Choke Point Chronicles: BJJ For Growth

Choke Point Chronicles: BJJ For Growth

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Unstoppable Dreams
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Unstoppable Dreams

Honda Commercial Narrated by John Cena

David Figueroa-Martinez's avatar
David Figueroa-Martinez
Oct 11, 2024
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Unstoppable Dreams
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I was recently watching NBC’s Sunday Night Football and came across this unique and powerful Honda commercial narrated by John Cena.

text
Photo by the blowup on Unsplash

You won’t remember my name.. This is the last time you will see me at the top.

My doubts will destroy my dreams. The more I seem to learn, the more I seem to lose.

I want to carry on, but not today. This is the point I give up.

The first half of the “Unstoppable Dreams” poem is where we have all found ourselves at some point in life or Jiu-Jitsu. As a Black Belt, I find that students have a hard time visualizing us as White Belts. Someone who’s full of doubts, makes mistakes, and is just the polar opposite of where we are today.

I want my students and readers to know, we have all been there. I was that student who couldn’t figure it out. Who doubted himself before every competition. The one who stumbled through techniques, suffered from Blue Belt Blues, depression, and didn’t ask enough questions out of embarrassment.

There is absolutely nothing special about me.

I didn’t play organized sports in high school. I’m an introvert who hates having attention put on him and I don’t have the most athletic body. The only thing that was different about me was that I didn’t quit, even when I wanted to.

This is the point I give up, but not today. I want to carry on.

The more I seem to lose, the more I seem to learn. My dreams will destroy my doubts.

You will see me at the top, this is the last time you won’t remember my name.

Once the poem is done, John reads through it in reverse. Giving it a completely different feel and tone. For everything that ever happen to me in life or on the mats, there was always a positive that I took from it.

When I lost and was completely embarrassed during a competition, it gave me humility in how I would approached students who also lost. When I had an instructor who belittled students or tried to control our actions, it spawned a sense of individuality in me that I refuse to tame for anyone.

My injuries slowed me down enough to pay attention the details that I would have otherwise missed. When friends left for other gyms, it gave me an example to sort through and build upon for that moment when I would finally do the same.

Quitting is easy. It’s an option that will always be readily available for any one of us at any point in our journey. In knowing that, I offered myself an out. If I ever fell out of love with Jiu-Jitsu, I would quit… but only under one condition.

I would not allow myself to quit on my worst day.


DFM Coaching is dedicated to helping you overcome mental hurdles and achieve your full potential in BJJ. Whether through in-person instruction, seminars, private lessons, remote coaching, or video analysis, I provide personalized support tailored to your needs. Keep pushing forward, and let’s grow together!

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Unstoppable Dreams
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Ben Van Doren
Oct 13

Great read.

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