Em wants me to let son win while training, Jiu Jitsu

On mobile..

This is something that happened to me last week so it’s still kind of fresh.

Cast: Em-entitled mother, Ek-entitled kid (about 14), C-coach, Me-not going to explain

One thing to keep in mind is that as a gym, we are getting ready for competitions so that means we are going a lot harder than normal. This means we are sparring more and at the same level we would if we were at competition, and I am competing in July so I have to be as ready I can.

Another thing is that we allow some kids who we believe are mature enough and good enough to go with the adults. This is relatively common across gyms.

Now at practice, we were doing something called battery where we have half the class on the wall in line and the other class in the center. The goal is to submit your opponent and the winner gets to stay while the other gets back in line and waits till it’s there turn.

So I was on the mat since I won my last roll. The next person I had to go against was ek. So I got ready and we rolled, now I was a little more experience so i was able to get a submission relatively quickly. After he lost, he went to where his mom was sitting, this was where everyone put there stuff and most people went by there to get water. As he was there I could see his mom was taking to him, but then he went back in line and waited for his turn. Now, the next person I went against was better than me and I got submitted, so I head over to my stuff to get some water and this conversation ensued with em.

Em-so you’ve been doing this for a while haven’t you?

Me-I’ve been doing it for some time now.

Em- Well my son is still kind of new to this soooo....

Right when she said this I knew what she was going to say.

Em- next time you go against my son can you let him win. It will be a real confidence booster for him.

Me- uh...no. The only way to get better is to learn from your mistakes.

Em-Come I’m just let him win. You can go against everyone else why not just let him win?

Me-I’m getting ready to compete in a few weeks. Even if he isn’t as good as me, I can still learn from it.

Em-Your coach said to do it. I was just asking nice.

Me-If that is true why didn’t he tell me.

She just gave me a dirty look and I went back in line, right behind ek.

Ek- I saw you talked to my mom.

Me- Yeah and the answer is no.

Ek- What, but she said you would listen.

Me-Well I didn’t. If you have a problem talk to C.

Ek-I will and then you will be sorry.

So ek goes over and starts to talk to C, and I am happy because that means one less person in line.

So I continue to roll and about 10 minutes later C comes over to talk to me.

C-So I guess you met em.

Me-Yeah, what do you want me to do?

C-Just roll like normal. You know the motto, there’s no losing in Jiu Jitsu, you either win or learn.

I then walk back in line. Ek then comes next behind me in line.

Ek-I told you so.

Me- Then why don’t we just roll right now.

Ek-No, let’s just do it next time you win so everyone can see.

Me-Ok, make sure your mom is watching.

Ek-You’re gonna be sorry. I’m going to embarrass you.

Me-That’s kind of hard to do, last time I checked you weren’t my family.

So I go up and I win. Then ek comes and start to roll. I remember what he does that puts him at risk for submission. He does it and I put him in a submission called Peruvian neck tie. This is a submission that gets very tight very fast. It makes it feel like you’re head is going to pop off.

So obviously, he taps. Then he goes to his mom. The 2 of them then pack up there things and leave, about 20 minutes early.

After practice, I was putting my stuff away and my coach comes over.

C-Don’t worry about em and ek, this isn’t the first time she asked someone to let her some win. Normally she is alright but tonight was different.

Me-Do you think they will be back?

C-I think so. This is like the 3rd time she’s done this. The only thing is you submitted him the hardest. Normally people just do armbars or triangles.

Me-Well he gave me the opening.

Thank you for the read.

Edit: to those who do not know, rolling is the term for sparring

Edit 2: the mom came back yesterday with her kid and she tried to get me in trouble. My coach just blew it off in front of her and me. Now the ep kind of smiles every time I get submitted. I looked at her smiling and I said loud enough that everyone can hear, “if you are going to laugh, you better be able to back it up. Either come out here and roll or quit it.”

She didn’t do anything after that.