Taking the Plunge in New Beginnings

I finally signed up for Gracie Jujitsu. I’ve wanted to start learning GJJ for a while, but always found an excuse not to. I suppose one can always find a reason to procrastinate. In my case, I have less reason to put it off than others. I’m doing good on my budget, saving money. I’m in solidly good shape. My job is going all right. Well, I think my job has settled into the expected rhythm of highs and lows. I’m not sure why I delayed for so long.

Actually, I think I do know why I put it off. If I had followed through on every skill I had taken the at least the first step to learn, I’d one incredible person indeed. I’d be able to draw, dance, play piano and guitar, engineer machines, power tumble, juggle, play hackie sack, and speak fluent spanish.

My list of things I’ve failed to accomplish is greater than my list of things I’ve actually accomplished. I imagine that the former list is longer for most people. Still, I hate the notion of having quit one more goal. Granted, life intervenes with things like health crises, family emergencies, and job obligations, so hobbies need to be put on the back burner. Though, to be honest, sometimes I’ve given up because the cost was not being able to sleep in on Saturday or binge watch T.V., or play multiplayer Halo on my computer. That’s a part of the cost few people add on to the monetary price. What needs to be given up in terms of time.

I know I’m not alone. When I was in my TKD club at UGA, so many people left after progressing to the next rank. I always felt bad for the people who quit. Inevitably, one of the instructors would run into the former club member around town, and he or she would feel compelled to explain that something had come up with school or work, but he or she would defintely “come back next semester.” Seldom did they. One fellow who started with my group, left for a couple of semesters. When he tried to return, we had made it to the advanced ranks, but he was still in the beginner’s group. He only came back once, and I think quitting was easier for him the second time.

Nonetheless, I’ve wanted to do this for a while. For one thing, I tested for my first dan black belt almost nine years ago. While I’ve kept in shape, I want to have no doubt that can defend myself or someone else should the need arise. I had found a local GJJ gym that offers the Gracie Combatives course a while ago, and I felt that taking that course would give me the peace of mind I want, but I always put it off. Well, I had a nightmare last week that made my blood run cold.

I dreamt I was in my old house, my parents’ house that I grew up in. I was all alone, and I was locking up for the night. I had locked the doors on the ground floor, then I went down into the basement, which had a guest bedroom in the basement. In the closet of that bedroom was a door to the outside. Both doors could be locked from the inside of the house, creating a double barrier. Not that my neighborhood was rough or that either of those doors was flimsy, but whenever I was afraid as a child that there might be something in the basement, that extra security provided slightly more comfort. Back on point, I went down into the basement, I approached the closet door, and right as I touched the lock on the knob, an assailant kicked though the door, tackled me, and pinned me on the ground. Right before I woke up, I remember thinking, “I’m going to die!”

It wasn’t even like when you’re in a bad dream and you know something bad is about to happen. I was completely taken by surprise. It probably didn’t help that I read a list of creepy “true” stories on dangerdolan.tv earlier that day. Specifically, I’m referring to the first item on the following list: http://www.dangerdolan.tv/15-creepiest-true-stories-ever-told/. Still, I’m taking that nightmare as an indication that the time is right. If nothing else, I’m going to commit one year to learning Gracie Combatives, then I can sleep better at night, or perhaps be less afraid of basements.

Also, I had to visit my former housemate/landlord last week to pick up some mail. Right as I was leaving, said that I looked good. Specifically, he said, “you’ve lost some weight since last time. You were getting a little heavy about the time you left.” Gee, thanks, Johhny. It was almost a compliment. Next time, quit while you’re ahead.