A Commitment Crossroads

Life is full of choices, and in Jiu-Jitsu one quickly finds some choice are more vital than others--tap out or pass out. Often times we are faced with choices that impact us and our training; a great many have cleaned up their diets, quit smoking, avoided social events in the evening or weekends to train, and very often picked where to live soley based off access to training. Today I made a final life choice for Jiu-Jitsu, it is closing a chapter on my life, and opening a new one as I place the great art at a higher position--or regard--in my life.

The big choice? I took out my final body piercing. Let me start by saying, in over 9 years I have never trained with piercings in, it is dangerous and stupid and do not condone it; however, I have tried to keep up on my piercings for most of the years. Slowly combat sports and work have erased these parts of my life/identity down to this final item.

Some of you without piercings may struggle to understand the attachment we have to them (not pun intended), but for the many who have lost or removed these pieces of ourselves to Jiu-Jitsu or life, can probably empathize, and feel some of the sting--physically and emotionally.

This choice was made not because my piercings hinder Jiu-Jitsu, more because Jiu-Jitsu hinders them. Training multiple times a week and or multiple times a day, the piercing holes get irritated and after training comes the dreaded moment of putting the piercing back in. You pray not to feel a small pop because if you do, you know that hole will be irritated for the next few days or longer. It is vicious cycle that come in ebbs and flows.

For me, It is now time to stop dreading, embrace that I am giving up a part of the old me, in exchange for a greater--less irritated piercing holes--me.

I did not choose it for Jiu-Jitsu; Jiu-Jitsu chose it for me, and I am happy with that!