When I hear the words self defense, the first thing that comes to mind is not a technique.
It is a feeling.
Fear.
The question that used to live in the back of my mind was simple:
What if I get attacked and I do not know what to do?
Before I ever trained Jiu Jitsu, self protection did not look like strength. It looked like freezing. I have always been someone who will stand up for others, but when it came to myself, I often stayed quiet. I convinced myself that keeping peace was safer. The truth is, I was afraid.
Over time, I learned something that completely changed how I understand self defense. Survival is not the same thing as winning.
There was a moment in my marriage when I realized that no amount of effort, growth, or endurance was going to change someone who had already decided who I was in their mind. I understood that staying and trying harder was not strength. It was self abandonment. Through therapy, faith, and the support of people who refused to let me disappear, I found the courage to leave.
That experience shaped how I teach today.
When we talk about self defense in our programs, we are not talking about the complex psychological layers of domestic abuse. Those situations are deeply complicated and require much more than physical training. What I am referring to is the mindset shift between sport and survival.
We engage. We test ourselves. We work toward submission and control.
The goal is to get home safely.
When I first stepped onto the mats, I started in a women only class. I quickly realized how much I had to learn. I needed more training, more exposure, more repetition. But I also experienced environments where I felt like an outsider. That feeling of being a stranger in a room is something many women understand.
Now, when I teach women and kids, I see something familiar in their eyes. I see hesitation. I see doubt. I see young people who do not believe they are capable of doing hard things. Many struggle not with the techniques, but with the belief that they are allowed to take up space, speak up, and respond with controlled aggression when necessary.
That belief is harder to build than any armbar.
If I could tell the version of myself from fifteen years ago one thing, it would be this. You are stronger than you think, and your instincts are right. They are not dramatic. They are not emotional. They are tools that have helped humans survive for generations.
It is not about proving something. It is about awareness, boundaries, and trusting yourself enough to act when something feels wrong.
Survival requires clarity. And clarity begins the moment you believe you are allowed to protect yourself.
At Mavericks, this is the lens through which we teach. Whether someone comes to train for sport, confidence, or personal growth, the foundation is the same. We build technical skill, but we also build awareness. We create an environment where all learn that strength is not just physical. It is mental, emotional, and deeply rooted in believing you are worth protecting.
Mavericks Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu goes beyond the mats.
It’s a mindset, a daily practice, and a way of life.
We build an inclusive community where anyone—regardless of age or background—can find confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging through training.
Train your way – join us in Laredo or online from anywhere
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