"Hi, My name is Monterey. Today is my birthday. Today I am 16 and beltchecker has stopped telling me I am too young to do that. The first thing I need to do is say Thank You, Thank you, Thank you to everyone that has voted for me over the years. It was painful that I was not able to thank you at the time. I will go back and thank each of you soon. So at 7 yrs old I started training Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Humaita. Columbia, MO. At 16, Still there. It took me 8 1/2 years to earn my Blue Belt. I plan on getting a masters degree in less time. I did take the long road and team mates that started at the same time as me are now mostly Heavy purple or Brown Belts now. That's ok, I have had every belt on the rack, white through Green. Green is a sweet belt. I wanted that Blue so bad but will always cherish the Green. I don't really know the stats but imagine that I am in the 'longest time ever to earn a Blue Belt group'. Thank you again, everyone that has given me a vote of confidence. Thank you Beltchecker for all of this and thanks to Gracie Humaita with all my team mates that have gotten me this far. I love Jiu-Jitsu, don't really remember a time I wasn't training and cant imagine a time not training. Now I go get a drivers license, a car with the GI in the back seat. See you on the mats, and the roads."
Welcome!
I started grappling 9 years old with Judo.
I took me 9 more years to earn a BB in Judo I wanted so much at that time.
More than 30 years later and still on the mats I can tell You that over and beyond all graduations, competitions, ups and downs the journey itself becomes more and more the main goal.
What defines You is not that belt, it is what You are on the mat and the sum of Your individual experiences.
Actually You have the best requirements for a great journey!🤙🏼
