Okay… let me start out by saying that this is in no way meant as a slam on other forms of martial arts. I do make some comparisons, but they aren’t meant to dissuade anyone from trying them out or stop anyone from continuing on with them. These are just my observations based on my way of learning.
I’m not writing this as a gym owner, but as a student of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu… As a child, I struggled with how things were taught to me in school, especially high school. I’m more of a learn-at-your-own-pace kind of student. This really rang true when trying to learn a foreign language. (French, in my case) I would try my best, but learning French in a regimented (often outdated) environment full of other non-French speakers while the teacher was rushing us to get a certain concept down so he/she could stay on schedule just wasn’t conducive to my success. I will say that many of my friends did very well in that environment. It just didn’t work for me.
I have known numerous children and adults who have moved to a foreign country, immersing themselves in the language and culture where everyone around them are experts and the rush to get a specific concept isn’t driven by an arbitrary schedule set by an instructor, but rather the needs of the people themselves (i.e. the need to eat, sleep, use the restroom, etc.)
I make this comparison because I see the similarities with learning martial arts. One of the the deterrents for me trying Karate or Kung Fu was the regimented “kata” format, where you learn a specific set of moves, in a specific order for a specific result, while in a group of other people at your same level. This is too much like learning in a classroom environment. Again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just doesn’t work as well for me.
Alternatively, BJJ is considerably more organic – more like learning through immersion. You’re put in a room where everyone has varying levels of skill and knowledge. You are thrown into whichever technique is being taught that day, with whomever your partner(s) may be. You could be with a blue belt – you could be with a brown belt. And your success (or survival) is dependent on how well you understand the technique. There’s no skating by on a technique you don’t really understand. If you don’t get it, the technique won’t work. (much like living in a foreign land – if you don’t get it, you don’t eat)
The nice thing is; in BJJ your physical survival isn’t really on the line so much. Maybe today isn’t the day for you to completely grasp a new concept. You are still laying the ground work. This technique will come back around someday, and you will have the foundation laid to build upon when it’s time. You don’t have to understand every detail in order to move on to other new, exciting techniques. You’ll have other opportunities in the future.
As a student of language, travel, and just life in general, I’m a firm believer that immersion is the best way to learn new life skills. Physical fitness, and specifically martial arts, falls squarely into “life-skills” in my opinion. If you haven’t had a chance to try out BJJ and would like to, give us a call at 512-718-2539.
