My awkward moment was when I first started taking some Jiu-Jitsu lessons. While I had some fundamentals of falls, throws, and locks from my Karate and Tae Kwon Do teachers previously, this world was still very unfamiliar, and seeing all of these really big guys effortless gliding through the air, and doing some pretty nice fall moves. After a few more lessons, they were encouraging me to try a few of the more advanced techniques, and after I attempted the first technique, I ended up landing on my back, with the wind knocked out of me. Another time, I didn't tuck in my chin, and gave myself a crick in the neck. Fortunately, the sensei was quite adept at massage therapy, and helped straighten things out quite nicely.
Did I feel like a stumbling clutz in that Jiu-Jitsu class for those first few months? Absolutely. It wasn't just the techniques, but also the type of conditioning.
These guys were well trained, and would go through the entire class and still have plenty of energy left over to go out and slam down some rounds of cold beer. At the same time, I'd be able to finish the classes, but by the time the class was over, I could have probably curled up on the dojo floor, and fallen asleep. I still managed to drag myself along to the local pubs, and enjoy some cold beers afterwards.
I'll tell you this much, though; I wouldn't trade that experience for anything in the world. Those few months of Jiu-Jitsu training made me a better Karate practitioner, and made me overcome my aversion to ground fighting as well. More importantly, those lessons re-emphasized the importance of keeping one's feet on the ground (figuratively), remembering that there's always something to learn from everyone else.
My friends in the Jiu-Jitsu class wanted the same thing, so they started coming to my Karate classes. Suddenly, those guys that flew through the air with the greatest of fluidity and ease, were finding it awkward to kick, and had a devil of a time learning some of the footwork. These guys were very well conditioned for their Jiu-Jitsu classes, but at the same time, the type of conditioning for Karate classes was certainly a good bit different, and they were feeling quite spent by the end of the class. Some had experienced muscle soreness that they swore was absolute fire, and others had aching lungs the next morning.
I'll say this much, though; they still forced themselves to go out and have some rounds of cold beer afterwards, claiming that I left them with no choice, and that this was medically necessary.
To this day, I still keep in contact with many of those old friends, and still try to train with them when I pay a visit. Good times, for sure.
