#26 Nabila Birjis On How To Be Aggressive On-Demand, Survive The Mat, Being Really Fearless and MORE on this SironaStar Special series.
#26 Nabila Birjis On How To Be Aggressive On-Demand, Survive The Mat, Being Really Fearless and MORE on this SironaStar Special series.
About Nabila Birjis:
Nabila(29), an architect is a Jujitsu fighter hailing from the city of palaces, Namma Mysuru. She is a three-time gold winner in the National Ju-jitsu fights.
She is raised by a fiercely independent single mother in a joint family. Growing up, she enjoyed sports and adventure. She climbed the Himalayas at the age of fourteen and took a bullet ride to Gujarat at the age of twenty-two. Her love for traveling took her to as many as twelve countries.
The young-curious woman stumbled upon Jiu-jitsu at the age of twenty-five during the phase we all mutually go through “Let me get fit and stay healthy”. She began training and fell in love with the sport. Being an architect in a reputed firm, she managed to hustle her way up becoming the fighter she is today.
Nabila joined the Indian Combat Sports Academy, Bengaluru, India, to a team of fighters. She trained really hard and found herself an opportunity to compete in her first Ju-jitsu fight. Her dedication and love towards Ju-jitsu showed no agony on her face or in her career.
She fought her first national fight in 2017, and, without a doubt, she came home winning gold against an experienced grappler. Her confidence increased and she decided to compete in forthcoming fights. She quit her job to focus on full-time training in Ju-Jitsu and building her own architecture and design studio. Bio Credits: SmartStorey
Connect to Nabila Birjis:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nabila-Birjis-2127899620554508/
LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/in/nabila-birjis-a5672655
SPEAKERS
Sirona, Nabila, Puneeth
Nabila 00:00
There's so many there's enough broken down on the match left, right, like
00:06
what does it say? He knows me.
Nabila 00:09
This lets me be like, he lets me cry, but I can't step out of the math even though I'm crying. I have to continue sparring.
Puneeth 00:23
Hey, it's Puneeth Suraana and this is the bonus series of the Galata podcast, we had this interaction in the early hours at Central pergola of the serene campus of I am Bangalore. So this is in the midst of nature, and you will hear the calling of many birds and squirrels that were creating some Galatia and of course, the bangalow bees. We'll get to it in a second. But first, here's a message from our presenting sponsor.
Sirona 00:53
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Puneeth 01:48
This is the part one of the conversation I think we're going to talk about talking about aggression. I think what emotions talk about
Nabila 01:56
non-aggression, yes, that's helped me everywhere in my business. I think I've borrowed aggression from jujitsu into every bit of my life. I would say that
Puneeth 02:07
we do degenerate in jujitsu, we are
Nabila 02:10
not angry. No, that's very different. Yeah. I'm not angry aggression is like you push something that has to be done, like, for example, doesn't move and you only have to push to make it work. So same with business, you really have to, like maybe push that, you know, to make it work. So that's what aggression is for me. And if you're not aggressive, so you're not trying enough, and that won't happen. Probably it won't happen. But if you're really aggressive, you put your foot down and you go
Puneeth 02:42
for it. Huh? This is like you push through till you till you get. That's aggression. This makes us so relevant. Because in business, while aggression is all about the negative user. But this is like a good aggression. How do you plan business?
Nabila 03:00
Say you're working on a pitch for a project. Since I'm an architect, we tend to work on a lot of pitches, and maybe it comes through doesn't come through. But if you're aggressive enough, and you work towards it, and you make the client convince, so you get the project? So that's how it works for me. So it's
Puneeth 03:19
about competing sales. Yes. Getting nice
Nabila 03:22
numbers. Yes. Same thing in business.
Puneeth 03:25
How do you play that
Nabila 03:26
analogy? This is something I've learned from my coach. He repeatedly says be aggressive about what you're doing. be aggressive. You know this is something I've picked up from my coach. Yeah, let's be aggressive about it. If you're not aggressive, you won't get it. Yeah. So this is something that is set in my head, and I applied everywhere.
