20 years to Blue

I have trained in the Martial Arts most of my life starting in Japanese Jiu Jitsu when in middle school.  I began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the year of 1993, just out of high school.  That year I had to drive 250+ miles one way to Portland, OR to the closest BJJ gym and train.  Needless to say I could not support those trips for long and have been inconsistent with my BJJ training. 

 A few years ago I met Randy Stacy when he transferred to the local Air Base, he teamed up with one of the local schools and the built a grappling room for us to train.  I started training BJJ consistently in the year of 2010 but due to my size I did not progress as I should have.  In 2011 I took time off to prepare for surgery and to follow my prescribed 6 month monitoring period.  Surgery happened in April 2012 and I took nearly 4 months to fully heal, once the doc gave me the all clear I was back on the mat!!

BJJ has been vital to my success, the guys push me daily and have wooped, armbared, and choked me into shape.  This past week, I was awarded my blue belt in BJJ which is an accomplishment 20 years in the making.

Below are a few pics of my progress and weight loss.  

With my weight loss, I have grown so much on and off the mat....it is amazing how much differently I can move between being 370lb and now at 230lb. 

Don't give up, you can achieve your goals....now I am confident my Purple belt won't take as long.....we will see in a few years. :)