Thank you to our student for sharing this inspiring story about him and his wife.
For five years, I trained. Five years of coming home sweaty and exhausted, trying to explain to my wife why I loved this sport so much. I told her about the techniques, the mental chess, the friendships I had built. I tried to convince her to come to class, just once, just to see what it was all about.
She always said no.
She supported me, no doubt—she listened to my stories, tolerated my obsession, and even let me practice moves on her from time to time. But she had no interest in training herself. And that was fine. Jiu-jitsu was my thing.
Until one day, it wasn’t just my thing anymore.
The First Class
I don’t know what changed. Maybe she got tired of hearing me talk about it. Maybe she was just curious. Maybe she wanted to see if she could actually choke me out. Whatever it was, she finally agreed to try a class.
I was excited but nervous. I didn’t want her to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. I wanted her to love it, but I knew that had to happen on her terms.
At first, she was hesitant. Everything felt awkward, unnatural. I could tell she wasn’t sure if she’d stick with it. But then, something clicked. She started to get it—the thrill of learning, the small victories, the rush of nailing a technique for the first time.
And just like that, she was hooked.
A Stronger Bond, On and Off the Mats
Jiu-jitsu gave us something I never knew we needed: a shared journey. Before, she was my biggest supporter. Now, she was my teammate. Training together deepened our bond in ways I never expected.
• We Pushed Each Other to Improve – There were days she felt frustrated, and I reminded her that everyone starts somewhere. And there were days I got lazy, and she was the one pushing me to show up to class.
• We Learned From Each Other – Even though I had more experience, she picked up things I overlooked. Sometimes, she saw details in techniques that I had missed for years. And when she started submitting me (yes, it happened), I knew I had created a monster.
• We Built More Trust – Jiu-jitsu is all about trust. Rolling with each other meant knowing when to push and when to hold back. It meant understanding when to challenge and when to support. That kind of trust bled into everything else in our relationship.
More Than Just a Hobby
Jiu-jitsu wasn’t just something I did anymore—it became something we did. We started drilling together at home, sending each other technique videos, and even planning date nights around open mat sessions.
It strengthened our relationship in ways I never expected. We weren’t just husband and wife anymore—we were teammates.
If You’re Wondering If Your Partner Should Train…
Encourage them, but don’t force it. Let them find their own way to the mats. If they do, be patient, be supportive, and be ready for them to one day catch you in a submission you taught them.
Jiu-jitsu gave us something I’ll always be grateful for—not just a sport, but a deeper connection, a stronger bond, and a shared passion that keeps us growing together.
