I held off on writing this till I was gone. I don't like putting my dirt out there but it may help someone if they read this.
I started Jiu Jitsu at Travis Lutter's 2 years ago. I hate being one of those guys that says "oh, jiu jitsu saved my life." However, jiu-jitsu did introduce me to the people that would definitely better my life.
Here is my story...
September 2017 I was medically retired from the Army against my wishes. Everything I've known and loved was ripped away after 9 years of being in. I spiraled into depression and the bottom of every pill bottle I could get my hands on. I was taking anti-depressants, benzos, and opiates to numb myself. I didn't realize how messed up I was till I overheard my friend ask my wife if he should lock up the firearms.
Something had to change...
October 2017 I signed up at Travis Lutter's for the exercise and because I liked jiu-jitsu. I was working a job that only allowed me to go in the morning at 6am. Originally it was Brandon Liebel and Sue Ausman teaching class (now it's Tyson, who is also an awesome guy) and a smaller group of people. I was greeted with sleepy smiles and handshakes (except for miss Sue who is always smiling, laughing, and energetic. I don't think she gets tired). Class goes by and I instantly realize that I feel better about the day ahead. The next few months I trained morning classes and talked about it constantly at work.
I felt like part of the team.
February 2018 doing jiu jitsu took a ton of stress away, I felt there's no need to take anti-depressants anymore, I stopped taking them.
June 2018 my job was going nowhere and I was not happy. At jiu-jitsu I'm surrounded by successful, happy people. I wanted this too, so I quit my job and started college, scheduling classes around Jiu Jitsu so I could train more than 3 times a week.
July 2018 I got tired of being sluggish in jiu jitsu so I stopped taking benzos. Withdrawal sucked but somehow training brought back glimpses of feeling normal again. I trained harder and more frequent to replace the benzos.
August 2018 jiu jitsu strengthened my core and possibly made me comfortable with discomfort. I didn't completely quit opiates but my consumption was cut in half by my own free will.
December 2018 or January 2019 Team Lutter feels not like a "team" but an ever-growing family. Now my best friends are guys and girls I've met at the gym.
27 January 2019 on my birthday I don't want to go party, but instead I go and compete at Austin and surround myself with my wife and Jiu Jitsu family.
February 2019 wife and I decided to move back to Germany. My only worry of leaving Texas is missing the team.
28 May 2019 I get rid of all opiates. For the first time in years I'm sober. While going through withdrawal I continued to train. The aches and pains were rough but the clarity I got from training kept me going strong.
19 June 2019 this unfortunately was my last day with team Lutter. I got to roll with Travis himself which felt like an honor. We lined up and I felt happy that on my last day in the U.S.A. I got to spend it with my jiu-jitsu family. Travis held a blue belt in his hand and called my name. My last day at class I earned my blue belt. Let me tell you, I've had a pretty fulfilling life before this. I shook the hand of the Secretary of Defense, I've been promoted to the NCO corp while in the Army, I've earned awards and decorations, I've even had the pleasure of being pinned my combat action badge by the ISAF special operations commander. None of those things even compare to being promoted by Travis and getting smothered by all your team members. Later that nite I enjoyed dinner with a few of my closest friends from the team.
Now I live in Germany and I'm starting at a new Jiu-jitsu school. I've been here before when I was in the Army. It's a nice gym and the owners are great, but nowhere could compare to the team at Travis Lutter's.
None of this was easy and my jiu-jitsu journey isn't even close to done. Sometimes the hardest part was walking in through those doors everyday when I was tired, but what awaited on the other side was well worth it. People like Travis Lutter, Coach Ben, Brandon Liebel, Sue Ausman, Chasity Cloud, Branden Kitchens and so many more have helped me turn around my life. I wish I could name everyone that helped but that would be over 60 names.
If you are struggling with depression, addiction, divorce, or whatever just make the leap and go train at Travis Lutter's. read more