2025-10-22 | David Hill
When I first started committing to a regular yoga practice over ten years ago, it shifted everything for me. Movement stopped being something I had to do—it became something I wanted to do. It challenged my body and calmed my mind. It showed me how powerful the connection between the two can be. And in that space—of breath, movement, and focus—the outside world would slip away, and a different perspective would present itself.
Two years ago , stepping onto the jiu-jitsu mat brought me right back to that same feeling.
Different discipline, same foundation.
Now, after earning my blue belt, I’ve been reflecting on how much yoga and BJJ truly have in common. Both are lifetime practices. Both are humbling. Both demand consistency more than motivation. And they both offer different ways to view the same situation, which can remind you to have an open mind and seek objectivity.
There’s the perseverance. The patience. The ritual. The slow, sometimes frustrating, but always meaningful process of learning. The dissolving of ego. The quiet victories that come from just showing up, especially when you don’t feel like it.
You learn by watching and listening to others. You grow by being challenged. You get better by returning—again and again—to the mat. Whether it’s the yoga mat or the BJJ mat, the lesson is the same: keep showing up. Keep listening. Keep evolving.
Neither path offers complete mastery. That’s part of the beauty. They’re both lifelong journeys. Anchors in movement. Mirrors for the mind.
Blue belt isn’t a destination. It’s just a marker on the path—one that reminds me how far I’ve come, and how much more there is to explore.
Thanks to the amazing coaches at Roundhouse Martial Arts, who always beat the sh!t out of me for my own good – Cole Smith, Dan Pels, and Rob Hewitt.
The journey to resilience, harmony, and true performance starts with stripping back what doesn’t serve, and rebuilding with strong foundations. I know because I had to go through it myself. If you’re ready to move better, feel better, and live in rhythm with yourself and your environment, I’d love to help guide you there.
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