Tag Archives: BJJ

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

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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

 

An Ancient Take On Gi Vs Nogi.

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The ancient Greeks utilized training methods similar to our modern day no-gi and gi training.

The better a wrestler is at imposing and negating grips, the more effective they will be.  It is easier to make grips on a dry coarse surface.  Conversely it is harder to make grips on a smooth, slippery surface.  This reasoning led ancient Greek wrestlers to utilize oil and konis (a talc-like powder) as training tools to accelerate their progress.

Dusty.  The ancient Greeks did not wear Gis. Instead, they applied “konis” – a talc or coarse, sandy powder – to their bodies to remove slipperiness, and provide a more grippable, dry surface.  This made it difficult to escape from holds.  Training with konis, or “Dusty” training, was believed to improve ones ability to break grips.

Oily.  In a separate area of the palestra (wrestling school), wrestlers trained with expensive oil applied to the bodies – making them more difficult to grip.  This was believed to increase strength and trained the wrestler to become adept at imposing grips, even in the most unfavorable of conditions.

Ancient Text.  The following is an excerpt from an essay that was written by Lucian of Samosata in 170 c.e.  It is translated by Stephen Miller, from his book, Arête: Greek Sports from Ancient Sources. Stephen Miller writes, “The essay is set in Athens and purports to be a conversation between Solon, the Athenian lawgiver, and the Skythian Anacharsis who had come to Greece from his home on the Black Sea in quest of wisdom.”

Solon:  The mud and the konis, which seemed so ridiculous to you in the beginning, are put down for the following reasons.  First, so that they may fall safely on a soft surface rather than a hard one.  Next, they are necessarily slipperier when they are coated with sweat and mud.  Although you compared this to eels, it is neither useless nor ridiculous; it makes a considerable contribution to strength when they are slippery and one tries to hold on while the other tries to slip away.  And don’t think that it is easy to pick up a man who is sweaty and muddy and has on oil as well.  As I said earlier, all this is useful in war in the event that one has to pick up a wounded comrade and carry him out of the fight, or grab an enemy and bring him back to one’s own lines.  For such reasons we train them to the limits and set the most difficult tasks so that they can do the lesser ones with greater ease.

We believe that the konis is useful for the opposite purpose, to prevent a man from slipping away once caught.  Once they have been trained with the mud to hold on to what would get away because of its oiliness, they are taught to escape from the opponent’s hands when they are caught in a firm grip. In addition, the konis is thought to stop profuse sweating, to prolong strength, and to prevent harm to their bodies from the wind blowing on them when their pores are open. Finally, the konis rubs off the filth and makes the man cleaner.  I would like to take one of those white-skinned fellows who live in the shade and put him next to any athlete you might pick out of the Lykeion after I had washed off the mud and konis, and then find out which you would rather resemble.  I know that you would choose immediately, without even waiting to see what each could do, to be firm and hard rather than soft and like a marshmallow with thin blood withdrawing to the interior of the body.

 Conclusion.  Training in the oily mud and dry konis were thought to compliment each other, resulting in a grappler that is skilled in both imposing and negating grips.

What do you think?  Can the same be true for modern day Gi and No Gi training methods?

Born to Grapple. Are Humans More Adapted for Grappling than Running?

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Why Humans are Better Grapplers than Runners.

“I swear it upon Zeus, the outstanding runner cannot be the equal of the average wrestler.”

This is a quote that is commonly ascribed to Socrates, who lived more than 2,500 years ago.

Modern scientific research appears to offer support to this claim.  The proof?  It is in the design of our foot.

Modern science backs up Socrates.  Humans, apes and bears are among the few mammals that step first on the heel when walking, and then roll onto the ball of the foot and toes. A University of Utah study shows why.

Walking heel to toe provides us with a larger foot surface – which increases our leverage and allows kinetic and potential energy to be converted more efficiently.  This may compromise our running efficiency, but it improves our ability to defend ourselves against aggressors within our own species.

“Our heel touches the ground at the start of each step. In most mammals, the heel remains elevated during walking and running,” says biology Professor David Carrier, senior author of the recent study that was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Why do the vast majority of mammals walk on their toes? Think of gazelles, deer, horses, dogs and cats.  “They are adapted for running,” Carrier says. “They’ve compromised their economy of walking for the economy of running.”

Most elite human runners also strike first on the balls of their feet.   Even so, “We are not efficient runners,” says Carrier. “In fact, we consume more energy to run than the typical mammal our size.”

