Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Buchman.
Jessica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when I was 11 years old, but my passion for grappling actually started before that. When I was a little kid, my dad (who trained Judo before I was born) taught me how to do Judo rolls and pins in our free time. I really loved doing it, so we decided to try to find a place where I could train and learn more. We ended up finding out that Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros (7x World Champion) taught Jiu-Jitsu at a gym close to our house. After my first class, I knew that I wanted to do Jiu Jitsu forever. From very early on, Comprido became my role model and therefore, I made it my goal to one day teach Jiu Jitsu and become a Black Belt World Champion.
In 2017, at 18 years old, I became an IBJJF World Champion and IBJJF Pan American Champion in the Adult Blue Belt Lightweight division. It was a big goal of mine to win these tournaments and it felt amazing to have all the work pay off.
Currently, I am a purple belt. I am very thankful for all the great people and opportunities Jiu-Jitsu has given me. I am excited to keep working on accomplishing the goals I set out for myself as a child.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the past, I had issues dealing with failure. It is frustrating to work really hard and come up short, especially when this happens repeatedly. I used to get very disappointed after losing. I would question my abilities or doubt myself.
During these times, it helped immensely to have people tell me they still believe in me and work with me to fix my mistakes. Their help has made me realize that losing is not the end of the world, rather it is a great opportunity to grow.
Of course, I still get sad after losing, but I believe I am becoming better in this aspect.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Comprido BJJ – what should we know?
Comprido BJJ is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy run by Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros, a 7x World Champion and 2x Open Class World Champion. Not only is he a living legend of the sport, but he is also an incredible teacher.
Comprido BJJ is filled with hardworking students who all want to help each other get better. It is a great atmosphere to learn, work hard, and have fun.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Vision, happiness, and thankfulness.
If you do not have a vision, then you don’t know where you are going. You have to see your goals before you can have any idea on how to achieve them.
At the same time, if the path you envision for yourself does not make you happy, then you will not be successful even if you achieve your goal.
Lastly, thankfulness is integral to success because it allows us to cherish all moments, whether good or bad, as chances to do what we love and learn. It is also important to be thankful for the people helping you. Without them, reaching your goals is much more difficult.
These three qualities help motivate me on a daily basis to stay focused and to keep working hard.
Contact Info:
- Email: buchmanjessica1@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabuchman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.buchman.94
Image Credit:
Mike Anderson, Giselle Villasenor
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
