After a couple years of procrastinating joining a jiu-jitsu school, I finally did a few months ago.

I’ve been going a couple times a week in between random injuries, the most painful of which was a bruised rib.

I wrestled for a decade and feel comfortable on a mat.

But, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is not wrestling.  That reality took me a few months to realize.

My parents snagged an item off my Amazon wishlist, “Jiu-Jitsu University” by Saulo Ribeiro.  It has about 2000+ photos and is organized in an interesting way that I am going to take to heart.

Essentially, Saulo’s idea is that a white belt’s goal is to learn to survive in all positions.  That is a concept that I really needed to hear.  I feel comfortable when we are drilling, but as soon as I get put in an unfamiliar position, I’m a fish out of water.

I dug into Saulo’s book and one rolling session later, I already know it has made me so much more aware in those out of position moments I frequently find myself in.

When rolling, I’m going to be the most frustrating, surviving bjj player I can be.  That’s the plan anyways.

The book has been eye opening to me.  There is a decade of learning material in one $25 book.

Thanks mom and dad.

Chalk another win up to the use of Amazon Wishlists.