After multiple total concussions from football senior Steven Romero was told by his doctor that he could no longer play without risk of permanent damage to his head. Romero didn’t let that stop him from getting a good workout and staying active. About three years ago he picked up a martial art form called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and self defense system sculpted around grappling and ground fighting. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was actually originated from Japan not Brazil in the early 1900’s.
“There is nothing I don’t like about it,” Romero said. “Its a workout, I get to choke people out, it’s a stress reliever, and I also have a lot of friends there.”
Romero attends the Alvarez Jiu-Jitsu academy in Arlington two to four times a week. Romero said, he placed second in two of the many tournaments he has competed in. After his multiple concussions he never thought he would be doing Jiu-Jitsu for a workout until his father introduced him to it. Also Romero never wanted to do jiu-Jitsu because he never thought he would have too many head injuries that he would have to stop playing football.
“My main goal when it comes to Jiu-Jitsu is to become one of the best fighters,” Romero said. “And I thought Jiu-Jitsu was stupid until some little kid beat me up.”
Winning a medal for a tournament is not easy to do. When competing in a competition fighters have to fight other people from various Jiu-Jitsu academies. Placing second Romero said, is one of the greatest achievements he has accomplished when it comes to Jiu-Jitsu.
“Out of all the tournaments I have been in, placing second twice is pretty great in my eyes,” Romero said. “Second place is only going to make me work that much harder to place first, so I plan to do many more tournaments and to get the gold.”
