At this December's promotions, my Coach presented me with my purple belt. Big deal. No, really, big FREAKING deal. Leading up to it, I really downplayed it. Teammates would ask whether I was expecting it or if I wanted it and I would give the very diplomatic response of - "nah, I'm in it for the long haul, regardless of what color is around my waist. I get it, awesome -- keep up the good work. I don't get it -- ok, work harder." That's the actual truth and I believe every word of it. But there's more to that, isn't there?
When I started jiu jitsu, I really had no idea how far I would go in this arduous, frustrating lifestyle. There were days I would sit in the car and talk myself into going into the gym. And then sometimes, during warm-ups, I would have an internal debate about whether or not I had the energy to make it through to the end. I've cut weight numerous times for competitions I would eventually lose. I have torn a finger, broken a toe and drained cauliflower ear four times. But four years later, here I am -- faixa roxa -- a rank I really didn't think I'd make it to. Not that I thought I'd quit before then, I just didn't see myself excelling at this. I still think I suck. There are days I will submit everyone I roll with, but more often, I'm the one tapping or giving everything I got so I don't get tapped out. But when I look around, I realize that of the five teammates that earned their blue belt at the same time as me, I am one of two that received their purple belt. And that speaks volumes. The discipline. All those nights I cooked dinner, tucked the kids in and got my ass to the mats. All the times I skipped out on work events, happy hours and other gigs to get my ass on the mats.
So as I stood there with this new belt around me, I took it all in. It's a lot of responsibility. When I joined the gym, we didn't have many purple belts on the mats -- maybe two I can recall. And I remember looking at them with so much admiration. And now I'm that guy. Which means I can't phone it in anymore. Show up. Eat right. Set a good example. Teach. Roll with the new peeps. Have your coaches' backs. Compete. Practice perfect technique. Improve timing. Never quit and always - Fight. Fight. Fight. All this - not because I am chasing after a brown belt (I'm in no rush). But because this is the expectation I have of myself, the club's newest purple belt.
