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Sep
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Jiu-jitsu is partially responsible for creating a “killer” nerd—at least one, probably thousands, but at least one that I know of. I know of him, because I trained him.
Jordan, high school geek, sophomore and highly obnoxious starts taking jiu-jitsu from me. In the land of Geekdom Jordan was the supreme ruler. He still played Pokemon at the age of eighteen–went to Pokemon tournaments and everything.
At sixteen, Jordan started training jiu-jitsu with me after school. He was getting pretty good and one day a senior strolled into the gym. He wanted to try jiu-jitsu, big muscular kid with an attitude.
“I want to train,” he said.
I knew what this kid was looking for. He was looking to boost his ego by beating up some of the kids in my jiu-jitsu class. I was hesitant, but I invited him to come into my guard—I’d train with him.
“No, I want Jordan.”
He knew Jordan, this guy had his target picked out before he even came to class. I was conflicted. I knew if he trained with Jordan and Jordan beat him it could end any potential bullying this kid might have in mind, or it could back fire and this kid could constantly want revenge. (I never thought that Jordan could lose, but it was very possible).
I looked at Jordan-he smiled, “I’ll go against him,” Jordan said.
A cocky smile spread across the senior’s face. He took off his shirt—a typical meat head move. The image of Jordan, skinny, goofy and un-athletic standing across from this bare-chested juggernaut, made me nervous.
They shook hands and of course the senior rushed Jordan, putting him on his back, but something surprising happened—spasmatic Jordan, was calm—scary calm. He slipped to the senior’s back and clamped in a rear naked choke. The senior didn’t want to tap, but Jordan would not let go unless he did—the senior conceded and lightly tapped Jordan’s leg.
Outside I was calm, “Good try,” I said. “That rear naked choke is really hard to get out of,” I said. Inside I’m jumping for joy, and I’m very proud of Jordan.
“Let’s go again,” the senior challenges—no smirk this time.
The senior thought if he went harder, if he was somehow faster this time he could beat Jordan. He rushed in again, head down like a giant Brahma bull, but Jordan was ready this time—he stepped back and set in a beautiful guillotine. The tap came more quickly this time.
The senior, in silence, got off the mat grabbed his shirt and left, a victim of the “Killer” Nerd.
I think jiu-jitsu and the confidence that comes with it allowed Jordan to remain a nerd. He felt no pressure to give up Pokemon or all the other things he was doing for fear of being beaten up—yes, he was a nerd, but he was a “killer” nerd.
Love the story. Does Jordan still train at West Side?
No. The funny thing is I saw him last week walking down the street, wearing a black trench coat and smoking a cigarette. He still looked nerdy.
He still looks nerdy, but at the same time very confident.
You need to film stuff like that and post it like how the Gracies’ used to do to show off jiu jitsu! Awesome story.
[...] for free after school. Mark talks about one of the success he had because of it in his post, The "Killer" Nerd. There are so many things out there that teach kids to act without thought and so few that [...]