JiuJitsu Saved My Life

What is Brazilian jiu jitsu?  To some of you, it may be a hobby, but to me, it’s my life.  I began training jiu jitsu in the year of 2006.  Without Jiu jitsu, I would not be where I am today.

I am currently a blue belt and my ultimate goal is black belt.  I will achieve my black belt under Master Lloyd and compete against the best in the world.  I will be the best female competitor.  And I will do whatever it takes. Through my jiu jitsu, I will show the world that Lloyd Irvin’s Mixed Martial Arts is the only place to be.

Growing up, I never did martial arts.  I played soccer and surfed. I thought about training MMA, but never tried it. My siblings did sports as well, but never took anything seriously.  I had a vision of playing soccer professionally.  When my senior year came around, my team fell apart and I ran track that year instead.  This was around the same time I started taking Brazilian jiu jitsu classes. At that time it was just a hobby.  I was being some what of a follower, I was doing it because everyone else was.

I only began to take it seriously July of 2008.  I had a different perspective on the martial art.  It was no longer just a hobby, or something I did for fun, I wanted to make it my life.  I truly believed that I could be the best.

Then, when I came to visit Lloyd Irvin’s Mixed Martial Arts, I was thinking to myself…what have I been doing this whole time, and why am I not training here?  I saw the way that Master Lloyd taught and the achievements that he had made and he truly was an inspiration to me.  Not only him, but everyone in the school.  I loved it so much that I decided to move here to Camp Springs.

I remember sitting there with Mike Fowler late at night, telling him that I wanted to train here and what did we have to do to make it happen.  We were so anxious to tell him that we sent him a text, I believe around 3 am.  I will never forget the look on his face the next day when we were talking about staying. He had this look of pure happiness.

My family always asks what I am doing, and that they wish I was home.  I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have explained it to them(and get homesick).  It’s the same with other people I know, they ask how I make money, and if it pays well, and what am I doing with my future?  Why don’t I go to school?  Well, BJJ is my schooling. I am taking classes everyday, and learning new techniques all the time. Money is nice to have, but it can’t buy happiness. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is my life now, and it’s my future. It makes me happy and I think that’s all that matters. I can and will do it until the day I die.

Like I said before, I will be the best female competitor. In the future, I want to build a women’s team and compete against the best.  I am honored to be a part of Team Lloyd Irvin.  Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a way of life.  It has changed me and made me who I am today.  I want to Thank Master Lloyd for everything he has done, understanding who I am and what I want to become.  Through the rough times, the happy and the sad, Jiu Jitsu saved my life.