Puneeth 03:51
But how do you handle people around you when they see you being so aggressive? And you
Nabila 03:56
didn't? How do they know I'm aggressive? It's in my head know
Puneeth 03:59
that I know
Nabila 04:01
that I'm aggressive at all, no, never short on your face that you're aggressive. It's something that they're in your
Puneeth 04:05
mind. So you're aggressive with your action? Yes, with my actions, but
Nabila 04:08
I don't like that doesn't mean I grind my teeth. And you know, that's
Puneeth 04:12
the auto spotting session. But how do you handle it with the team around you? Because you have you're constantly in touch with contractors, builders.
Nabila 04:26
Again, you have to push, push, keep pushing them keep pushing them to the edge, you know, they get frustrated, but I'm so nice to them, but I keep pushing them. You know, like, Dude, this is done. This is done. When do you think you can finish this? Okay, I didn't have this in the next 10 minutes. Can I have this in the next 15 minutes? So I keep pushing. But again, I'm so polite. That Yeah,
04:48
yeah, don't move No.
Nabila 04:52
But you get it done somehow. push it aggressive doesn't mean you have to shout at someone and so you know, do it. You know, like what the Hell, you haven't done this? No, I don't believe in this. So you keep pushing it gets done. Same thing with the technique. You don't have to when you're doing it in jujitsu, you don't have to grind your teeth and grunt and, you know, do all such things. No, you use the right technique and you just don't leave, let it go. Like for example, your, you have got hold of a hand for a lock for joint lock, so you don't let that go. No matter what your muscles are painting, you know, like, it's, you feel like, you can't do it any longer. But still, you don't let it go. You're just holding on to it. That's what it is about.
Puneeth 05:40
I've got you Well, how can somebody who's listening to it who has a startup or a business can lead in their business, a good progression, sort of progression
Nabila 05:50
into that, I think you will have to shamelessly be after it. That's what aggression is when you have to get something done no matter where you have to be after it. You have to stick on to like your life depends on it.
Puneeth 06:01
This is so hard for people to bring it in their life. Yeah, we think they'll end up offending them. Or they'll end up being too nice, or I think it's no flaking. Yeah. How do you get that? Right?
Nabila 06:13
I've got it right after a lot of time, after a lot of time on the mats in my gym, and also a lot of practice. I've been practising architecture for nine years now. I think I've finally set up my own form. And it happened. Like, in parallel. I've been practising jujitsu for what like four years now. And I'm in such a so much better place than I was when I started off even Jiu-Jitsu flexible. Yeah. Yeah, that also but also, I was working for someone else when I joined jujitsu. And it was so hard for me to get time out because nobody would understand why I'm doing this. And now because I've started off on I don't know, if jujitsu helped me start off on my own or the other way I'm not. Yeah, yeah. But it's, I can see it's, it's has fallen in place now. And I'm really happy with what it has turned out to be and what kind of person I am today. I'm so happy with myself.
Puneeth 07:23
All that pushing me at all has paid off.
Nabila 07:27
And I look forward to my classes, my gym classes, jujitsu classes, and I miss them and I don't like I was injured to the entire week. Last week, and I missed it terribly. I thought I wouldn't. I mean, I'm on holiday food. Like we'll get beaten up but no. Yeah, it was beaten up. Can you see this?
Puneeth 07:49
Wow. Yeah. That's like a scar. Right? Yeah, it's like free mascara, but
Nabila 07:56
yeah, it hurts. head butt head. But yes. part and parcel of sparring happens while sparring. You don't even know when when this happened only after your sparring rounds when you see Oh, something is hurting and then you realize that
Puneeth 08:12
you're not feeling the adrenaline. You don't. You used to get beaten. Or getting into fights. That's come because you were grown up with a very strict single mother backing my suit. Oh, no. I was good. Oh, now I was brought up by a single mother but not at all strict. She wasn't strict. No, not really strict. She's a hatchery. Yeah, she's fine college.