So why have humans, great apes and bears adapted a pattern of walking that differs from that of most other mammals?  It has to do with more than walking efficiency.  All three are relatively aggressive and have to ward off attacks from members of their own species.

“Plantigrade feet, in which the heel makes contact with the ground, allow large torques to be applied to the ground,” explained David Carrier.  “Animals with this foot posture are able to apply larger forces to opponents during fighting that involves wrestling and possibly also larger forces during striking with the forelimbs.”

A heel-first foot posture “may be advantageous during fighting by increasing stability and applying more torque to the ground to twist, push and shove. And it increases agility in rapid turning maneuvers during aggressive encounters.”

Are We Born to Grapple or Run?

Although we are clearly designed to do both – humans are extraordinary long distance runners – it appears that from an evolutionary perspective, grappling was an even more fundamental skill than running.  Is grappling actually more integral to human nature than running?

The ability to defend one’s self and our offspring, the ability to work with our hands and manipulate our environment, an increased problem solving ability – these are some of the traits that have taken precedence over our ability to run from predators or chase prey.

Conclusion.

The history of grappling can be traced back to prehistoric times.  Most people undervalue its importance, but grappling has been an essential component to the human experience, and part of our genetic imprint.  Evidence of this is abundant – 5,000 year old tomb paintings of Beni Hasan in Egypt show many scenes of standing and ground grappling.   Wrestling was the foremost Olympic sport in Ancient Greece.  The oldest martial arts in the world were grappling based. Ancient civilizations such as Africa, China, India, Iran and Greece all had strong wrestling traditions.  Even the structure of our body reflects the strong connection we have to grappling.

What do you think?  Have we underestimated the role grappling-based activities like Jiu Jitsu have played in our evolutionary development?  Does the ability to grapple promote other qualities and attributes that have been advantageous to our survival?  Although clearly we can do both, are we designed more as grapplers than as efficient runners?

4 Keys to Jiu Jitsu Success.

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The task of controlling and submitting a resisting person can be quite challenging, especially when the other person is bigger, stronger or more skilled.  After all, they are doing all they can to defend themselves, while simultaneously mounting an attack against you.

On a technical level, the ultimate goal of Jiu Jitsu is to submit your opponent.  In order to achieve this goal, it can be helpful to have an awareness of the sequence of events that typically precede a submission victory.  This will enable us to break our task down to more manageable components.  By winning the smaller battles, we can win the larger one.

Here are 4 key elements that can increase our Jiu Jitsu success.

1.   Establish an Advantageous Grip on your Opponent.

Nothing much happens until you establish grips, but do not just settle for any grip.  Fight for a superior grip while denying your opponent the grips that they want.  Grips can quickly manifest as control.  When you sense that you are being controlled – break the grips that control you.

A significant amount of your success will depend on your ability to get the grips that you want.  Establishing a superior grip will increase your chances of a successful attack.

2.   Off Balance your Opponent.

Once you have your grip, look to off balance your opponent.  “Off-balancing” can have many manifestations.  It can refer to anything that upsets the opponent’s physical balance, or mentally confuses them.

Create reactions in your opponent that you can exploit.  Motion will create opportunity.  Draw him in, distract him, use fakes and combinations as set-ups so that the real attack can take place.

No matter your particular style of Jiu Jitsu, “off balancing” your opponent will take them out of their comfort zone and compromise their defenses – thus opening the door to positional dominance and opportunities for submissions.

3.   Achieve Positional Dominance.

Jiu Jitsu theory clearly outlines a hierarchy of positions that two opposing people can fall into.  Successful Jiu Jitsu practitioners seek out dominant position.

Establishing positional dominance translates to having greater control over your opponent than they have over you.  The greater the Positional Dominance, the more a person can maximize their potential for generating effective attacks, while minimizing their vulnerability to being attacked.

Once a dominant position is established, look to attack with finishing holds or submissions.

4.   Be Submission Minded. 

Submissions are the ultimate success in a Jiu Jitsu contest.  They are a reflection of the capacity to control and incapacitate a resisting person.

To be successful in Jiu Jitsu you should be submission-minded.  Constantly seek submissions and apply them in combination.  As Braulio Estima once told me, “do not go to war with just one bullet.”  Have combinations of attacks.

