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(Published December 5, 2023)
Last night at Big Mike's BJJ, a curious incident unfolded. It was a dark and rainy night, and parents and kids were abuzz with concerns about a mysterious figure taking photos of our children from his car in the parking lot. The initial reaction was alarm - a stranger, lurking in the shadows, camera in hand.
One of our parents reportedly went to confront the gentleman, but the car sped off before he could get close. It felt like a scene straight out of a suspense movie, minus the popcorn.
I had more people coming up to me about it than you could shake a stick at. Of course everybody's story was just a little bit different. And in the end it was extremely difficult to tell what was what. I considered contacting the authorities about it, but everyone was safe for the moment and I wasn’t really sure what to tell them, so I figured I'd sleep on it and approach the issue the following morning with a clear head.
The following morning I received a Facebook message which shed some light on the whole incident. Turns out our 'nefarious' character wasn’t a stalker at all. He wasn’t even a he. Turns out he was a she, and she was actually a Good Samaritan concerned about the safety of our kids.
According to her, the kids were getting a little rambunctious out in the parking lot and one of them almost got hit by a car. Rather than say something to someone, she snapped some pictures and sent them to me the following morning.
The intention was noble, but the execution? Well, let's just say it caused more drama than a daytime soap opera!
The whole thing got me thinking deep thoughts about the parallels between life and Jiu-Jitsu. In BJJ things aren't always what they seem. An opponent's move might look threatening, but with the right perspective, it can be an opportunity. A gift.
Similarly, what appeared to be a suspicious act was actually just somebody trying to do what she thought was the right thing.
Perception is key, both on the mats and in parking lots.
Of course another thing that stood out to me was the power of communication - or the lack thereof. Our Good Samaritan chose to click and run rather than talk. It's understandable in today's digital age, where social interaction often happens behind screens. We should also consider that it can be intimidating to roll down your window and talk to a complete stranger when you’re all alone in your car on a dark and rainy night.
This whole ordeal just highlights the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for me. It's more than a martial art. It's a communication tool, pushing us out of our digital comfort zones into the physical realm of human interaction.
Training Jiu-Jitsu teaches more than just self-defense. It fosters a sense of community, encouraging face-to-face communication, teamwork, and trust. It's a place where people learn to read body language, anticipate moves, and react accordingly - skills that are useful in real-world scenarios, like deciphering a situation in a dark parking lot.
This incident is a reminder of the old adage, "Don't judge a book by its cover." It's easy to misinterpret actions without context, just like it's easy to misjudge an opponent's intentions on the mat.
As I chuckle over this parking lot saga and all the drama it caused us last night, it illustrates a valuable lesson.
Jiu-Jitsu is more than a physical workout; it's a mental and social exercise that prepares us for life's unexpected moments. It teaches us to look beyond the surface, communicate effectively, and maybe, just occasionally, save us from turning into accidental parking lot villains.
So, to our unintentional villain-turned-hero, we extend our gratitude for caring about our kids' safety. And to everyone, I feel this whole thing is a great reminder to step out of our cars and comfort zones. Sometimes, a simple conversation can prevent a world of misunderstanding - and that's a lesson worth learning, both on and off the mats.
Stay Grounded, Stay Safe, and Keep Rolling,
Big Mike
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