Nabila 08:39
But she just didn't know what I want to do. Whatever I wanted, as I told you, I climbed the Himalayas when I was 15. You know how difficult it was for her to convince the rest of my family. I have five uncles have grown up in a joint family for dogs. I am from an orthodox family, a joint family with five uncles. All the same house. Yeah. All in the same house. Yeah, up until I was 13 years. 1314. So I've been in a joint family and it was very hard for her to convince she it was very easy for me to convince her but it was so difficult for her to convince my uncle's what is a need? Why does she need to go? You know, like they didn't get it.
Puneeth 09:19
So why do you want to put 14? Yeah, what do you
Nabila 09:24
know? It was I was the youngest in the whole team. Yeah, it was like a group shot group of four. So I was a part of Rotary Club back then I studied in the mineral track. Yeah, we are at school. And I was a part of the school, the club and everything. They happen to organize this expedition. And I was so excited. I wanted to take part and they told me Are you sure you're this? 15 Do you really want to do it was a 28-day trick. 28 days? Wow. Yeah. And I totally enjoyed it.
Puneeth 09:55
So you mean these? This was for like the 10 standards of college?
Nabila 09:59
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, so they're also working professionals who came in. Yeah, very few school students. But
Puneeth 10:05
so you went to the summit you?
Nabila 10:07
Yeah, I went to the summit. Yeah.
Puneeth 10:09
How was that? Like for a 16-year-old?
Nabila 10:11
I think I was the fittest. It was easiest for me. I was always into sports.
Puneeth 10:19
Totally sampat what is Emily's like,
Nabila 10:22
Rise of a senior role. It was nice. What I would look forward to is every evening we would pitch tents in different places. So we carry that ends and horses to carry our tents. So but to pitch every evening, find a new place, and which the 10 that was the most exciting thing. And I think I look forward to that every day when I woke up.
Puneeth 10:43
You look forward to pitching a 10. Yeah,
Nabila 10:45
I mean, you play the new players every day. Why? Because you'll start off from a born and then you start that operates, you stop, you pitch the tent, you stay back the next day morning, you wake up, you pack up everything. Then you start trekking again, which is a new place you stay in a new place. new places are always exciting. We know. Each time you go up there you see like a little bit of snow. Then you a little more closer to the snow and then you're in the snow. So seen snow. So finally, we were checking the snow it was so cold. That's one thing I didn't like about him is like when you wake
Puneeth 11:29
up, you're like,
Nabila 11:31
yeah, I didn't brush for like, three days in a row was not so good. But it was so good. And then I did a nipple trick. Also, that was recent, about four or five years back. But no, no, no. Yeah.
Puneeth 11:52
That was like fresh eyes. Did you take some family members along? Your mom's? I'm telling you when I was in my mind, and my friend and I wanted to go on a trip to Dan Daly. We had to take a security person with us. And battles. The only convincing point looks like a body guy. We've been through the trip. And here she is. Respect to your mom, dude. Yeah, yes, totally. I don't know what she was smoking or she was.
Nabila 12:26
She had? No, but you should also give me the credit because I have convinced. No.
Puneeth 12:42
That's true. For example, even now, Harsha. She just came back from assaulted my sister to Singapore, and it's unheard of in orthodox Marwari families, and beautiful 22. And she had to just convince dad, but dad had to convince everyone, including the family, extended family customers, every day did not have a solo trip. They understood saluted when they like, but occasionally luxury. And then that means they accumulate keys. I had a girl who asked us in a wedding, I remember. Same age, same education. She's like, she just tries, you ain't alone. And like sort of you went along. And then that's when I started appreciating the extent our parents have gone through to create that environment where we can explore our adventures. Yes. What is your mom's first reaction?
Nabila 13:46
When you? Yeah, but are you sure you want to? Like you're only 15? Do you want to go? That's it? Yes, I want to Sofia, it didn't take me much to convince her actually. Wow. Yeah. But it took her a lot to convince the rest of
Puneeth 14:03
how was the reaction when you told her that you want to do digital?
Nabila 14:08
As so she was she like yes. Anything to do with sports. She's been very encouraging. Because she wanted to want it to be I
Puneeth 14:18
see the picture. And she never got a chance to long pursue sports. You're in the lucky spot.
