Is Jiu Jitsu (or any martial art) for EVERYONE? I say yes, of course it is. Is BJJ only for the tough person, the one who can take the pain, weather the storms? Should the hobbyist, the less-than-talented players go find another place to waste their time, another coach to aggravate or impose upon? Well, should anyone less than an Indy Car Racer throw their keys into a lake? Should everyone whos not intent on riding in The Tour de France slash their own tires? Should all those who wont be going for the gold with their breast stroke hang up their Speedos? Should everyone not aiming on writing War and Peace hand their pencils or keyboards to someone with some guts? BJJ, like all martial arts, like all movement, belongs to everyone --and is to be used, for the most part, the way the user wants to use it, be it instead of yoga, as a way to connect with others, as a means to gain self-defense skills, as a tool for the competitive arena, and/or even for a stick-my-toe-in-the-water exploration of something interesting. Hard-core competitive BJJ, like the kind where you want to be a world-class player, yes --youd better to be hard-core. But the martial arts belongs to people, to be used by people, to keep them safe, to keep them supple, to create community, to share laughter, to offer help and support to a community and the people in it. The young shouldnt be left on a mountainside because they cant yet carry the load of a full wheel barrel, they need to be nurtured. The Elderly shouldnt be throw away because their bodies no longer do what they did in their 20s and 30s, they may still have the wisdom of experience to share with us. BJJ, like all martial arts, are a tool for and of the people. You dont fit the foot to the shoe, you fit the shoe to the foot. BJJ isnt about cutting out those who cant tough it out --its about finding away to make BJJ fit --and work for --the person.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 21:03:10 +0000
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