“Yeah, I was disappointed with my performance,” Rubio said. “I typically perform better than I did yesterday. I think since it was my first competition, I think that really got in my way. I was really psyched out.”
Brazilian jiu jitsu is a martial art centered around grappling, throwing and submission holds. In jiu jitsu tournaments, competitors earn points through achieving specific positions and techniques like takedowns, mounts and sweeps.
“We actually started this just because we wanted people to have an opportunity to do jiu jitsu at a more fair price,” said Steven Paprocki, the president of the Colorado Jiu Jitsu Club. “So, we bring people in at a good rate and we allow them to get excellent roles in. That really funnels to a lot of our bigger shows and those big shows are where we can really highlight some of these awesome athletes. It all starts here, right at our tournaments.”
Even though Rubio didn’t get the results he wanted, he still has love for the sport.
“When I started jiu jitsu, I did it because of a friend,” Rubio said. “He was trying to overcome his drug addiction. I asked if there was something we could do together that he would prefer over drugs. He talked about jiu jitsu, so we did that.”
For many who practice jiu jitsu, it’s more than just a sport.
“What it means to me is the camaraderie,” Rubio said. “With him, it was something me and him connected over. For a short time, he was sober and a lot of it was credited to jiu jitsu. But, I really love the sport just for what it is.”
Martial artists say that the sport helps support their mental health.
“It’s really important for people to feel empowered,” said Henry Alvizo, an instructor with the UNC Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club. “I also feel it’s good for people to have hobbies, especially something that takes a long time to really develop and establish a skillset into. So, I think it’s really good for not just physical health, but also mental health. It’s given me a level of confidence that I didn’t have before. It’s helped me make a lot of new friends.”
Rubio remarks how the mental strength he gains from jiu jitsu helps support him in other aspects of his life.
“I know that people struggle with anxiety, and one of the things to overcome that is to put yourself in stressful situations,” Rubio said. “Competition definitely is a stressful situation for me, and the more I compete and the more I show up and teach class, the less anxious I become in my life. So, if that’s something you’re dealing with or you’re looking for a community, Jiu Jitsu Club is the place to go.”
The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club has big plans for the future.
“Our goal, our wish, our dream is to make jiu jitsu a UNC-wide sport,” Rubio said. “I’d love for us to have UNC gis.”
A gi is a uniform for training in Brazilian jiu jitsu adapted from the keikogi, which is used in modern Japanese martial arts. It is typically composed of a heavy cotton jacket, trousers and a belt which communicates rank.
For those interested in jiu jitsu or basic self defense, the club meets every Sunday at 3 p.m. at the UNC Campus Recreation Center.
“I would come to the self defense classes,” Rubio said. “We tailor them specifically for people who don’t know how to do jiu jitsu. We learn the very basic techniques that work.”
Alvizo encourages everyone to try jiu jitsu in order to learn self defense as well as to get out of their comfort zone.
“Sometimes it can be a little uncomfortable doing something like this, but I think it’s very important that people step on the mat at least a couple of times to really know what it’s like to be in a scenario where they’re not really comfortable and they’re forced to stretch beyond their comfort zone,” Alvizo said.
He expressed how the Jiu Jitsu Club is meant to be a safe and friendly environment for everyone.
“It’s really fun,” Alvizo said. “It’s something that people can get into. They’re not going to get hurt. You’re not getting punched in the face. You’re not getting beat up. You can tap at any time if you’re uncomfortable. It’s a very welcoming and friendly community. Everybody is welcome.”