Nabila 14:27
So that's why she's never stopped. She even wanted me to quit my job and get into jujitsu full time. Like when this Asian Games thing came up, there was a selection camp for Asian Games. So for that, she said, just quit your job. Does jujitsu make sure you get selected? Yeah, my mom and my brother. I have a younger brother. He's 10 years younger to me but equally encouraging. I've been very lucky I should say with family.
Puneeth 14:56
How comfortable was it for you being a girl and they were they were Yeah, um, what is the sanitary like in the Oh no.
Nabila 15:05
We dug up a hole in the snow
Puneeth 15:11
did you dig up a hole in the snow? Was it comfortable? Yeah. Yeah. Do you have to still drink less water? Yes. And
Nabila 15:23
are you living I felt uncomfortable about was the snow because you had to sleep on the snow. Like, you know the tents were laid on the snow and there was like this thin sheet on the snow and then your sleeping bag. So I felt cold. I couldn't sleep most of the nights. So that was the only thing I struggled about. Otherwise, it was
Puneeth 15:45
Did you still have to like hold? drink less water below the hydrated just so you can avoid the pee breaks on that? Did you have to go through that?
Nabila 15:53
No. Because as it as it was cool, I didn't feel like drinking water. So yeah, but it was hard to find a place to be in between the trek so like, so you start off in the morning and you keep walking to leave me right up checking to leave me so to find a place to be during that time was difficult. But later, when we pitched the tense we found like a doctor. Yeah, yes. Yeah, we're waiting for the door down. Yes. Wow.
Puneeth 16:27
Did you actually have a bucket is going on?
Nabila 16:32
No. These are things that have happened to me. Like he Malian trip. I never thought about it. But it came. Whatever came in front of me. I've taken it. jujitsu. I never even knew this something called jujitsu. Unless one of my colleagues told me that, hey, maybe you should try this.
Puneeth 16:48
Where you like, that's when we went to the first session like, Ah, this is where I belong where you learn
Nabila 16:56
something? Yeah, it is. So jujitsu is a full-body contact sport. So I found it very awkward, initially to be rolling with someone whether a girl or a boy. So it was bad to cuddle these puppies. So it's something like that. I actually didn't like it when I saw it the first time. But so no, but then I really liked it. When you start off with that you actually understand what's happening. Yeah. And how much it helps like a weaker person. It is a sport for smaller and weaker people so that they dominate somebody who's much bigger than them just by using the right technique. Oh my god. Yeah. Oh, yes. So so when you know, you can do better than a bigger person, just by using the right technique. And it doesn't matter if like a bigger person's
Puneeth 17:49
shape or size doesn't matter. Yes.
Puneeth 17:53
Ah, yes. See, she started looking at it from the techniques point of view. And that's when it really made sense to you. Yes, it made sense. Like it's more than just bodyweight fitness or weight loss.
Nabila 18:09
Yeah, the weight loss. That was something I was looking forward to. But no, later, it became so much more about technique and how well your technique is working. And if I'm really able to sweep someone or take somebody down, it was about that.
Puneeth 18:23
What is it like the first time to somebody now, I already know that.
Nabila 18:28
I've been quite weak at wrestling. So wrestling is a stand-up, fight when you take somebody down. So I had to work a lot. I had to work a lot to do that. My coach was fed up of me because I could not I just could not do it. Because it took me so many attempts. I'm not a quick learner. It takes me a long time to learn one technique. So that's what I have very few techniques, but I do them over and over
Puneeth 18:50
aggressing in this game. Yeah.
Nabila 18:52
So if I was somebody who caught techniques fast, I would have known so many more techniques, but I have limited techniques. But I yeah, do them. Yeah. So so when you take a person down, what does it mean to take two people? Uh-huh. Like what standing and then you try to pin the other person down to the ground, and you're laying on top of the other person. And then after you, you've pinned him down and you have enough control over the other person's body go for a submission, like a joint lock, ankle lock or a choke? Yeah, so taking somebody down is like a major part. For me. That was the most difficult part. It seems like Oh God, two people, they're using all the strength and fighting but
Puneeth 19:39
I think the women listening to this who want to have self-defence or just feel empowered, it's such a different perspective and in one, when you look at fighting with a man and not having the analogy or the strength, yes. Versus looking at it in the terms of this is this about technique. Get the technique, right. their strength is not that big of a deal. This perspective, it's at the same bar. Exactly. Yes.
