Change is Essential

A Long History

The mats that we have been training on at Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu for the past three years are the same exact mats that I started training Jiu-Jitsu on sixteen years ago. That’s sort of a cool thing. To think about all of the blood and sweat that I and my hundreds of teammates over the years have shed on those mats in the pursuit of becoming something greater than what we were at that moment. How many belts were earned on those mats? How many hands slapped in the initiation of a roll? How many hands tapped signaling the end of one?

I tend to be sentimental about such things. Certain objects possess a personal history, and these were important to me. Some of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in my life, about myself and about others, were learned on these mats. However, it was time for a change. The mats – like all mats – started to crack, wear, and compress.

Growth: More Than Just Numbers

We’ve seen a lot of growth in the last six months at the academy. Growth that far supersedes the growth of student enrollment. Growth that is reflected in the attitudes, morale, work ethic, team spirit, and technical refinement of the entire team and of individual students.

I have seen some of my students shed 20+ lbs., simply because they showed up week after week and were consistent in their training. I have seen meek and shy students grow into confident individuals who know their own potential for growth and greatness. I have seen people shaped into leaders and outstanding supportive teammates. Every student at Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu has truly shown positive growth, and  I feel like our training facility and environment should reflect the quality of Jiu-Jitsu, instruction, and philosophy that we strive to embody at Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu.

Change is not only inevitable – change is essential to positive growth. Out with the old, and in with the new. I am always working to change my game, to open my mind, to further my understanding of Jiu-Jitsu. Not only to benefit myself, but to benefit my students and my academy. I want to consistently bring something new to the table in order to help my students be the best that they can be. A part of that is working towards having the best facilities that we can provide.

Implementation & First Run

With the tireless support of my longest standing student, assistant instructor, and good friend, Ryan Lewis, we were able to update our facilities to create an environment that more accurately reflects who we are as a team, and where we are heading. As soon as the mats arrived, Ryan and I sped to the academy to install them. The process took a bit longer than we had anticipated, but the final result was well worth the time and effort.

Our old mats did not fill out the space that we occupy. This not only resulted in a lack of space to train, but also a created tendency for the mats to spread apart. Every few minutes during training, somebody would have to literally kick the mats together. The first class with the new mats was a success. A lot more space, and a lot less kicking in the mats – meaning not at all. Most importantly: it felt different. More professional, seamless (literally), and authentic. A dedicated and permanent training space, solely for learning and practicing our art.

The Future is Bright

2018 is going to be a great year for Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu. We will continue to grow our Jiu-Jitsu, academy, team, and individual achievements on and off the mats. We truly believe that Jiu-Jitsu can change our orientation towards the world, and towards other people. It can make us kinder, more forgiving, more humble, but also show us the strength and resilience that we all have inside of us. Jiu-Jitsu teaches us the necessity to constantly push for greater things, and never settle for less. Here’s to constant growth, day by day!

See For Yourself!

At Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu, we are not only the newest Jiu-Jitsu academy in Madison, but also one of the fastest growing. Now we have the newest facilities. Change your life, and sign up for a free trial today, no obligation required. Our schedule can be found here.