Gracie Jiu Jitsu of KY
Prof. Scott Smith
February 21, 2019
Should I Teach my child how to Fight?
Is the investment in training to fight worth it for my child?
As a young boy I found myself in many uncomfortable situations at school and in my neighborhood. But I mastered the ability to talk my way out of all the most ugly situations I found myself in. I was not a nerd as they call kids who struggle with sports. I was just the opposite. I had the talent to make the A team for basketball and start on our schools Football team. I also made the All Stars in baseball about every year. So one might say that I was kind of the jock type. I hung out with all the cool kids and was considered cool in the eyes of most. It was not till my High School years that I found myself in the deepest of situations with someone who did not care that I was a jock. He was several grades over me and was much larger physically. This intimidation haunted me for several years in high school. I felt I had no chance in confronting this guy if he decided he wanted to fight me.
I was not a bully by no means, but I did have a mouth on me that could get me into trouble. I have always been someone who spoke my mind, but we all know thats not always best. In doing this I found myself again in situations with other older kids. But I honestly had little ability to fight. So again I would do my best to talk my way out of any situation I could. Most of the time I was successful others not so much. I realized at 15 years of age I needed to develop my skills and confidence in taking care of myself physically. I enrolled into my first martial arts school with my father on Preston Hwy.
It was truly magical how I started to feel like I was finally learning something that I could use to defend myself if needed. Not that I was ever going to go looking for a fight to test myself. Just that I was investing in me to develop the skills I needed in case. I think my love came as I understood I was working on not walking the earth fearing another man. This did not happen over night of course and the training is a life’s journey. I found Jiu Jitsu around 1995 and I have dedicated the last 23 years of my life in perfecting my ability in this art. God has blessed me and now I make a living doing it. My passion is now to teach others how to feel the same confidence the way I do now. Jiu Jitsu is what made me feel this way and I take the lessons I’ve learned from it and share with others.
I will conclude and say this.. I was lost in fear of being bullied when I was younger, picked. All this started to go away as I invested the time and efforts into jiu jitsu. The world is a much different place today and our children are having to deal with it. As you would want the best health or education for your child, the same goes with learning to fight. Find a Jiu Jitsu Academy and enroll your child today. Let someone with the knowledge teach your child the right and wrong way of defending themselves. You will be amazed at the difference you see in them in just a few short months. Investing in their confidence is a real thing…. You will be glad you did I promise. 