing out during rounds then we are the premier place to be for Personal Training related to Bjj or martial arts in Petaluma, CA. Being strong in awkward and bad positions, having the flexibility to open up areas of your game, and having the aerobic capacity to outwork your competition are all very important in the scope of conditioning for martial arts. Please reach out if you're a seasoned competitor or a beginner! You will get help from a National Strength and Conditioning Association- Certified Personal Trainer, a fellow martial arts enthusiast, and 14 years' worth of fitness experience plus an associate degree in kinesiology from SRJC! Come try 2 free sessions and become a fitter, stronger, You! OSS!
-Travis Plank
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