The Journey Continues

Sometimes you only realize how far you've come when you're standing at the edge of something new.

This week I competed at the No-Gi European Championship in Rome — and I'm proud to say I earned silver in my division and another silver in the Open class.

For me, this wasn't just another competition.

It was something deeply personal.

I came from a long way back — months of training, recovering, doubting, and pushing forward even when there wasn't much support around me. I just knew I had to do this one more time, for myself.

Not to prove anything to anyone, but to feel that I still belong here.

And I made it.

The medals are nice, but what matters more is the peace I felt afterwards — knowing I gave everything I had and finished this chapter my way.

Now a new chapter begins.

I'll focus on finishing my studies and moving into logistics work. Maybe this was my last competition, maybe not — but jiu-jitsu will always be part of me.

The discipline, the fighting spirit, the resilience — those things don't disappear.

For anyone standing at a crossroads:

Sometimes you need to close one door to open another.

But the lessons you've learned along the way stay with you forever.

Everyone faces setbacks or changes sooner or later.

What matters is how you deal with them.

You might have to walk a new path,

but that doesn't mean you stop growing.

Keep fighting, in your own way. 🥋

© 2025 Tine — BJJthoughts