What Are You Scared Of?

For the past few weeks I have been practicing jiu-jitsu, or I guess more accurately I have been taking weekly beatings but trying to call my lack-luster skills jiu-jitsu. Anyways, I have been taking private lessons once a week where I am taught and practice the basic skills of the sport. After my most recent lesson, I decided that I would attend a jiu-jitsu group class taught by the same instructor early this week.

The class was at 6 AM this morning, which, all things considered, really isn't that early for me. I was only able to stay for the first hour, but it was an intense, high-energy hour. During one part of the 45-minute warm-up we would do different tumbling exercises for the length of the mats--somersaults forwards, backwards, and over each respective shoulder. Now, I haven't done any tumbling of more than one roll since my mother decided that the wrestling room in our house needed some furniture so it could become the living room. That was when I was about 7 or 8. Over a decade and a half later, it was time to revisit these movements.

Now, understand that I have been keeping myself in fairly decent physical condition, so my body can perform most tasks when I call upon it to do so. But with tumbling, I have always had some fear that I would injure myself in the process, which is exactly why I haven't tried any tumbling moves since the glory days of second grade. This morning, though, there wasn't any time to question what I was about to do. I was the new guy in class, and if that wasn't obvious enough from my abysmal skill work, I wasn't about to let it show by slowing everybody down during this drill while I pondered the possible outcomes of launching my 6'4", 238.5-pound frame over one shoulder and onto my back over and over again.

So I went for it. No hesitations. No second thoughts. I was actually one of the first in line so I only had a couple of demonstrations to see how it was done, but nevertheless I did somersault after somersault, forwards, backwards, and over each respective shoulder, all the way down the length of the mats without any hiccups. It made me wonder what I was really even afraid of in the first place. It also made me wonder in what other areas of my life I have been holding myself back due to some type of fear.

What are you scared of? What are you holding yourself back from doing, for whatever reason? In church this weekend the pastor said during his sermon that 85% of the negative outcomes that Americans fear will happen never materialize. 85%. Is your fear one of them?

Mark Twain once said, "I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened." Don't let the fear of what could be stop you from enjoying what is and what will be if you dive in head first.

Get big or die tryin'.

Charlie Cates, CSCS

Self Made®, Owner

Charlie Cates is a strength and conditioning specialist and the owner of Self Made® (http://selfmadefitness.com/) in Chicago, IL. He has worked with competitive and everyday athletes of all ages and ability levels, from 9-year-old kids to NFL MVP’s. He can be reached via e-mail at charlie@selfmadefitness.com.

This article may be reproduced with biographical information intact.