Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy

 

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Rachel F.

Austin, TX

I had a quarter life crisis back in October.  It's okay, really, I'm over it now.  No, I mean I'm really over it.  I know you all think I have a drinking problem, but that existed well before my crisis.

After injuring myself rather mysteriously (who knew lifting 150 pounds without bending at the knees could hurt your back?), I had to leave one of my favorite hobbies-turned-careers (I like to ruin the things I love): riding horses.
As part of my quarter life crisis, I decided I needed to take up something that was low-impact.  Low risk for injury.  Slow pace.  The natural answer was, of course, Gracie jiu jitsu.

Gracie jiu jitsu is basically the art of grappling.  Kind of like wrestling only you get to wear a gui (like a robe) rather than a spandex jumpsuit (like, unflattering).  This was a big selling point.  I like an event where you look like you just got out of the shower.

If for nothing else, go for a free introductory lesson and see if you like it.  The head instructor, Phil Cardella, is great.  He'll teach you some self-defense moves that you can run through your head when you're walking through a dark parking lot at night (or when you're just feeling paranoid).  If you go for a few more lessons, you'll learn some other moves like arm-bars and guillotines.  They are active in competitions and they also offer muay-thai kickboxing classes.

Let me know how you fare.  Jiu jitsu will make really bizarre muscle groups sore -- like that little tiny muscle under your big toe and the funny muscle that covers the outside of your elbow.  It's called extreme fighting for a reason.

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