Curry, Sushi, Tamales, and Jujitsu
(3:30 Read Time)
Bear with me as I explore an intriguing connection between my culinary adventures and the jujitsu world. As a child, I stubbornly refused to eat Indian food, likely influenced by watching Indiana Jones devour questionable delicacies during his adventures in India. Subconsciously, I convinced myself that Indian cuisine was not to my liking. However, as I grew older, my palate became more adventurous. It wasn't until my late 20s or early 30s that I mustered the courage to try Indian food, and to my surprise, I discovered that I enjoyed it.
A similar story unfolded with sushi. In my younger years, consuming raw fish repulsed me, and I staunchly avoided sushi. But as time passed, my curiosity prevailed, and I eventually tried it. Alas, sushi didn't win me over; it simply wasn't to my taste.
Tamales, however, present a slightly different tale. My initial encounter with them involved grocery stores' frozen, pre-made varieties. Unimpressed by their flavor and texture, I concluded that tamales were not for me. It wasn't until later when I had the privilege of tasting homemade tamales at a Hispanic friend's home, that I realized my assumption was unfounded. The handmade tamales were a revelation, bursting with flavors and textures that delighted my senses.
So, what does all this have to do with jujitsu? Today, I received a text from a potential client informing me that their child was no longer interested in exploring what our academy had to offer. Initially, I couldn't help but judge the parents for allowing their child to make such a significant decision. However, I quickly realized I needed insight into their family dynamics or circumstances before making assumptions about them. It reminded me of my biases and the importance of withholding judgment until we truly understand a situation.
This encounter made me reflect on my experiences with different foods. Just as I formed misconceptions about Indian cuisine and sushi based on external influences, this child lacked the context and understanding of what jujitsu truly is. Misleading portrayals on television or incomplete information might have influenced them. Regrettably, many individuals who would greatly benefit from jujitsu will never step onto the mat due to misguided perceptions propagated by unreliable sources.
But here's the crux: Trying something new doesn't guarantee a positive outcome. Just as I discovered my dislike for sushi and initially disliked tamales based on low-quality versions, someone might try jujitsu and realize it's not their cup of tea. And that's perfectly acceptable. The key lies in giving it a fair chance and experiencing it firsthand.
Like my tamale experience, a poorly run and/or instructed Jiu-Jitsu academy can have the same effect on people’s opinions as the poor tamale did on me. It leaves the individual with a poor taste in their mouth for Jiu-Jitsu. The problem of getting rid of, or stopping, unqualified people from opening up martial arts academies is a challenge that would be difficult to solve. While it may be tempting to propose regulatory measures to ensure the quality of martial arts academies and instructors, such an approach is impractical. As a Jiu-Jitsu community, we can't even agree on something as simple as sporting rules or a standard curriculum, so how could we ever develop checks and balances to determine a qualified instructor? However, we must recognize the potential negative impact of a poorly run jujitsu school. Inadequate instruction, a singularly focused approach to jiu-jitsu that fails to meet individual needs, or a toxic atmosphere can leave individuals disillusioned and disheartened. Like my unfortunate encounter with low-quality tamales, these experiences can create an aversion to jujitsu. My teachers used to tell me about a solution they used in the past (mainly in Brazil, but some here in the U.S.). They talked about open challenges, where they would fight anyone who came to their academy and wanted to test their metal. They also told stories about the infamous "Dojo storms." These were situations where practitioners from one academy would visit another, engaging in confrontations, defeating opponents and usually leaving them asleep on their floor, and then leaving. While it may sound thrilling or entertaining, such behavior no longer aligns with today's social culture. As tempting as this solution is, it would just result in legal consequences in today's world. Alas, the best we can do is focus on our house and the people within. We should make our schools lighthouses in the storm that attract wayward jiu-jitsu practitioners to a safe harbor. We can do this by fostering a mindset of courage and open-mindedness toward new experiences. Taking a multi-dimensional approach to how we teach Jiu-Jitsu. Emphasizing respect, cooperation, personal growth, and the value of hard work and dedication. Eventually, those other places will fade away, and the frozen tamales will be few and far between.
