Tim has been to BJJ classes for about half a year by
now and one evening last week, after the kids class,
the coaches surprised us by presenting him with a
white-yellow belt. We didn't know what the next
belt level was for kids when we started. We just
wanted to train. It came when it was due. Tim was
pumped up and, to some degree, so was I. He even
asked me to work with him on some moves at home.
This happened right after his 11'th birthday,
which made it more memorable.

What made the training so appealing was the people
at the gym. As I mentioned in a previous post, most
were very fit and with a great attitude. The first 20
min gruesome warm up exercises weeded out most
unfit folks. I felt for these guys and I was one
of them. A serious try at the Gracie Diet would
help. But no one talked about diet, or much at
all, in class. There was not much showing-off
either. We were mostly white and blue belts, after
all. The higher belts knew even better that they
had a lot to learn.

I did recognize discipline when I saw it, however,
and there were plenty in the gym. One example, Mr.
Li, an assistant coach and a purple belt, was in
his mid-50s and in amazing shape. I couldn't do
many of the moves that he so easily demo-ed. For
strength, he could hoist himself up a rope with
only two hands and teaching three classes in a row
was a serious endurance test. Tim and I were on
the same path, he told me, as he and his son (also
an assistant coach) started their training many years
ago just like us.

Thank You!