Jiu Jitsu in Victoria BC Canada
Jiu Jitsu in Victoria BC Canada
I was looking for an outlet to channel my past inner fears, anxiety, and PTSD in an understanding environment. What I found was so much more. The transformation I've seen in myself and my family and friends has been incredible in the last year. I'm mentally in the best shape of my life and getting there physically with more peace during my days. I am more confident in my daily interactions but most importantly, I have found a sense of belonging with the Invictus family.
The Invictus Dojo is a place where both my mind and body can get challenged and it is an environment that allows me to level up with transferable skills to help overcome many obstacles. It has been a critical component that has led to my success with obtaining my bachelor's degree.
Having Ari as an Instructor, a brother, and a friend has and will continue to be an excellent foundation for my growth, both personally and professionally.
I have been a police officer for 12 years. During those 12 years, I have had many physical encounters which ranged from all levels of force required to subdue the subject. I’ve dealt with subjects with the help of multiple partners and sometimes alone. I’ve dealt with subject in outdoor settings with lots of room to manoeuvre and sometimes in tight hallways or rooms filled with obstacles and a myriad of objects that can be used as a weapon. What I know is that you can prepare for those eventual confrontations. But even if you prepare for it, you are not in control as to when it’ll happen. The day chooses you.
I consider myself extremely lucky that my previous encounters resulted with a positive outcome. Was it pretty? No. Was I scared? Yes, because I wasn’t always confident in my abilities to subdue and control a violent subject. When I started training Jiu Jitsu, that confidence slowly instilled itself within me. I learned to discover my limitations, my flaws but also my strengths. Was my following encounters pretty? Not necessarily. Was I scared? Yes, but I was going in a much more calm approach and clear mind. See, Jiu Jitsu allowed me to not only be more prepared physically, but also mentally. Those encounters were much more scalable and professional – especially in a day in age where every police action is meticulously scrutinized, sometimes without prior context. I wish I started training sooner. On a personal level, Jiu Jitsu has been the best therapy for me, especially having to cope with PTSD. See, to me Jiu Jitsu is very mathematical – in a way that it can be scary when you don’t know what you’re doing. But when you take the time to break it down piece by piece, the equation makes total sense.
I had never done any sort of martial arts prior to my experience with the Invictus. I can’t stress enough the attention to detail and knowledge which all of the instructors possess.
The small class sizes allow for fine tuning throughout our practice as students. Also the camaraderie is great as most students share the same career choice and hobbies.
I guarantee you’ll fall in love with it like I did.
Good luck!
Matt
Copyright © 2023 Invictus HQ - All Rights Reserved.
Dedicated to the Art of Jiu Jitsu