“A FATHER asks another – Why do you spend money and so much time on training, championships, and spend so much time running to see your son training Jiu-Jitsu?
The other father replies: Well, I have a confession to make to you: I don’t pay for my son to train Jiu Jitsu! He responds:
So if you don’t pay him to train and compete, what are you paying for?
Well, replies the martial arts practitioner’s father… I pay for those moments when my son is so tired and he feels like he wants to give up, but he doesn’t… I pay for the opportunity my child can have to make lasting friendships. I pay for the opportunity that he can have incredible coaches who will teach him not only about Judo, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling but about the philosophy of life that these sports provide us with. I also pay for my son to learn to be more disciplined. I pay for my son to learn to take care of his body. I pay for my son to be able to learn to work with others and be a proud, supportive, kind, and respectful member of the community. I pay for my son to learn to deal with disappointment, when he doesn’t win or miss a move, even though he’s practiced a thousand times, he still holds his head up and is determined to do better next time… I pay for my son to learn how to set and achieve goals. I pay for my son to be able to learn that it takes hours and hours of hard work and practice to be successful at something, and that success doesn’t happen overnight. I pay so that my son can be on the TATAME, instead of getting involved with the wrong things… I could go on, but to be brief, I don’t pay for him to TRAIN or COMPETE, I pay for the opportunities that jiu-jitsu, judo, wrestling, and martial arts provide for my son to develop attributes that will serve the good of his entire life and will give him the opportunity to bless the lives of others, respecting all spaces. And this investment is what I can leave for my children and for society.
I am not looking for a cheap activity that will keep him busy and he will learn nothing from it. I believe my sons and daughters and the society deserve more.”