Monthly Archives: December 2012

Jiu-Jitsu Philosophy: 7 – 5 – 3

Posted on by
Reply

The 7, 5, 3 Philosophy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu incorporates the 7 Principles of Bushido, The 5 Keys to Longevity, and the 3 Zen Minds.

The Seven Principles Of Bushido.

  1. Right Action.  Doing what is just without regard to consequence.   (Correct judgment or procedure for the resolution of righteousness.)
  2. Courage.  Having the inner strength to stand for what is right.
  3. Benevolence.  Having a kind disposition that reflects love and affection for others.  “Benevolence brings under its sway whatever hinder its power, just as water subdues fire.”
  4. Respect.  Being polite and courteous to others.  “In its highest form politeness approaches love.”
  5. Truthfulness.  Having integrity in word and action while following the Law of the Universe.
  6. Honor. Enjoying a reputation for ethical conduct.  “Dishonor is like a scar on a tree which time, instead of effacing only helps to enlarge.”
  7. Loyalty. Faithful allegiance.

The 5 Keys To Health And Longevity.

  1. Daily exercise
  2. Proper nutrition
  3. Adequate Rest / Sleep
  4. Hygiene
  5. Positive Mental Attitude

3 Minds. 

Zan Shin is translated as ‘Remaining Spirit’ and refers to a vigilant, all-encompassing awareness.  Zanshin is being fully present in the here and now.  The mind is fully aware of its surroundings and in a state of ever-readiness – unattached, yet present to the task at hand.

Mu Shin means ‘Mind Without Mind,’ or the state of No Mind.  Mu Shin is a state of spontaneity that allows immediate action without conscious thought.  “Mu” means “emptiness.”  The mind is empty in the sense that it is void of fear, anger, worries and various other preoccupations.  The absence of these distractions creates the space for an increased awareness and clarity. Mushin is sometimes referred to as “the zone,” – a relaxed state of peak performance.

Fu Do Shin is the ‘Immovable Mind.’  It is the mind that has met all challenges of life, and has attained a state of complete composure.  This state of mind cannot easily be disturbed by confusion, anger, doubt, or fear. It is the calm in the center of the storm.

“Mental calmness, not skill, is the sign of a matured samurai.” – Tsukahara Bokuden

2 Keys to Higher Level Jiu-Jitsu: Lessons from the Chinese Finger Trap.

Posted on by
Reply

What is the Chinese Finger Trap?  The “Chinese Finger Trap” is a thinly woven bamboo tube with openings on each end that are roughly the size of a human finger.  An unwitting victim is asked to insert their index fingers into the openings, whereupon they find themselves trapped.

This sensation of feeling trapped elicits a stress response — the natural reaction is to pull the fingers back out again.  But this will make the openings at each end of the tube constrict, gripping the victims fingers ever more tightly. The harder a person pulls outward, the smaller the circumference becomes, and the more decisively they are trapped. It is only by relaxing one’s efforts at escape, and by pushing the fingers further in, that the ends of the tube can widen, and the fingers can slowly twist out and be free.

The Chinese finger trap serves as a metaphor for problems that:

  1. Can be overcome by relaxing.
  2. Have a counterintuitive solution.

How does this relate to Jiu Jitsu?

High-level Jiu Jitsu practitioners highlight the very same principles as the Chinese Finger Trap.  It is normal to panic and become tense when we feel trapped.  If we feel one of our limbs is threatened, it is seemingly sensible to strongly pull it away from danger.

Yet effective Jiu Jitsu practitioners often do the opposite of these expectations.  They react in ways that seem illogical to the untrained person.  When engaged in a close physical struggle with a resisting person, most high-level Jiu Jitsu practitioners exhibit a mental calmness that is reflected in their breath and facial expressions.  When their limbs are trapped, they might consider pushing deeper into the lock; and they know the details that separate an advanced student from a beginner are often not obvious at all.

The Chinese finger trap takes advantage of its victims hard-wired stress response in order to keep them fixed in a predicament.  Skilled Jiu Jitsu practitioners operate in much the same way.  By placing their opponents under pressure, they can predict and exploit their opponent’s instinctual reactions.

This is one of the reasons why Jiu Jitsu has such a steep learning curve.  Our progression is largely based on overriding instinctual stress reactions, and replacing them with technique. 

 Conclusion.   Not reacting to stress with panic will leave us better able to think critically and creatively.  Not only does this help us conserve energy, it leaves us less vulnerable to common traps.  Like the Chinese Finger Trap, higher levels of Jiu Jitsu require us to relax and see beyond the obvious.

“Become aware of what is not obvious.” – Miyamoto Musashi