Second stripe

Eight months in. Second stripe on the white belt.

I trained twelve years ago. Different gym, different life. When I started at Carlson Gracie Redlands last June, I reset. Fresh white belt. No pretence of picking up where I left off.

It feels more earned this time. More important.

Muscle memory is strange. Some movements came back quickly. Starting over meant unlearning as much as learning.

Two stripes. Eight months. Harder to get here than it was at twenty-five. Worth more because of it.