Chokeholds, confidence, community growth
These Javelinas are grappling and shooting takedowns in this campus club to better defend themselves outside of just their weekly meetings.
The Javelina Self Defense and Jiujitsu Club is one of Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s (TAMUK) many clubs.
However, the club is just not a name, it’s a reflection of what is practiced in the club.
“I wanted to give people a way to build confidence and to learn how to defend themselves and others. For me, the motivation is deeply personal. I have a sister and my mom, and the thought of not being able to protect them if they were in danger is something that would haunt me. But BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) is so much more than just the fighting. It’s an art that brings a certain peace of mind and has made me a much less confrontational person. That’s a side of martial arts most people don’t see, and it’s what I hope our club can show others,” Javelina Self Defense and Jiujitsu Club President Johnny Alvarez said.
Like Alvarez said the Javelina Self Defense and Jiujitsu Club’s goal isn’t just to be able to fight but to keep oneself and others safe.
This club is also not just open for men but it’s also open for women as well, with a growing number of 10 to 30 members a session.
“As the female officer of the team my hope for our members is that they can defend themselves if they ever were to need to. And for them to be confident in their escape and or de-escalation of a situation. I work more hands on with the females of our club and sometimes for practice we have them use the weight and height of bigger opponents in the class. The confidence you see shine from their face when they realize they are not helpless against someone bigger is reassuring that I am helping to create a confidence in these women that wasn’t there before,” Javelina Self Defense and Jiujitsu Club Committee Chair Tasianna Soto said.
Soto also understands that members may never continue to practice BJJ after they leave TAMUK but that no matter what they can always be prepared to protect themselves.
The Javelina Self Defense and Jiujitsu Club practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:15 to 10 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 to 2 p.m.
“We have a wide range of people that come into our club with diverse backgrounds, and we welcome all of them. Whether the individual is experienced, has different/multiple martial art backgrounds, looking to add a bit more to their workout routine, looking to lose weight, or just want to try something new; we welcome them with open arms and work with them to help reach each of their personal goals,” Javelina Self Defense and Jiujitsu Club Vice President Steven Rodriguez said.
The Javelina Self Defense and Jiujitsu Club is all about teaching self-defense, but the club has become a place where people can also come to make friends through hard work.
“We’ve really built a sense of camaraderie. People used to just show up, learn and then leave. Now, we’re a tight-knit community—we hang out, go to the beach, eat together and fundraise much more. As I tell our members, ‘We’re basically a social club now; we just happen to do Jiu-Jitsu on the side.’ In fact, one of our newest members just told me that since joining, they feel more confident walking around campus at night. Hearing things like that makes all the hard work worth it,” Alvarez said.
For more information about the Javelina Self Defense and Jiujitsu Club visit their Instagram @tamukselfdefenseclub.