Theory Over Tactics.  An awareness of the core principles that underlie Jiu Jitsu strategy can be more important than the specific techniques we use to carry out our goal.  The specific tactics will vary depending on our physical attributes and individual style.  But these “4 Keys” remain the same.

Conclusion.  They are not written in stone, but these 4 keys are present in a high percentage of submission victories.  Keeping these 4 elements in mind will enable you to put the odds of a favorable outcome on your side.

Success is Built on Failures.  Along the way you can expect to be frustrated.  But do not allow your self to get too frustrated – remember, success is built on “failures.”

MMA as Guilty Pleasure.

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When the bald-headed monk wrapped in a saffron colored robe walked into the Bangkok restaurant, I took notice.  It wasn’t just his intense stare,  it was the tattoos of Buddhist imagery and scriptures that covered his entire body.  I immediately thought to myself, “This monk is gangster!”

He asked what I was doing in Thailand.  His English was not great but I wanted to be clear, “I am here to train Muay Thai.”  (Translation: I am not here for the women.)  Turns out he was a former Muay Thai Champion who retired at age 20 – I was impressed.  “This monk is REALLY gangster,” I thought.

He ended our short conversation by saying: “The greatest lesson I learned from hitting someone, is that it is wrong to hit someone.”

His words struck me – and left me with no choice but to contemplate them.  As I arrived back in the states, I picked up a stray newspaper at the airport.  It was already open to an article in the Sports section – brain autopsies of many NFL players had shown chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an Alzheimer’s-like brain disease associated with repetitive head trauma.

Ignorance is Bliss.

In the late 80’s I loved boxing.  I was mesmerized by Iron Mike Tyson.  He combined raw brutality with precision technique to finish strong men quickly and violently.  It was awesome.  His fights created a contagious, primal excitement.   I thought little of the negative consequences his opponents might suffer.

Then, in the early 90’s, MMA came along – it was WAY better than boxing.  More realistic, more interesting – and to those of us in the know, it was safer…no standing 8 count…fewer head strikes…submission victories…etc.

But now in 2012, it is hard to ignore the ever-increasing scientific data – repeated blows to the head can create lasting damage to our brains.  Although probably safer than boxing and the NFL, can we still believe that MMA fighters are somehow exempt from the scientifically proven consequences of repeated blows to the head?

Fighting is undoubtedly part of our DNA.  Sex and violence are two of the most potent drives of living beings – they also make for great entertainment.  I still love MMA, and I still watch the NFL sometimes – but the love is not as pure as it once was.

These days the thrill and excitement are offset by the guilt of watching other people damage themselves for my viewing pleasure.  With increasing frequency, it can feel weird to watch humans willingly damage each other for entertainment purposes.

The Good News. 

Luckily there is Jiu Jitsu, which has all of the physicality of a real fight, with none of the negative repercussions of strikes to the head.  Not only will BJJ not diminish our mental capacities, it has the potential to improve them. 

In boxing the objective is to hit your opponent in the head and body until they can no longer stand up.  With Jiu Jitsu the objective is to control and then submit your opponent.  Jiu Jitsu gives us the option of stopping a technique short of permanent injury.

This is not an argument against the striking arts.  All martial arts have value – and many people much greater than me have derived much benefit from their training in the striking arts.

Yet I am grateful for the life-promoting properties of Jiu Jitsu…

And I must admit, I am looking forward to watching the Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational much more than watching UFC 152.

Rickson Gracie and John Danaher Agree…

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…Brazilian Jiu Jitsu increases our problem-solving ability.

From Master Rickson Gracie:

“Jiu-jitsu puts you completely in the moment where you must have complete focus on finding a solution to the problem. This trains the mind to build that focus, to increase your awareness, your capacity to solve problems.”

From Master John Danaher:

“The deepest benefits of Jiu Jitsu come off the mat.  It encourages a world-view based upon the idea of rational problem solving.  Jiu Jitsu is all about solving problems that are rapidly changing under stress, and that gives you an ability to identify the crux of the problem in front of you, even in a stressful situation and adapt your body and tactics to overcome that problem and to continue overcoming it as the problem itself changes.  It encourages you to use a very rational trial and error method, basically the same method that science uses to overcome these problems.  So it gives you this sort of problem solving mindset, which I think applies throughout life itself.” (From Open Mat Radio interview)

Modern psychologists say that improved problem solving skills demonstrates an increase in our “Fluid” Intelligence.  Fluid intelligence refers to our ability to learn, to reason, to recognize patterns, and get to the bottom of things.

