Burn The Boats & Take The Island
I then moved from boxing, a striking system, to concentrate solely on and try to get proficient in, the grappling arts. This change was much to do with me meeting my current professor and multiple BJJ world champion, Braulio Estima. He really really opened my eyes to how good somebody could be at their chosen profession and I carry that inspiration to this day. To always try and improve myself, and my Jiu Jitsu.
The grappling art I chose to concentrate on at that time was Judo. After suffering a serious injury to my shoulder and a broken forearm, my judo training had to stop at Brown belt level. This is when I felt my calling to finally commit to training BJJ. Not one to do things by half I moved to Birmingham where Braulio and his brother Victor were based.
I seen the lifestyle Victor led. He gave me my inspiration to want to make Jiu Jitsu my career. Victor would come to Bradford on a weekly basis and I would have weekly privates with him, his life seemed amazing, teaching Jiu Jitsu, talking Jui Jitsu, breathing Jiu-Jitsu!! I thought ‘maybe I could do that’ but I knew it would mean some serious commitment to make this achievable.
So we upped and moved to Birmingham. I was living my dream and training with some of the best grapplers that BJJ has ever known. My time in Birmingham was truly amazing. I have changed completely as a person. In fact I have made a number of shape shifts along this journey. There have been many challenges and adventures on this path, as with anything in life!