09/06/2026
One year ago, I earned my Brazilian Jiujitsu Black Belt.
This was the longest goal I had ever chased after and I could have given up so many times.
I decided to write out all the times life gave me forks in the road to deal with and why I chose to not give up.
I think many of you who train will face one or more of these challenges at some point and have to make those same choices.
1. Building a family — Life got bigger. Time got smaller.
2. Career demands — Work repeatedly competed with training.
3. Multiple moves — Every move meant rebuilding my life and finding my place again.
4. Opening a gym — Building Poolesville Self Defense became a full-time responsibility.
5. Losing a 15-year career (2018) — Choosing the gym came with a huge professional cost.
6. Dislocated elbow — Two months into BJJ, at my first competition.
7. Psoriatic arthritis — A purple-belt diagnosis that changed what my body could handle.
8. Hip replacement (2021) — Suddenly questioning whether I’d ever train normally again.
9. Prosthetic hip infection — Recovery turned into a multiple year long fight.
10. Four hip surgeries — Repeatedly having to start over physically.
11. Four years of infection — Years of uncertainty, setbacks, and fighting to get healthy.
12. Nonstop antibiotics — A constant reminder that the battle wasn’t over.
13. Long periods off the mats — Watching the sport I loved instead of participating.
14. Age and physical limitations — Continuing has became harder as the years go on.
15. Self-doubt — Wondering whether the black belt was still possible.
And underneath all was the same question:
“Is it time to walk away?”
Every time, I found a reason to come back.
Our 5th team value is now:
Never Give Up.
My instructor, Mike Moses always said, “Mat lessons are life lessons.”
He’s 100% accurate.
Coach Mark
