My name is Joe, and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003. I was 27 years old, just two months away from my wedding. My body betrayed me, and I had no idea that years later, I’d be stepping onto a BJJ mat, learning to fight in a whole new way.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain and central nervous system. Its name translates to ‘many scars,’ and that’s exactly what it leaves—on your nerves, your body, and your life. It’s a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating on nerves, causing damage that disrupts communication between the brain and body. Over time, the body stops listening to its own commands. Symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, vision problems, and pain take over.
Hiding the Fight
At first, I fought the disease by pretending it didn’t exist. I never wanted to be pitied, so I hid my struggles. The symptoms—vertigo, spasms, vision loss, extreme fatigue—slowly chipped away at the life I had built. Losing dexterity forced me to give up playing music. Walking turned from an afterthought into an exhausting task. Some days, I felt trapped in my own body. Worse than the physical pain was the isolation.
The only light in those dark days was my wife and kids. Spending time with them kept me grounded, even when everything else felt like it was slipping away.
A New Fight Begins
Then, one day, I had a conversation that would change everything. It happened in the most ordinary way—picking my kids up from school. Another dad mentioned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, explaining how it was a grappling art fought mostly on the ground. No need to stand.
I had trained in Tae-kwon-do since 1984. It was a huge part of my life—until MS took it away. The idea of training again stirred something in me. Could I really do this?
I showed up to my first BJJ class barely able to climb the stairs, gripping my cane. I knew how ridiculous I must have looked, but I also knew one thing: I wasn’t leaving.
I fell in love with it immediately. Jiu-Jitsu demanded full attention—when someone is trying to choke you, you don’t have time to think about your disease. For the first time in years, I wasn’t trapped in my own head. I was fighting.BJJ was designed for a smaller, weaker opponent to defeat a stronger, less skilled one. It was the perfect metaphor for my life.
Grappling With MS
Training wasn’t easy. The heat of rolling caused something called pseudo-exacerbations—temporary symptom flare-ups that made my body feel like it was shutting down. It was brutal, but it was worth it.
Over time, my body adapted. My core grew stronger. My balance improved. And most importantly, I stopped seeing myself as someone MS had defeated. I formed a team, a community, a new version of myself.
Now, I roll with my kids. I don’t worry about missing out on life anymore. For nearly two decades, I let MS define me. Now, I define it—one roll at a time.
Final Thought
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: The fight isn’t over until you decide it is. Whatever challenge you’re facing, whether it’s MS or something else, don’t let it write your story for you.Keep fighting.
Keep moving. Keep showing up.
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