Create Margin - Make a Move
Have you heard of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
I hadn't either...until #lifewithJesseAlvarado and IV started taking classes at a wonderful place here in Galveston called Undercurrent Jiu Jitsu with Coach Joe Waldrop.
The technical description of BJJ is that it is "a martial art, a combat sport and a self-defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting."
When I started to do more research though, I was astounded at what the sport actually encompasses. According to the history of BJJ, "it promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger, heavier assailant by using proper technique, leverage and, most notably, taking the fight to the ground."
My friends, there is much to learn from this for our lives.
I have been the mom on the sidelines of the mat for several months now and here's what I've learned:
This life is rarely a mere physical game. Your emotions and mental state far outweigh your physical strength and prowess. The athletes roll for three minute bouts. When the kids get frustrated on the mat - when they flail and turn to sheer strength out of desperation or fatigue - they make mistakes.
And they lose the fight.
And sometimes you lose to a red-haired girl that is smaller than you and wears a pink gi. Ahem. In a competition.
And that, my friends, REALLY. HURTS. #evenhurtsmom #weareacompetitivefamily
BJJ is about using technique to create margin - using strategy to create space to make a move. Fighters create margin. Their strategy creates space. Space to submit an opponent, margin to escape a choke or space to position themselves for success.
They create margin. And then make a move.
How often do we tangle up with life's challenge and expect ourselves to fight with our physical strength? We run on fumes. We bottle up anger and frustration. We aren't present in our own lives because we are too tired, too beat, too sad, too ___________.
What I've learned from Christ - and now BJJ - is that it is rarely about being the bigger, stronger, heavier assailant.
Life is about using proper technique, leverage and taking the fight TO. THE. GROUND.
What can create this precious margin in our lives?
Faith. Plain and simple. The Word of God creates margin, creates peace, creates the space you need to make a move - the right move.
In Hebrews 11:32 the author says "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the Prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and touted foreign armies."
By FAITH, these individuals - weak, scared, susceptible to temptation, mistake-makers - created margin and made a move. They fought unbelievable battles. They overcame incredible challenges. Not because they were the bigger, stronger assailant - but because they had faith.
They took the fight to the ground with faith.
And that faith created margin.
And that margin, lead to a move.
Sometimes you're going to get banged up along the way and come up with a few black eyes. But God will never fail to meet you and create that space that you need.
I hadn't either...until #lifewithJesseAlvarado and IV started taking classes at a wonderful place here in Galveston called Undercurrent Jiu Jitsu with Coach Joe Waldrop.
The technical description of BJJ is that it is "a martial art, a combat sport and a self-defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting."
When I started to do more research though, I was astounded at what the sport actually encompasses. According to the history of BJJ, "it promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger, heavier assailant by using proper technique, leverage and, most notably, taking the fight to the ground."
My friends, there is much to learn from this for our lives.
I have been the mom on the sidelines of the mat for several months now and here's what I've learned:
This life is rarely a mere physical game. Your emotions and mental state far outweigh your physical strength and prowess. The athletes roll for three minute bouts. When the kids get frustrated on the mat - when they flail and turn to sheer strength out of desperation or fatigue - they make mistakes.
And they lose the fight.
And sometimes you lose to a red-haired girl that is smaller than you and wears a pink gi. Ahem. In a competition.
And that, my friends, REALLY. HURTS. #evenhurtsmom #weareacompetitivefamily
BJJ is about using technique to create margin - using strategy to create space to make a move. Fighters create margin. Their strategy creates space. Space to submit an opponent, margin to escape a choke or space to position themselves for success.
They create margin. And then make a move.
How often do we tangle up with life's challenge and expect ourselves to fight with our physical strength? We run on fumes. We bottle up anger and frustration. We aren't present in our own lives because we are too tired, too beat, too sad, too ___________.
What I've learned from Christ - and now BJJ - is that it is rarely about being the bigger, stronger, heavier assailant.
Life is about using proper technique, leverage and taking the fight TO. THE. GROUND.
What can create this precious margin in our lives?
Faith. Plain and simple. The Word of God creates margin, creates peace, creates the space you need to make a move - the right move.
In Hebrews 11:32 the author says "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the Prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and touted foreign armies."
By FAITH, these individuals - weak, scared, susceptible to temptation, mistake-makers - created margin and made a move. They fought unbelievable battles. They overcame incredible challenges. Not because they were the bigger, stronger assailant - but because they had faith.
They took the fight to the ground with faith.
And that faith created margin.
And that margin, lead to a move.
Sometimes you're going to get banged up along the way and come up with a few black eyes. But God will never fail to meet you and create that space that you need.
Brilliantly worded Liz!! Right on!
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