life gets in the way...

   For as long as I have been training Brazilian Jiujitsu (16years), I have come to realize how lucky I really am. Having a wife and a family its not always easy to find the time to train. Luckily, I have a wife that made it very easy on me.
   I started training Jiujitsu in Humble Texas, after watching the first few UFC fights.  A long time friend introduced me to my only addiction, and I was hooked.  My two boys were 4 and 5 at the time and I was lucky enough that Alvis took us in and we never looked back.
   After a few months of training, my wife (Sarah), decided she wanted to try the kickboxing class.  One reason was a way for us to be together, the other was to get into shape. For the the next 4 or 5 months we all tried talking her into training Jiujitsu. But like a lot of women, it was a hard sell. Rolling around on the ground with a bunch of sweaty dudes trying to choke you out, didn't and doesn't appeal to most women.  Finally she started training. My boys as well. This was to become our family time.
   My boys started training and like most parents, we tried to encourage them and push them to be the best. I came to realize later that I may have pushed them a little too hard which lead to my oldest son not training anymore. My youngest had went back and forth and has now really put in a lot of effort and work is getting really good. For my self and my wife, we are dedicated.
   Over the years I have had to modify my training schedule to fit what was ever going on at the time. School, football, basketball, baseball, work, family. There was always a reason or excuse not to train. I would however, always manage to find at least 2 days a week to hit the mats. Once its in your blood, its there for life.
   In 2005 I had a major set back. Torn ACL. The doctors told me at the time that I could just leave it as is.  As long as I didn't want to do any kinda sport activities I could live with it. I had just started a new job and really couldn't afford to take off. Well, I was still young, felt really great, except for the knee, and my boys were still young as well. I had some running, jumping and rolling still left me. So of course I went ahead with the surgery. Under the knife on Thursday. Back to work on Monday limping around. One legged squats everywhere I went.  There was a lot of up and down at this new job and it was a good opportunity for me, so one leg or not I was there.
   Training Jiujitsu now seemed obsolete. Out of the question.  Or was it?? After about a week of not training, my wife was still dedicated to the cause. So, I would come to class, observe, stretch, wiggle around. The itch was too great. I started therapy like a mad man.  Within 3 months I was back at techniques. Within 6 months I was back to rolling (LIGHT). Like I said when its in your blood, Jiujitsu can be more addictive than any drug. 
   Without the support of my wife, there is no way I could have trained as hard and as much as I have over the years. We are now both Blackbelts and run our own school (Davis Martial Arts Academy in Humble Texas)
   .All the time I hear I don't have time, I am too old, I am too fat, I am not flexible enough I don't have the money. Believe me when I say there are plenty of good reasons why not to train. Life gets in the way sometimes. But if you can dedicate yourself to training, the rewards out way the costs. Life time friends. Peace of mind. Self-confidence beyond your dreams. Getting in the best shape of your life. Being able to defend yourself.  An ALL AROUND SENSE OF WELL BEING comes over you. Sounds too good to be true right?  For those that have never experienced the "Jiujitsu serenity" after a hard nights training session, you don't know what your missing. Its hard to explain, but its true and  its best experienced.
   For those out there that don't believe Jiujitsu is for you. My response to that is until you step on the mats, you have no idea what you can and cant do. 
  My name is Roy Davis I am 42 years old. And I train Jiujitsu.... 

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