Promoted to Black Belt!

Today, I’ll take you on my journey from #bjj (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) white belt to BJJ black belt. Are you ready to take on a new challenge?

At one point in 2007, I realized something important: I had no idea how to defend myself. I’d have my ass kicked by literally anybody. That had no reason to be, and when I got home, I started taking Shotokaï Karate classes.

While it taught me important notions of footwork, that wasn’t quite what I wanted/ needed. Some time later in Gothenburg, my good friend Mattias Jorstedt told me BJJ was the way to go.

Without knowing much about it, I went to a trial class and oh boy… I spent 1h30 in a laundry machine. I was spent, had no clue what had happened to me. My head was spinning, I wanted to puke. But there were people of all sizes there. If short guys could do it, why coulnd’t I?

I thought: If I’m ever comfortable training, let alone be good at it, that would be the biggest challenge I ever take on in my life. I signed up the next day. That was in January 2009.

I was weak and unathletic. But I went. Got my ass kicked again and again. I was out of my comfort zone, challenging myself every day to overcome pain, fatigue, trying to learn how to survive. That’s the white belt’s motto: SURVIVE.

In August 2011, I went to Rio, Brazil with 2 friends for a month to train. 2-3 trainings a day. I learned resilience and endurance.

When I got back, I won my first competition as a white belt and was awarded my blue belt. When I started, getting my blue belt was already a huge challenge. But I did it, and there was no reason to stop improving.

I trained as often as I could, traveling to Magic events slowed down my progression but I tried to bring my gi on trips so I could roll with new people everywhere in the world.

In 2015, I won French Nats in my division as a blue belt. As a result, I was awarded my purple belt. No more playing around, I was playing with the big boys.

The next milestone would be the brown belt, when you’re starting to be considered an expert. Back to training, back to learning more techniques and working on my strengths and weaknesses. Improving my overall game. I competed a few times, lost in the finals of Nats in 2017.

Lavan was born. Training became a little harder, but in April 2018, i received my brown belt after 3 years of purple.

At that point, I thought I maxed out, that the next level, the black belt, was out of reach for a very long time. I was satisfied with what I had accomplished. Then MPL happened, then Covid happened, then Ayla happened.

During Covid, I picked up running to compensate. At first it was just to work on my cardio while waiting for BJJ trainings to resume. Didn’t think I would take it so seriously, but I ended up running two half-marathons. It did greatly improve my stamina.

Once it resumed, I slowly got back to it, to maintain some kind of fitness routine. My own brown belt blues… Until I felt confident I could get to the next level. I had had that belt for too long already. So I trained seriously again and even took private classes.

And I decided it was time for me to compete again, 6 years after my last competition. So I got ready. I worked hard on the mental, physical and technical sides. Dieted and worked out properly to be as fit as I could.

If I deserved my black belt, I had to put myself out there. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. So I fought…and I won. And I got promoted to black belt, my own Everest.

BJJ is a tough, demanding sport. It’s highly addictive and could be rough on the body at times. It gets you tougher, both mentally and physically. It brought me self-confidence, strength and busted ears.

Some time ago, I made a video about why Magic players should get involved in Jiu-Jitsu. It’s still relevant today, so check it out!