Lloyd and the Humbling Art of Jiu Jitsu

Lloyd in his natural habitat.

Writer's Notes: Many of you know Lloyd as the Co-Founder of #Baonanas but before creating the company, he was part of dance teams called FR3SH and UFP. Along his lines of dancing he even managed his own troupe called The Mooks. In between dance and balancing his college life, Lloyd was introduced to the world of Jiu Jitsu and that's when he became baonanas for it.

It's only right that we kick off our series with one of the co-founders of #Baonanas!

What are you baonanas for?

Dance and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!

Since when have you gone baonanas for it?

Since late 2014.

Why are you Baonanas for it?

Jiu Jitsu truly is an art. It’s a science. it’s an ego melter and everyone on the mats is an equal. It doesn’t matter if you’re big or small, all that matters are the techniques you know and how you execute them. Plenty of people say it’s like human chess or that every opponent is like a Rubix cube you have to figure out, and I couldn’t agree more with these similes. I’ve met some of the nicest guys on the mats that I know for a fact could choke me unconscious in less than 30 seconds. I actually find humor and inspiration in that, and that’s the beautiful thing about Jiu Jitsu - it’s about discipline and avoiding confrontation at all costs before having to apply it. My coach Jay Hayes at NJ United MMA in Totowa is an excellent teacher, and I’ve been too busy to train but I told myself August was my month to come back. When I’m on the mats, nothing matters but my opponent and me, and whether I’m the one who taps or I actually pull off a submission, you bump fists knowing that you asked or gave mercy to your opponent. Nothing is more humbling than tapping knowing that, if this was an altercation on the street, your arm would’ve been broken or you would’ve been choked unconscious. BJJ sounds intimidating, but everyone trains smart, never goes for the kill (unless training for competition), and is very open-minded about growing together as a huge Jiu Jitsu family. I’ve competed twice, and it gave me flashbacks to days as a hip-hop dancer with my crew, The Mooks. 

I was in the hip-hop dance world for about seven years. I was on FR3SH, UFP, and an all-guy dance crew called The Mooks that I actually directed for a number of years. However, we didn't really have one leader and we focused on coming together to make decisions creatively and focused on having fun, doing our thing, and actually placed at major dance competitions in Toronto, Boston, New York, and New Jersey. The creativity my crewmates would display always blew my mind, and their ability to dish out choreography and fun concepts is what I loved about dancing the most. Dance allows a free form of expression, similar to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Everyone person has their own style, their own interpretation to the music or the technique, and that flow state I talked about can be found in both forms of art. Not to mention the obvious parallel of self-awareness, body control, and technique learning and execution all of which can be constantly worked on.

Dance, I believe, will never leave me, and I’ll always groove to a beat wherever I may be. I’m in love with the growth and the beauty found in these arts, and I’m baonanas for hitting the mat or the stage and seeing all the hours you spent practicing and training come into fruition. Win or lose, the journey is what I’m baonanas for the most.

What do you plan on doing to achieve it or make it better?

My ultimate goal is to get my black belt. I was feeling really good on my road to blue belt (the belt after white - I’m still a white belt. Haha.), however the business grew and I got too busy. But as they say, lack of time means a lack of priorities, and I’m prioritizing my health and my overall investment into my hobbies and will get back to training in August. I'll be having a long sit down with my Passion Planner to ensure this happens

Are you finding a balance between what you’re baonanas for to what you’re doing now?

Right now, no, but once I get back from a family trip I’ll be getting down on the dance floor and on the mats. haha.

What flavor are you most Baonanas for?

Lychee-Rose!