Nabila 20:07
And also, if you see most of them, I mean, when somebody who has attacked you, you should know that the other person does is not. So he does not know any technique, right. So how easy it would be for you.
Puneeth 20:20
Like your comfort.
Nabila 20:22
And you know, because you know that you've trained so much you have that confidence in you that you can really take this person down or defend yourself. If not,
Puneeth 20:30
we can actually just if there's an oppressor ladies, just look at him and like really want to do this. And at the end of it, don't tell me I did not want Yeah. But so in finding this to a woman, it just makes so much more sense. Let's talk about jujitsu as a sport in India. how young is it and explain to the Mexican lady listening to this? Who's probably not college?
Nabila 21:00
Hardly people know about this, even though it's there in Asian Games. So Asian Games 2018. That happened in Jakarta. It was introduced for the first time so it is a big sport. Yes, it is. So but the team India was pulled out of jujitsu for I don't know what reasons. the government knows the reasons. But they are introducing reintroducing it again. The next one, which will be in 2022. Yeah. So which means if they've got it back, so it is growing, and it's going to be Olympics. Also, the next Olympics is going to be in the Olympics. So if it's an Olympic sport, it is very well recognized. But in India, we do not have like the facility for it, I would say there is nobody encouraging, like we do not have enough support from the government is whatever. But like really slick athletes like me who are taking interest role and doing it? Yes, it's fantastic for us, because I'm not depending on anyone. I'm doing it because I love it because I'm interested. So why I'm interested is because it has so many benefits. It's given me so much not just self-defence, not just the confidence, but also it's helped me The way I see life. I think it's so important, not just any sport, I think it makes a difference the way you look at life, because it's so much struggle, right? It's so stuck. I don't think they can be anything worse than
Puneeth 22:25
satellite that
Nabila 22:29
you can survive every day, 14 minutes getting smashed, you know? Can you imagine that?
Puneeth 22:37
How do you convince the young girls to get smashed first thing in the morning? Let me tell you, ladies, there is a point in her life where she had to travel three hours, practice for one hour essentially gets matched for an hour and then travel back. Yes, I appreciate it.
Nabila 23:01
So now it's very comfortable. If I think of that it's so easy. I just stay five kilometres away from the gym. So I'm in a better place now. But I had to do all that during my first few years. That's a struggle that
Puneeth 23:13
a lot of Indian sports go through. I think
Nabila 23:20
combat sports has so much to do with strength, and so much to do with because that's at least that's how people think so much to do with strength. We don't want to fight men. We don't want to fight boys. But no to start your training with the boy are you dealing with boys. And that's a plus point. I need a plus point and that most of the women fail to see. You know, that's such you're getting an opportunity to learn from somebody who's naturally most stronger. stronger. Yes. So you're prepared already.
Puneeth 23:53
This reminds me of the dangle see his Ramadan is like,
Nabila 23:57
Yeah, he's pushing my girls to fight with my boys. Yeah, that's preparing them for the worst. So you're prepared. So this, you get a little bit of fitness, you get fit, you get stronger, you get the confidence. Everything is all in one form, solution life cost solution.
Puneeth 24:16
I think I think you get one thing right here, and a lot of other things fall in place, you know, you're
Nabila 24:21
fitter than the rest of your whatever friends and we're not into sports, you know, at my age, so many of them already have so many health issues. Yeah, they have kids, they
Puneeth 24:33
have
Nabila 24:34
families, and here's
Puneeth 24:36
a girl who's just not to believe but she's actually pushing through a lot of things. That's your part. But do you miss the fact that you could have taken the normal route or not at all? Not at all.
