Defining Boundaries: How to Enforce Them
In this third and final installment of my series on boundaries, I describe three simple ways to enforce the boundaries we have been discussing in
Author: Valerie Worthington
Valerie Worthington has been moving her body since before she was born, for many reasons and with many outcomes. She really started to pay attention to how, when, and why her body moves when she began training in Brazilian jiu jitsu in 1998. From then on, she became hugely invested in educating herself about how to optimize her body movement for BJJ and how to support it in doing so. She has observed that these endeavors require her to invest herself not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and psychologically, fueling a particular interest in the influence on her life of these dimensions of athletic activity.
Valerie has developed as a BJJ practitioner via her own training and competition preparation, teaching and coaching other practitioners, and writing about her life as a jiu jitsu devotee through the lens of her education, personal experiences, and professional background. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a doctorate in educational psychology from Michigan State University. She is a first-degree black belt in BJJ, as well as co-founder and proprietor of Groundswell Grappling Concepts. She trains at Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Princeton, New Jersey.
Most recently, Valerie is the author of How to Love a Grappler: A Guide for People Who Love People Who Love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She can be reached through her email.
Posts from this author
Defining Boundaries: Money, Relationships & Heroes in the Gym
In an earlier article I discussed some of the basics of boundary issues and how it is important to maintain healthy ones. In this article,
Defining Boundaries: As Athlete, Teammate, and Human
I am the daughter of two retired psychologists. Good ones, I daresay, though many of my friends tease me that this fact explains much about
Lifting Covered: One Woman’s Experiences of Weightlifting and Islam, Part 2
This article is one of a two part interview with weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah: The challenges of being a practicing Muslim and a serious athlete don’t
Lifting Covered: One Woman’s Experiences of Weightlifting and Islam, Part 1
This article is one of a two part interview with weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah: This article is one of a two part interview with weightlifter Kulsoom
Parkour vs. Freerunning & How to Choose a Gym: Interview with Traceur Tim Koren, Part 2
In part one of my interview with parkour enthusiast Tim Koren, Tim described some of the basic parkour movements and how there is no such
Getting Started in Parkour: Interview with Traceur Tim Koren, Part 1
In an earlier story, I described the landscape of parkour, including a brief history and the idea that, at a much-reduced level of athleticism, many
What Is Parkour? Are You Already Doing It?
Anyone who has seen or participated in parkour would probably agree that a description of it cannot convey the excitement of the real thing. To
The Physiology of a Rear Naked Choke, or: What Happens When You Get Choked Out
If you train Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ), chances are you’ve been on the receiving end of a rear naked choke (RNC). You know just by
How Parents Can Best Support Their Kids in Athletics
In part one of my discussion with experienced kids’ coach Jen Flannery, she discussed the characteristics of effective coaches of kids, as well as the
Introducing Your Kids to Athletic Activity – What to Look For
If you are a regular reader of Breaking Muscle, chances are you derive great and frequent benefit from physical activity – sports, weightlifting, martial arts,
Consistent Goals, Evolving Headspace: Interview with Wellness Expert Krista Scott-Dixon, Part 2
In part one of my interview with Krista Scott-Dixon, Krista discussed her definitions of health and fitness. In part two, she discusses the development over
