Almost exactly 7 years ago, I was running the track field with my friends for gym class in middle school. It was a simple day and carefree, with great sunlight and fresh air. By accident I bumped into a tall high school student; a football player I would later be informed. I apologized and kept running. I took a peek back and saw the same person charging towards me at full speed. I kept running, unsure of what to do, until I got knocked over on the rocky track field, getting cuts on my hands and back. I cried on the way back and got picked up by my dad. On the trip back home he asked me a question: “Do you want to do Jiu-Jitsu now?” I answered yes.
I tell this quick story to anyone who asks me why I decided to train in martial arts, not because it is emotional or pitiful, nor because it would make you relate more to me. I tell it because it was with that incident that I realized two things. First was that I was weak; physically and mentally, breaking down from a little incident and being hurt after something so minor. Second was the realization that there are situations that will come my way, just like that day, where the unexpected will happen, and it will be up to me to handle myself. Truthfully, my father did teach me the basics of boxing and I wasn’t half bad. But I did not enjoy it and would argue that any intelligent person can keep their head down and avoid trouble. That’s why that moment was a vital turning point for me, and I believe every person will have one too. It’s an acceptance that it is up to us to find a way to become better.
Heading into the summer my dad, brother and I visited several martial arts schools, not finding one that appealed to us. Deeper into our search we looked into an academy called The EDGE Ultimate Martial Arts located in Saddle Brook, NJ, a short drive from our home. Once we stepped down those stairs we entered a huge facility, with two huge mats so two classes could take place at once, with an octagon in the middle with bleachers to divide the two. There were lines of heavy punching bags along the farther wall and a well-equipped weight room right on the left hand corner next to a counter where gear was sold. The school focused on four core martial arts: Sil Jun Do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Muay Thai, and MMA. I took a trial class of Sil Jun Do and knew I had to return, so my family took the step and my brother and I signed up for the kid’s class.
At the time I was a little too big for the kids’ class but within a few months I was promoted to my yellow belt and was permitted to learn in the adult classes that took place later in the evening. Ironically, I never even took a BJJ class until over a year after I signed up, focusing solely on Sil Jun Do at the time. I’m glad that was the case though, because it was through Sil Jun Do that I learned true self-defense. As much as I love BJJ and Muay Thai, Sil Jun Do was what taught me how to handle situations, how to analyze them, and taught me countless approaches. More importantly, it was where I learned patience, discipline, and respect. Yes, these are things that people can find in all martial arts provided the right teachers and environment, but few manage to do what The EDGE does: provide family. What Sil Jun Do did for me was give me a community I can rely on, one that always manages to teach me something new.
As my horizons expanded I began to do BJJ, where after a year of getting crushed by anyone even a pound heavier than me, my confidence eventually grew and I began to learn how to fight bigger, stronger opponents with more ease. I found a field I could rely on whenever I felt overwhelmed: the ground. In due time, I would explore the realm of Muay Thai along with some boxing and MMA. Together they established a solid foundation for stand-up fighting; while I still prefer control and self-defense techniques for practical applications, I learned to hold my own when it came to striking.
I applied every discipline I learned in one class to the other. Now, after seven years of training overall, I have first degree black belt in Sil Jun Do and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I carry these proudly and try to share any knowledge I’ve learned through the years to help others grow. It was only through people who took the extra step to criticize me of the intricacies that I began to improve, and with others I’d like to do the same. For many of the first years I refused to do so, but along with the countless lessons The EDGE has taught me, so was the ability to speak out and help others.
This is just an example of what most people don’t know. That while martial arts do prepare you to handle a thug on the street or a violent attack from a stranger, it develops you as a person as well. The EDGE is where I learned to stop being scared of the unknown, where I learned to relax and have faith in myself, and where I learned the value of speaking out to help others grow. The one step I took to join this academy and learn was the step that sent me on a better path, one of growth and self-development. Martial Arts became one of the few things I could fall back to when I was stressed and needed time to myself, but also where I could come to meet my second family and exchange thoughts and ideas about more than just training. To all those contemplating whether to take that step or not, trust me, it’s just the first step of a fruitful journey.
