At High Altitude Martial Arts, we firmly believe in martial arts and how impactful it can be on your life. One of our students reached out to share their story. Names and details have been altered but the message remains the same. You are your own first responder, learn Jiu Jitsu and protect yourself and others!
Carlos always enjoyed staying fit, but after years of running and lifting weights, he felt something was missing. On a friend’s recommendation, he signed up for a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class at a local gym in Denver, Colorado. It was well known in the community and had a lot of strong Google reviews.
Carlos’s first impression was that BJJ was nothing like he had expected. Instead of punches and kicks, it was all about leverage, technique, and strategy. He learned how to use his opponent’s force against them, how to escape from difficult positions, and how to submit an opponent without causing harm. He quickly fell in love and was training three days a week. He progressed quickly and the sport came quite natural to him.
One evening, Carlos decided to go for a run through the park near his house. It was just getting dark, and as he turned a corner, he saw a man aggressively confronting a woman. The man was demanding her purse, and she looked terrified. He man started pulling on her purse and trying to push her away.
Without thinking, Carlos ran over and intervened. The man turned his aggression towards Carlos, lunging at him. Thanks to his BJJ training, Carlos remained calm. He sidestepped the attack, quickly gaining control of the situation. He used a simple hip throw to take the man to the ground, then transitioned into a secure mount position.
From there, Carlos applied a gentle but firm armbar, making it clear that the attacker wouldn’t be able to move without hurting himself. Realizing he was overpowered, the attacker yelled for Carlos to stop, and Carlos held him down until the police arrived.
The woman was grateful, and the police commended Carlos for handling the situation without escalating the violence. Carlos felt a deep sense of accomplishment. He had always known that BJJ was effective in a controlled environment, but now he had firsthand experience of how it could be used to protect others and de-escalate dangerous situations in real life.
From that day on, Carlos not only continued his BJJ training with renewed dedication but also encouraged others to learn self-defense. He knew that with the right skills, anyone could protect themselves and make a positive impact on their community.
