Marcos and Tim
GMA member Marcos Barros, leader of Gracie Barra Springfield, in Illinois, has asked his students if they had stories on how Jiu-Jitsu saved their lives.
Blue belt Tim Morenz had a story to tell.
“First off, my job is not as glamorous as police or military, as I work nights in the emergency room of a psych hospital, doing admissions.
All of my calls involve either: someone psychotic and trying to hurt themselves or someone else, someone under the influence of street or the abuse of prescription drugs, or a combination of all the above. Jiu-Jitsu has enabled me to subdue a 5′2″ 260 lb. girl who was combative at time of admission and had hit me in the jaw (the hardest I have ever been hit in my life).
I was able to secure her in the safe clinch, take her down and secure her with knee on the belly for about 3 minutes while she was thrashing about violently until help could arrive and she could be sedated. My supervisor at the time stated that I did what it usually took 4 staff to accomplish.
It also allowed me to subdue a male who had been punching himself in the throat and was also banging his head to the point of bleeding. When I attempted to talk to him and verbally intervene, he lunged at me and attempted to bite me in the neck. I intercepted him in the safe clinch and took him down with O-uchi-gari (inside trip) and secured him in side mount until nursing staff could take care of him.
These are just a few of the instances that immediately come to mind.
Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Barra Springfield has provided me with the physical conditioning to deal with violent encounters, the spiritual serenity to remain mentally and physically composed during these events, as well as the awareness to intervene and prevent situations from escalating violently. Gracie Barra Springfield teaches Jiu-Jitsu, the humane martial art, ideal for handling serious situations quickly and resolving them with the least amount of violence possible while teaching physical methods that are easy to learn and easier to implement. I have had several incredible moments in my life. One of them was when I walked in the doors of Gracie Barra Springfield and started my journey in Jiu-Jitsu.”
For more info, go to graciespringfield.com.
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