After college, I moved to Louisville by myself to start a new job. At first, I felt really lonely…read moreand isolated. Luckily, by a serendipitous coincidence, I encountered Criterion Jiu Jitsu on the web. I was always interested in the sport, but many times before when I attempted to join a club, I ended up talking myself out of it. For one, I knew I would likely be one of the few girls in class (which is an intimidating idea for me), on top of which I never believed I was athletic enough to be of any good. However, by a strange impulse, I went to a trial class at Criterion Jiu Jitsu. Immediately I was fascinated by the respectful atmosphere. There are people from all walks of life and different levels of experiences, yet strangely, no one feels out of place. I loved the friendly and inclusive environment. And as a designer, I cannot help but appreciate the beautiful stained glass and high ambient ceiling of the classroom.
From that day on, I went to my second, third, and fourth class, and not before long, I embarked on an exciting adventure that is jujitsu... Rob is a great instructor, his class is so relaxing, interactive, and fun. Though I was one of the few girls in the class, and at the beginning I struggled doing some of the basic warmups. But I always felt a strong sense of support and encouragement from my instructor and classmates. Slowly I witnessed progress in my techniques and discovered new potentials of my body I never knew before. Above all, I had a blast! I met some of the most amazing people through Criterion. And being a shy person, I am proud to say that I made a lot of friends without needing to exchange many words.
As I kept going for weeks, I also noticed positive changes in other parts of my life through jujitsu. I started to feel more confident in myself, more focused and thoughtful in my professional work. Jujitsu taught me a lot about humility, and it helped me resolve a lot of insecurities and fears in my life. I feel very fortunate to find this big family in Louisville, and Criterion Jiu Jitsu has made this new city feel like home.