After watching her older brothers train kickboxing and jiu-jitsu at my martial school Katie was ready to step on the mats. From the first step I knew she was going to be something special. Her focus and discipline were already there. She knew what was expected of her and what it would take for her to strengthen her skills. After only a few weeks she was being called upon to demonstrate for the class. She is truly amazing.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight that matters. It’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
It wasn’t long before it was time for her to start grappling. This was obstacle she was going to face. Grappling can be frightening at first. Think about it for a minute. Your pitted against another trying to gain position and control your opponent. This can give the toughest people jitters, especially a child. After a few classes she didn’t want to go back in. This happens often and we use it as a chance to teach and demonstrate exactly what non-quitting spirit does. It empowers you in times that you feel like giving up. She got tough and is now back in class. This may seem small to some but martial artists know that this is a huge growth spurt on ones journey.
