For senior Luke Laben, jiujitsu started as curiosity but quickly became a tool to fuel personal growth. Laben began training jiujitsu last fall after stepping away from sports offered at Greenhill. 

“I had played basketball my whole life, but I didn’t make the team sophomore year,” Laben said.  

He later tried lacrosse, but it never felt right. He wanted a sport he genuinely looked forward to, something challenging and meaningful. 

He found that in jiujitsu, a martial art that originated in feudal Japan as an unarmed close combat system for samurai to defeat armed opponents. Unlike other sports centered on speed or strength alone, jiujitsu is a grappling-based martial art that focuses on technique, leverage and strategy.  

“People think it’s like karate or taekwondo, but there is no striking,” Laben said. “It is more like wrestling but with way more problem solving.”  

At the beginning, Laben found the sport overwhelming. He compares learning jiujitsu to learning a language.  

“When you first start, you don’t understand anything,” he said. “Everyone else is fluent and you feel completely lost.”  

Training sessions were humbling, but that challenge kept him coming back. It was that mental aspect that truly hooked him.  

 “People say jiujitsu is like physical chess,” Laben said. “You are always thinking ahead, reacting to problems while setting up solutions of your own.” 

He also appreciates the individuality of the sport. Unlike most athletics, jiujitsu puts the responsibility on a single athlete.  

“When you compete, it’s just you on the mat,” Laben said. “That’s intimidating, but I also like it. It pushes you to grow.”  

That growth paid off in September, when he earned first place at a local competition, Laben said.  

Still, he measures success less by medals and more by persistence.  

“Just competing at all was an accomplishment for me,” Laben said.  

Beyond competition, Laben says jiu jitsu has helped him manage stress and build confidence.  

“You have to stay composed and figure out your next move,” he said. “That mindset carries over into school and everyday life.”  

Laben also credits the supportive culture of his gym for keeping him motivated.  

“It’s way more welcoming than other sports I’ve done,” Laben said.  

As Laben prepares for college, he says he plans to continue training wherever he goes. His long-term goal is to earn a black belt one day.  

“It’s something I want to stick with,” Laben said. “Jiujitsu challenges me mentally and physically and that’s what makes it worth it.”