After a couple of years of watching MMA on TV, I figured I had to try it for myself. Doing so gave me a whole new appreciation for what these athletes can actually do.

In my first MMA class, I got taken down and submitted within seconds. I'd never felt that helpless before, and it made me want to learn more about the discipline. After a few more MMA classes, I decided to focus entirely on BJJ, and I've never looked back.

It'll soon be four years since my first BJJ class, and I feel like it's just the beginning.

Honestly, what kept me coming back was the fact that it's fun. It gets frustrating, for sure, but above all, it's a sport I genuinely enjoy. I don't really buy into the idea that you need an incredible amount of discipline just to keep showing up to Jiu-Jitsu. I go there to have fun (and learn, of course), and I don't have to force myself to pack my bag and get going.

Maybe we just have different goals and motivations. For some people, it's all about competing and constantly pushing their limits. For me, enjoying the sport and the people I train with is just as important.

I guess the gym I train at has a lot to do with this perspective. I genuinely feel that the people and values there suit me.

Of course, one downside of approaching Jiu-Jitsu this way is that I probably don't improve as quickly as someone who trains every day, competes regularly and approaches every session with a specific goal in mind. But that's totally fine with me. I know I'm probably not going to become a world champion, and that's not what keeps me coming back.

I want to enjoy BJJ in my own way. BONSAE is one way of doing that.