At 52, I signed up to voluntarily get choked out multiple times per week. Back in June, I threw myself back on the mats to grind after my instructor certification in the Gracie University Combatives program created by Rener and Ryron Gracie.

I have 6 big WHY's behind this.

WHY #1 - I'm a warrior. From age 11, reading the Hardy Boys & knowing that Frank & Joe knew karate, I had to know it too. I got kicked in the gut by a girl named Dixie. I puked. But I was all in. I have trained in the combat arts ever since. A man should be whole-hearted. And dangerous.

WHY #2 - I'm a teacher. I lead 100's of young boys every year. I rarely like r-a--r-e-l-y - meet a boy who doesn't want to wrestle, test himself, get tossed around and try his strength. I want to formalize my ability to teach them the Gracie U Combatives curriculum. It is 2nd to none

WHY #3 - I'm a learner. This is a demonstration for my own 6 kids. This sharpens my mind. I'm a sponge. Never be done with learning, being tested and advancing. I've lost track of how many belt tests I've been through. And every single one, I'm nervous. I'm unsure. Every time I'm called to demonstrate a technique, I get instant clammy hands. And every time, I grow. I get stronger. I exercise mind mind AND my body.

WHY #4 - I treasure my body. My body is a temple of God's spirit. I take that very seriously. At 52, I'm training to be a grandpa with abs! These past 5 months, my resting heart rate has gone from 63 to 56. My body fat has gone from 28% to 20%. I'm farm boy strong still. Go ahead & check me.

WHY #5 - As a man, my life is designed to be a series of rites of passage. My good Father is constantly initiating me. I want to participate fully in that. Every time I’m tested, I grow. And testing myself multiple times per week and marking that testing and seeing the growth, strengthens my masculine heart to make me a better father, husband and follower of Christ. Every. Single. Time.

WHY #6 - I treasure my heart. At the time I started this path, I was going through one of the most painful heartbreaks of my life. God knew I needed something to keep me locked onto the first four of these “whys”. When I hit the mats, it’s one hour of pure focus. My mind sets exclusively upon the technique at hand. Perfect practice makes perfect. I can trust that everything that has beset my heart is in the Father’s hands and for this one hour, I can rest in that completely. I can always pick it back up when class is over. Oddly enough (not), I’ve laid it down for 80 plus classes now and the Father has held me more and more each time.

My program card represents 80+ classes of sweat, small amounts of blood, heaps of laughter and deep wells of knowledge being shared with me. I feel alive. Healthy. Strong. And getting stronger.

You're never out of the fight. But you might have to get back in it.