Menu Close

I have been watching Finding Dory with my son recently. Throughout the movie Dory, the memory deficient blue tang sings the phrase “just keep swimming” ad nauseum. After the hundredth time watching this, the song struck me as having a very profound message. When faced with adversity keep moving forward.

Overcoming challenges in BJJ

Gael Force Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ( BJJ ) in Roxbury Twp, (morris county) NJ
Gael Force Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ( BJJ ) in Roxbury Twp, (morris county) NJ

We are all faced with challenges, in Jiu Jitsu and outside of Jiu Jitsu, what forms our character is how we face them. Do we retreat from them or like, Dory, do you just keep swimming through them? As Winston Churchill famously said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.” The way in which we act towards the adversity is what molds us. If we retreat from it, we deny ourselves the lessons it has to teach us. If we move forward through it, we are shaped and grow stronger from it.

Create your own support system

Another lesson is that Dory creates a support system through Marlin, Nemo and her other friends. She does not have to endure her struggles alone. This is supremely important. We are social by nature and we thrive in a community. Create your support system wherever you can. It can be through and activity like BJJ, through your church or in your community.  When I first began training Jiu Jitsu in Morris County I had a group of friends who started at the same time as me.  We pushed each other to get better and achieve our goals.  Now that I own a BJJ school in Morris County I advise my students to do the same.

After watching the movie enough times I grew to admire Dory. I admired her for her free spirit, her kind and trusting nature and her resilience. I now understand that when life puts obstacles in your path, your stroke doesn’t have to be strong or fast, you need to just keep swimming.

Alex Kennedy

Gael Force BJJ in Roxbury NJ