Savarese BJJs Andrew Kuntz shares his story

I posted this to my academy, Savarese Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but wanted to post publicly. I stumbled across this picture recently.

The picture on the left is about 2.5 years ago. I was in the middle of my Blue Belt and the Blue-Belt-Blues hit hard due to external stresses and my own ego issues. I felt that I wasn’t getting any better and there was a group of guys and girls who just got theirBlue Belts who I thought were flying by me. The stress got to me, I started to dread coming to train, it felt like a chore with no reward. As you can see, it affected me physically as well. It got to the point where I seriously considered quitting.

However, around that same time Professor began testing the Blue Belts on the entire stripe sheet curriculum. When I tested I realized how much I had learned, and how much better of a practitioner I was from the day I stepped on the mats. With that and the constant support of my girlfriend, who always understood how beneficial BJJ was for me, I found the enjoyment and focus which had disappeared. I am so happy that I stuck it out; the school has made me a better person, physically and mentally, and is a place I am proud to call home.

The purpose of this long-winded story is to remind many of the newer guys, to Trust the Process. Prof. Sav and Sean say it all the time, but sometimes it falls on deaf-ears because it is hard to imagine them as white belts or blue belts going through tough times. But, we have all been there. And I know for a fact that we all care about your progress, no one more than Professor Sav, Professor Sean and all the instructors. And I promise you will make progress if you just stick with it.

So, if you are feeling down, just remember how far you came and why you began BJJ in the first place, you will not regret it. And don’t be afraid to talk to any of the Professors, Coaches and upper-belts, they are always willing to listen.

See you all on the mats!