Lessons of Jiu Jitsu

My favorite days of the week are any that include Jiu Jitsu! Two years ago I started training in the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and it has changed the way I think and has shaped the new me.
It is a game of strategy, humility, agility, athleticism, and patience. There is much more though. When you put all of those things together and you add perseverance to the mix, you develop a lot of character and you grow as an individual. I have learned a lot about myself through Jiu Jitsu. I now know that I am a fighter in every sense of the word. I don't like to lose (who does?), but what I've taken from losing is that I have the humility to digest the lesson, grow from it and get back in there and do it again. I competed in a tournament last year where there was only one woman in my division, so they mixed us with the men. My coach, Todd Smith, wanted to leave but I insisted that we came to fight and that's what I wanted to do. I lost a few of my fights that day (but I also drew a few), watched my only legit. opponent get her shoulder dislocated (men don't like to lose to women), and came home feeling like a I got hit by a truck. I took a lot from that day though and I have something inside of me that I hadn't had the opportunity to tune into before. I don't give up, I have lots of fight in me, I can defend myself pretty well against a much stronger opponent, and I know that I still have a lot to learn. The other thing is that I probably should have listened to my coach - he knows what's best for me because he has a depth of knowledge and experience that has been developed over 14 years. I am very lucky to have him in my corner. I was well prepared and had all of the right things in place to come away from that tournament with a Gold, but the conditions weren't what we anticipated. You can adapt, but you can't really control the outcome.
I think the biggest life lesson I've got from Jiu Jitsu is that I can only control how I react to a situation. Life is full of surprises and unexpected bumps, but instead of trying to control those external forces, I have learned to react appropriately and that feels powerful because I am getting better and better at handling things that come at me. I have developed more respect for the people around me because I listen more, rather than trying to control what they do. My connections with the people I love are deeper and have more meaning.
If you haven't tried Jiu Jitsu, I highly recommend it. I believe it's for everyone. It's a powerful form of self-defense and has the power to transform you.
Todd runs the Jiu Jitsu program at my club and we even have a Women's Only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class on Tuesday nights at 8pm.
Totally Legitsu!!

First Fight: Fought & Won

It's not every day you see a mother of two donning a pair of gloves and stepping into a boxing ring but if you happened to be in attendance at Bangla Stadium in Patong Beach, Thailand on Wednesday, March 10th, you would have see Emma Lynds in action.

Emma is not jjts the mother of two; she is the owner and founder of Elements Academy of Martial Arts, Vancouver. This was her first Muay Thai fight.

Her fight was only one highlight of a ten-day Muay Thai training trip to Thailand, something she always encourages her members to join her on. This year there were five others with her, including two of her staff and three of her members.

But you don't have to fight in Thailand, you can just go to train and enjoy the sunshine if you prefer. And don't forget to visit the elephants with their penchant for pineapple.

Everyone on the trip had a really great time and are excitedly talking about going back out again next year. If you'd like to be part of this or if you're interested in joining Elements Academy of Martial Arts, please contact us.

There are more photos on our Facebook page and you can click here to see the video of Emma's fight. I won't spoil it by saying what happens but be careful not to blink - you might miss it!