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 be ready to take on a new challenge? 1/19 pic.twitter.com/JSWr8tokod

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 2/19

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

While it taught me important notions of footwork, that wasn’t quite what I wanted/ needed. Some time later in Gothenburg, my good friend @matjoman told me BJJ was the way to go. 3/19

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

W/out knowing much about it, I went to a trial class & 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 cound'tl I? 4/19 pic.twitter.com/yzu72UP1Kq

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 5/19 pic.twitter.com/jNZfwIR0e4

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 6/19

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 7/19 pic.twitter.com/KFdDUV90rE

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 8/19 pic.twitter.com/du5Q3h2s7c

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 9/19 pic.twitter.com/HrqcgmvTil

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 10/19 pic.twitter.com/PBwKHT9tFN

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 11/19 pic.twitter.com/dIfLfIIUAo

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

Lavan was born. Training became a little harder, but in April 2018, i received my brown belt after 3 years of purple. 12/19 pic.twitter.com/TBzFId9JqS

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 13/19

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 14/19 pic.twitter.com/5bPdHwqs5O

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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 15/19

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 16/19 pic.twitter.com/mF7Y4lPwJJ

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 17/19 pic.twitter.com/Txc3Bn5G0S

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

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. 18/19

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023

I spent thousands of hours on the mat, getting smashed but also, finding new moves, getting better, dominating physically much stronger opponents. When technique overcomes power, that’s when the little guy becomes dangerous. 19/19 pic.twitter.com/kq4d5xM80H

— Raphael Levy (@raphlevymtg) June 28, 2023