When Jui jitsu was new to America after UFC 1 there were three schools in the US. California, NJ and NY. I was in the dojo with Renzo Gracie and Craig Kukuk. After UFC 1 and 2 black belts of every art flocked to the Dojo in Red Bank NJ. They all went in with their black belts on. After rolling on the mat they returned with white belts out of respect after being tapped out.
I remember one huge guy who obviously lifted that maybe weighed 250lbs plus. He was tapped out repeatedly by a guy who weighted about 150lbs. Truth be told the little guy was a prodigy. I remember looking at the big guys face and he looked teary eyed. If you are new to boxing or the mats you have to check your ego at the door.
I remember the first time I boxed I asked for sparring on day one. The owner put me in the ring with a golden gloves competitor. He put a beating on me. They had to stop the fight. Luckily my future fights I had better training. I stopped fighting in the ring after four more fights that I won. I decided I wanted to stay pretty and blocking punches with my face was a bad strategy.
Besides my four wins were against tomato cans with the exception of one tough Italian from Paterson that had me on my ass in round one but I got up and I got the best of him. I decided there are easier ways to stay in shape than someone punching me in the face.
My son in law is a 300lbs plus 6'4" or so monster of an jui jitsu competitor. He keeps asking me to go to his dojo but I know I would get my ass kicked. Hell if he just put his weight on me on the floor my ribs would probably snap. My other daughter's boy friend did some kick boxing. He challenged my son in law to a kick only contest after some beers. My son in law kicked him so hard in his legs that he was limping for a week with black bruises on his thighs. Nope, fighting isn't for me anymore. Hell, the only part of the fighting in the ring that I liked in my younger days was when the fight was over. I escaped with a slightly crooked nose.
