Greetings from The Dojo Diva—Mistress of Mats & Collector of Soles. “Soles”, “feet”, get it? I crack myself up.
And THIS, Kiddies, is why you don’t let a writer “check her Pinterest page” on your computer. Next thing you know, she is starting a BLOG. Ha! Ha! Professor!
Y’all don’t tell him I’m here, ‘kay?
*runs with glitter*
My real name is Kristen Lamb and I’m a professional blogger, the author of three #1 best-selling books, a part-time evil scientist and amateur sea monkey trainer. But when I’m not plotting global domination using genetically enhanced brine shrimp, I practice Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu (with a heavy emphasis on the word “practice”).
Thing is, maybe you’re here because you know what Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu is. Maybe you want to learn more. Maybe you misspelled the name of your favorite take-out place and Google sent you here. It doesn’t matter how you got here, only that you are here.
*turns on loud party music*
I’ve been practicing some form of martial arts most of my life and there are so many lessons that we take from the dojo and into the world. The benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are too many to count, though on this blog, we will try.
Why?
Because, even if you aren’t part of our cult um, dojo…we believe in Jiu-Jitsu for everyone.
By the way, we don’t make you dance with snakes until blue belt.
Kidding!
Wow, are you stressed? You’re a little tense. Might I recommend some herbal tea or a triangle choke?
Anyway, if you want the real history of Jiu-Jitsu and Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, go HERE namely because my version involves advanced alien technology…
Come on! Have you watched Rhonda Rousey? She is a seriously good argument for my Ancient Aliens BJJ theory, but…moving on.
Even if you aren’t yet practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you can still enjoy a Gracie State of Mind (without the snakes because um, hellooo? Where is your blue belt? Thought so.)
In the spirit of Jiu-Jitsu for everyone, I hacked into the website started this blog so we can chat about the trials of everyday life and maybe work through them together.
Kidding aside, I work as a full-time author and am C.E.O. of my own company. I homeschool my son and wasn’t exactly a spring ferret when I started practicing BJJ.
As a slightly-less-fluffy 41 year old woman, I am probably the last person one might think of as a fine-tuned machine of destruction.
I have to admit, though I’ve enjoyed success as a speaker, teacher, author, and blogger, I was more than a bit intimidated by the idea of starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as an over-forty female. At almost a year into this journey, I can say it’s been one of the best decisions of my life. I hope you sign up for a free class here or even at another Gracie Barra studio, but in the meantime?
Let’s chat about beginnings.
The starting line can be the scariest place. We stand there in the company of our fears, our insecurities, and our failures. Even if we can overcome those negative voices in our own heads, often we get resistance from the world, from culture, from expectations and the pressure can paralyze us.
Anytime we try anything remarkable, there will be pushback.
I use this story with my writers. Did you know that those who catch crabs simply toss them in a bucket? No lid. No cage. Just a bucket. And the weird thing is that the crabs never escape.
But why?
Because if one crab gets the idea to climb out, the others will drag it back down in the bucket.
I’ve seen this play out so many times in my own life. When I decided to ditch sales to become an author, my friends and family heard something akin to, “Blah blah blah, writer, throwing away $50,000 education blah novels, blah cult.”
Though many years later most of them are now my biggest fans (now that I am successful), a lot of them tried to talk me out of my madness. At the time, they thought they were being good, being kind, and they didn’t see themselves as crabs in the bucket. They couldn’t SEE that eventually I would be successful.
They could only see me writing bad haiku in front of Starbucks in between panhandling for food.
All they could say was, “Don’t you want a job that PAYS?”
Over a decade later, I’m still doing crazy things…like rolling around on the mat choking people. But the crabs in the bucket are still there.
Aren’t you too old?
What if you get hurt?
Why don’t you do yoga? What about Jazzercise? Girls like Jazzercise, right?
Thus, today I want to challenge you to think in a new way. Be brave and begin. Begin that novel. Begin that financial plan, that savings plan, or even that Brazilian Jiu Jistu class because nothing great has ever happened in the comfort zone.
What are your thoughts? Do you have a hard time “beginning”? Does it seem too easy to procrastinate, make excuses, or put off something you want to do for yourself? Do you find it hard to ignore the opinions of others? Do you lean too much to the people-pleasing side? Have you overcome that and achieved something you’re proud of? Tell us about it!
For our Gracie peeps, was starting BJJ scary? What propelled you forward? Did others try to talk you out of BJJ because they were afraid you might get hurt? Or you were too old, too young, too female, too whatever? What did you do? Do you enjoy a Gracie State of Mind?
