Michelle's BJJ Journey

Six months into blue belt and honestly, it's been humbling. The rolls got harder the moment I tied on the new belt — purples and higher blues stopped going easy on me. I'm getting smashed more than ever, but I can feel the survival instincts sharpening. Lately I'm focusing on not panicking under side control and finding my frames earlier instead of late. Still showing up, still learning.

I still can't believe it. Two years of consistent training, the early mornings, the days I didn't want to go, the bruises — and then Professor Mendioro called me up. I cried a little, not going to lie. This belt feels heavy in the best way. It's not the finish line, it's the start of actually understanding the art. Thank you to everyone who rolled with me and pushed me to get here.

Earned my 3rd and 4th stripes on the white belt today. Guard retention has been my obsession for months and it's finally clicking — I'm not just surviving, I'm recovering and resetting. The underhook work from half guard is starting to feel natural instead of forced. Still a white belt, still getting caught, but the game is making more sense every week.

Walked into the academy with zero experience and a lot of nerves. I got smashed, I tapped to everything, and I had no idea what was happening half the time. But I left already thinking about when I could come back. Something about it hooked me immediately. Here's to the start of something.