2 Years In…

Last night, members of the Academy surprised me with a thoughtful gift to celebrate the new space.  It was a shadowbox displaying the 5 belts of BJJ, all neatly tied and all HCK of course, as Howard Liu was in on it too.  I was touched, and it was a beautiful marker for this stage of the journey, nearly 2 years in.

Two autumns back, I left my job at a San Diego production company to do something different.  Even though San Diego had been home for seven years, I felt like I had somehow fallen off the path.  Something inside me yearned for that next step, and although the way was not clearly defined, I set out on it anyway.

The first year was largely spent writing, and rediscovering the basics of jiu jitsu.  The EJJ was born, the blog established, and I launched an Academy where almost everyone was fresh.  What I taught then, the way I managed sparring sessions so Academy members wouldn’t maim each other in the first 2 minutes of mat time, has all changed as skill levels continue to rise.  The BJJ experience evolves as a student of the art, and rolls into a new chapter as an full time instructor.

Year 2 allowed me to shift my focus from the written word to the screen image.  The experience of being part of this Academy is something I wanted to share with everyone who wished to participate.  Keep the process of creating this environment open and transparent, as life unscripted is generally better content than what the mind conceives.  Capture and compress powerful moments and rites of passage on video, and allow those glimpses of heart and technique to inspire others.  Bring in an element of storytelling, and elevate this sophisticated discipline to a new artistic level in its presentation.

I’ve learned a great deal in launching this vision.  The first 2 years are never easy in any long term venture. Not every attempt was successful.  Traditional game plans that work for many, may not work for you.  True black belts adapt. 

I would like to thank each and every Academy member, here and abroad, online and off, for allowing me the opportunity to share this art, and a part of myself, with them.  Many have helped me on this path, and there is no place I would rather be than walking this road with them.  Arigato.