By Terra Avilla
Remington, my sweet little ninja neighbor.
Every week, I get to share stories about the people and moments that make Susanville such a special place to call home, and this week, I wanted to shine a light on a young neighbor of mine – Remington, though everyone calls him Remi.
Remi, who is only 12, is the kind of person who reminds you how much potential and positivity there is in the kids in our community.
I first met Remi not over the backyard fence, but at last year’s Grappling Bear Jiu Jitsu Camp. While the camp is open to beginners – in his age group almost of the kids there had already been training for quite some time. Jiu Jitsu can be the kind of environment that could easily intimidate someone new. But not Remi.
From day one, he jumped right in.
He listened, learned, and rolled with the more experienced students without hesitation. There was no sign of nerves or self-doubt—just a genuine eagerness to learn and a quiet confidence.
What really stands out to me about Remi is how quickly he picks things up. He asks smart questions, and is never afraid to try something new, even if he doesn’t get it perfect the first time. More than once during the camp, I caught myself forgetting that Remi was brand new to jiu jitsu. He blended in so well that it was easy to assume he’d been training for months.
During one exercise at camp, I sent the older kids – including Remi – to do a rolling drill from a standing position. Halfway through, I had an “uh-oh” moment and shrieked, “Remi, I am so sorry! I forgot you don’t know this one yet!” Remi just grinned, shrugged like it was no big deal, and said, “Nah, I think I got it.” Then, with all the confidence in the world, he launched himself down the mat with the rest of the group – rolling like he’d been doing it since kindergarten.
Moreover, whenever a new little kid shows up for jiu jitsu, they’re usually a bundle of nerves—shy, quiet, and clinging to the edge of the mat. That’s when I bring in their “big jiu jitsu buddy,” and honestly, Remi is almost always the first to step up.
I know people sometimes say teenage boys can’t be gentle or patient with little kids, but Remi is living proof that’s just not true. He’s got this easygoing way with the younger ones, and he makes them laugh, shows them the ropes, and somehow manages to make them feel like they belong right away. Watching him with the little kids always makes me smile, and it’s a good reminder that kindness and patience aren’t limited by age.
What I love about this kid – he’s humble, never the loudest in the room (unless you count his laugh), and honestly one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever seen. I’ll watch him dragging himself off the mat, looking like he just finished wrestling a bear, and then – sure enough – if another student wants a match, Remi’s right back up, volunteering.
Remi is one of my favorite students and clearly one of the reasons I love where we live.
