The Scholarly Jiu-Jitsu Player /// By: Maureen Ramirez

Although half the summer is gone already, we wanted to share this blog with our college student readers who are getting ready for the fall semester next month. The struggle to balance school and training can be a tough one, so here are some words of advice from blue belt and Arizona State University undergraduate student, Maureen Ramirez:

As the semester comes to an end, I cannot be more excited. Not only am I looking forward to sleeping in, no stress from difficult assignments, and finally escaping the prison that is my university’s library. I am also looking forward to being able to train. Of course, I train during the school year. I wouldn’t have survived the stress of school and work without jiu-jitsu. However, I feel that school is one of the factors inhibiting my progress. I often feel torn between training multiple times or using those extra hours to catch up on cellular biology. It makes me feel guilty when I choose one over the other. I’m still young, and I have a lot of time to compete. However, I want to be a talented, accomplished, and elite competitor. I also want to be an amazing, educated, and accomplished scientist. There are times my two passions collide and I think that many people going to school, along with training, feel the same way. As someone studying Genetics and Cellular Biology along with being in one of the most studly blue belt female divisions, I have a few words of advice for those in my shoes.

Maureen (in the black gi) competing at the 2017 Pans.

Maureen (in the black gi) competing at the 2017 Pans.

1)     School is your priority. If it wasn’t, you’d be training full time.

There’s a reason you are spending thousands of dollars on your education. You WANT to be there. Jiu-Jitsu is a life long journey and it will always welcome you with open arms. Do not jeopardize thousands of dollars and potential debt because you’re a blue belt trying to be the next “phenom”.

2)     Jiu-Jitsu is supposed to be fun and a way to relieve your stress.

If you find that you’re only able to make time for jiu-jitsu 3-4 times a week, then go train! It’s meant to be a fun and stress-relieving experience. If you are constantly stressed that you can’t make it to training 7 days a week, 2 times a day because of other obligations (that are also causing stress), you are not doing yourself any favors. Go when you can and give 100% while you’re there.

3)     Use the academic skills you are acquiring to help better your jiu-jitsu.

If you can’t make it to jiu-jitsu, STUDY. Watch a collar-sleeve analysis, rewatch old matches, put those study skills to good use. I am someone who learns quite linearly and I need a step by step breakdown of almost anything I do or learn. I like to use study breaks at the library as a time to make myself a breakdown of certain moves/positions that I am trying to incorporate into my game. (i.e. a step by step of what I want to do from lasso to DLR and what to do if my opponent counters)

4)     There’s nothing like doing it to get it done.

Do your schoolwork to the best of your ability. Train to the best of your ability. Everyone’s journey is their own and if you’re making moves towards your goals, you’re already ahead of the game. The grind is real when you have a lot on your plate and that’s the beauty in it.