Nabila 24:57
Although they love it so, so important also to do You like it just because everybody else likes it a certain way, does not mean that I will do it that way. So for me, it's been different from not day one, but from the time I've been able to think and be able to make decisions for myself, it's been different from the rest of my friends and but that that does not mean that I'm not happy with. I'm very happy with what I'm doing. And the other way around. If I was doing something conventional, I don't think
Puneeth 25:27
his duties bangin the first coach that you had, yes. What has been like, your life learning some? He's,
Nabila 25:34
I don't aggression,
Puneeth 25:37
aggressive?
Nabila 25:43
I should I need aggression, aggression. aggression is missing. You're not aggressive, you don't get a reading that is Yes, he's everything that on the mat. And I get shouted at the most on the mat, because I'm a slow learner. And I have to keep up with the guys. So I get that a lot. And you know, to to make it even worse. For me. What he does is he tells the guys Oh, can't you escape from a girl? And they are trying? Yeah, that's awesome. And they are trying three times harder than they would actually and I have. Or that means I have to do it six times more. So he makes it very hard for me and I'm very thankful to him. Although I hate him every day or the
Puneeth 26:25
keyword is thankful. Yes, like, ladies, and all the men also this is for everyone. But they'll be like, Why are you pushing through,
Nabila 26:37
pushing through going through this grant? Because it's, it's taught me so much in life. Like I told you, I borrowed so many principles of jujitsu into my career into my practice architecture practice, and it's working wonderfully for me, you know, after the happiest time in the day is after a good round of sparring session is an experiment what sparring is because they get the picture of it, barring is either getting beaten up or beating someone after that,
Puneeth 27:09
which is
27:13
nothing.
Nabila 27:17
I'm so happy doing.
Puneeth 27:19
begins with either getting owned or owning somebody.
Nabila 27:24
But I must mention there are days when I get beaten, and I feel so bad about it. Yeah, you shouldn't. So there's another way, the other side to it also, when you get smashed, and like, why am I even I've been doing this for four years, five years. And why does it feel this way? What where am I lacking What is wrong? And yeah, so you end up that way too. So how do you handle setbacks?
Puneeth 27:46
Especially these micro setbacks and the mega setbacks like the one that happened in the Asian Championship? emotionally? Yeah, there was
Nabila 27:57
nothing I could do about it. The government kept promising us but then we, when did I get to know three months before we were preparing? I quit my job. I've been craving training really. And just three months before the competition, they tell us that it's I didn't know what to you know, everything was gone for me. Like my job was not there. I didn't have a job anymore. What was I training for six hours a day? Why was I training when there's no competition? Yeah, that was like a, I don't know how to. I didn't know how to place myself. I don't know what to do the next day. Yes, yes. But then I started off on my own then I started off that was a I don't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. That helped me set up my own firm. I was not ready. If not for Asian Games, I would have never quit my job. And I wouldn't have really thought of setting up my own this thing. I would have taken a few more years. I would have eventually done it. But taken
Puneeth 28:49
gradually,
Nabila 28:50
gradually. But that happened so suddenly that I had to and I was broke for months. My dad and my mom life locks. Yes, yes. Yes. And then I went on competing in other smaller competitions and
Puneeth 29:02
already having the baby emotional now Now I know you're used to it. Yeah, I'm used to it. I'm gonna be back on this person. But initially, and especially during the days when you're like, not anymore.
Nabila 29:13
There are so many days have broken down on the match left, right, like
29:20
what does he say? He knows me.
Nabila 29:29
This lets me be like, he lets me cry, but I can't step out of the math. Even though I'm crying. I have to continue. Sorry. Are you see? Yes, there is no, please. Oh, you're crying please. Take a break. None of that. You're crying you cry but continue what you're doing. So you don't get out unless you finished your arms. Even though
Puneeth 29:53
you know what really appeals when it comes to mambilla more than a physical spin. This woman is down. He could get nothing out of this could be just about breathing. And if you can give a shot to doing sport there aren't that many competitors that don't make it that one or six Goldman's
Nabila 30:20
that my first gold medal was
30:22
I didn't believe
Nabila 30:27
that was celebrated. Then it became second so it wasn't as exciting as the first one was
Puneeth 30:38
many getting to this losing is losing hearts.