Let's kick off this blog by saying I'm not some fancy writer, just a gal with plenty of tales and a whole lot of passion. Well, not for laundry. Laundry didn't quite make the cut, just a little heads up.
I was raised by a single mom; we had a lot of struggles. My goal since I was a little girl was to be a designer. My grandma used to sew, and I was always amazed at what she could do. So, I would draw designs for models with clothes and hope one day,Ā I'd see those visions come to life.
My mother never shared with me who my dad was; when I turned 7, I asked her to share one fact about my father, I was so curious! That's when she told me he was a clothing designer.
My heart was filled with rageāĀ the absence of my father casted a shadow, stirring up a mix of longing and resentment. Discovering he was a designer felt like a cruel twist, burying my dreams beneath layers of anger that took many years to heal. I gave up on my dream of being a designer, and never sketched another design again (until recently).
Throughout my journey, my mother was always there to cheer me on. Even though she had her own struggles, she never stopped pushing me to chase my dreams. Her constant support was like a lifeline, especially when I felt like everything was falling apart. Her wisdom helped me through the toughest times.
Today, as I'm finally writing this blog (after my mom's relentless reminders for what feels like forever.."Just write a blog, already!"), I remember the lessons she taught me. She showed me how to be strong and brave, even when things seem scary.Ā And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Anyways, back to the story.
In my early 20s, I met a very special person, fell in love, and we had our son at the age of 24. We weren't readyālet's be honest, we were incredibly young and inexperienced. We waited 9 months, no problems with the pregnancyāwe had a beautiful baby boy.
Four weeks into being new parents, we noticed that he wouldn't stop crying and would get sick every time we fed him. He wasn't gaining weight; concerned, we took him to the doctor, and that's when we found outāour baby boy had not one but three different issues with his heart. They told us we had to rush to do an emergency open-heart surgery because if we waited a few more days, he wouldn't survive it.
We spent over a month in the hospital, but thankfully, he pulled through. He was so tiny; when they removed the intubator, it damaged his vocal cords. It was overwhelming; suddenly, we had a baby who couldn't cry out. Eating was a struggle too; he needed a feeding tube for months after the surgery. Returning home felt surreal. As a parent, I still wonder how we managed it all. I truly believe it was God's strength that carried us through.
Our son has always been and will forever be the most precious person in our lives. From the time he was just a baby, we witnessed his incredible fight for life more than once, and he never once gave up.
His dad does jiu-jitsu; he was a blue belt then. I worked nights as a bartender, and he would take him into training with him since he was a toddler, set him up with a tablet and his snacks. He loved going to jiu-jitsu with his dad. So, when he was three and a half, my husband enrolled him. He loved every moment of it, and his determination was unmatched. He would fall, get back up and give it all he had to keep going until class was over.Ā
At the age of five, we were given bad news. He had to have another open-heart surgery. Again, our lives crumbled. So painful to see your child go through these surgeries at such a young age. This time around was even harder. He could speak, understand what was happening. I mean, how do you even explain to a five-year-old that they have to go into his heart without terrifying him?
How do you stay strong as a parent when your child is running such a high risk? GOD, FAMILY AND REALLY GOOD FRIENDS.
We had a friend that gave me the most amazing idea. Our son was obsessed with Hulk at the time, so she suggested we tell him that the doctors knew he was special, so they would go in to give him Hulk strengthāso we did.
When he woke up from surgery, weĀ had the room covered in green everything!
I'm talking Hulk hands, Hulk PJs, Hulk blankets, Hulk candy, Hulk socks, and balloons. For a very long time, he thought he was thee HULK. Undercover of course, he didn't want people knowing that the doctors had chosen him for this special mission. A few months later, he returned to jiu-jitsu and he hasn't stopped since. He is now almost ten years old, incredibly passionate about his training and only two goals in mind IMPROVEMENT & HELPING OTHERS GROW.
2019 was a tumultuous year for everyone, I believe. The uncertainty, fear, and lockdowns were overwhelming. Living up north in a state where quarantine wasn't optional, we were confined to our homes for months on end, grappling with job loss and mounting stress. Personally, I bore the brunt of these challenges, gaining a whopping 30 pounds. My clothes no longer fit, and I found myself sinking into depression and anxiety.
Despite the reopening of gyms, I couldn't find solace in my old routine. Every attempt to work out was met with crippling panic attacks. The gym, once my sanctuary, now felt suffocating. Faced with this internal struggle, I found myself at a crossroads.
One day, my husband returned from jiu-jitsu practice, his Gi drenched in sweat. Curious, I pondered the intensity of his workout as I washed his gear. A seemingly insignificant moment, but it planted a seed of inspiration.
The next morning, as I sipped my coffee, a crazy thought crossed my mind - why not try jiu-jitsu to shed those extra pounds? Despite my reservations about group settings, I decided to take the plunge.
Nervously, I confided in my husband about my desire to give it a shot. Being the true jiu-jitsu enthusiast that he is, he wasted no time in seizing the opportunity.
"We're starting today," he declared, to my utter disbelief. "Today? Are you nuts?" I exclaimed, picturing the daunting prospect ahead. But against all odds, we embarked on this new adventure together.
My first class: what can I say? It was terrifying! LOL I had a panic attack in the car, didn't want to go in, but luckily I had met some of the girls during kid's class previously, and they did nothing but encourage me to try it. Shrimping was the worst; I looked like a dead fish out of the water. The warm-upsā Gosh... the warm-ups had to be the most exhausting thing I had ever done before but I made it, and I came back the next day and the next, and the next and it's been just like that for three and a half years.
Jiu-jitsu taught me so much, and I pray God gives me theĀ health and the strength I need to do it for the rest of my life.
When we moved back to Florida two years ago, that's when my journey with Jesus started. I always believed I had a strong connection with God, or at least that's what I thought. However, my relationship with Him has deepened significantly over time.Ā I found the most amazing peace I have ever experienced in my life when I started learning and dedicating more time to my faith.
Our company is a combination of childhood dreams, a touching boy's heart story, faith and jiu-jitsu. Our son namedĀ Heart of Jiu-JitsuĀ because he believes everyone should roll with heart, passion, perseverance and resilience. Jiu-jitsu has given our family so much: Friends, commitment, life skills, and a 'never give up attitude'.
H.O.J not only stands for Heart of Jiu-Jitsu but also for Heart of Jesus, the main reason for everything we do. Our strength. In our shop you'll find a combination of faith related items and Jiu-jitsu. Our goal is to spread love and kindness to the world, help out as many people as we can as we grow and also spread the gospel and all the beautiful things both God and this amazing sport has to offer.
Welcome, we are thankful for your support and we hope you love our shop as much as we do!
Until next time,
HEART OF JIU-JITSU