The implication of Master’s Rickson Gracie and John Danaher’s statements then is that Jiu Jitsu literally raises our intelligence.

What do you think? Can Jiu Jitsu make us smarter?

Twelve Lessons Jiu Jitsu Teaches.

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  1. If it were always easy, it wouldn’t be worth it.
  2. Challenges make us stronger.
  3. Adopting a positive mindset will make the journey easier.
  4. There is always more to learn.
  5. Problems can have more than one solution, and questions can have more than one answer.
  6. The simplest solution is the best.
  7. It feels good when you know what you are doing.
  8. You are your greatest opponent.  Conquer fears, laziness, excuses and negativity.
  9. Keep a calm, clear mind.  Even when things are falling apart around you.
  10. Our bodies and minds can stretch beyond what we thought possible.
  11. We can improve by helping others.
  12. The more you practice, the better you get.

Disruptive Innovation.

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15 years ago, in his book The Innovator’s Dilemma, Harvard professor Clayton M. Christensen coined the phrase, “Disruptive innovation.”  He applied this term to the worlds of business and technology to describe how newer, “better” ways of doing things will upset existing methods and eventually overcome them.

Disruptive innovation explains how steamships disrupted sailing ships, cars disrupted railways, personal computers disrupted word processors, Wikipedia disrupted encyclopedias, digital photography disrupted film, cell phones disrupted public pay phones, and so on.  Christensen writes, “Start-ups often provide disruptive innovation and readily eat into the market share of older value networks.”

In the worlds of business and technology, disruption is one of the natural keys to invention and success.

How does this apply to Jiu Jitsu?

The story of Jiu Jitsu is the story of disruptive innovation.  Back in 1993, at UFC 1, Gracie Jiu Jitsu disrupted many people’s ideas about what a real fight between highly trained martial artists would look like.  The training methods and theoretical insights of Jiu Jitsu forever altered the martial arts landscape.

On a technical level, Jiu Jitsu is ever evolving.  For example, Spider Guard, De La Riva, Rubber Guard, X Guard, Tornado Guard, Inverted Guards, Berimbolo, etc. – all provided disruptive innovations to the basic Closed Guard.

When innovative grappling techniques are proven to be effective at the highest levels – they attract our attention.  The combination of newness with craftsmanship often leaves us intrigued, puzzled, amused and motivated.  It reminds us that there are always exciting new worlds to explore or rediscover.

“Innovation is not the product of logical thought, although the result is tied to logical structure.” – Albert Einstein

Disruptive Jiu Jitsu.

Most of us will probably not disrupt the game of Jiu Jitsu in any major way.  We probably won’t be responsible for developing new techniques that disrupt the standard norms and are proven effective at the highest levels – but we can disrupt our personal Jiu Jitsu.

When we disrupt our game, we disrupt the games of others.  By disrupting the expectations of our regular training partners – we are helping them to improve. This is how we all can contribute to Jiu Jitsu, even if it’s in a very small way.

Yet, many of us fall back on non-disruptive Jiu Jitsu that thrives on the comforting repetition of the forms and sentiments we are most familiar with.  What if, on some occasions, we made a concerted effort to choose the unknown over the known?

By trying something we normally never do, we may add a new dimension to our game.  Taking an experimental, investigative and exploratory approach to Jiu Jitsu can be very beneficial.

“Breaking an old model is always going to require leaders to follow their instincts. There will always be persuasive reasons not to take a risk. But if you only do what worked in the past, you will wake up one day and find that you’ve been passed by.” – Clayton M Christensen

Is all disruptive Jiu Jitsu an improvement? 

Of course solid fundamentals are of primary importance – there is no need to reinvent the wheel.  The right amount of disruption is healthy, but too much is detrimental.

Innovation often comes at a cost.  An article today in the nytimes reported the harmful effects that chemicals are having on our environment.

Are there parallels to this in the world of Jiu Jitsu?  Have we had any disruptive innovations that actually may not be good in the long term? Likewise, have we lost anything of value from the past?

Conclusion.

Disruptive innovation is a quintessential component and at the very heart of Jiu Jitsu.  As Jiu Jitsu evolves we have to evolve with it. In order for us to grow we have to try new things.  Just as we update our mobile devices, we have to update our Jiu Jitsu.

By adopting an adventurous and investigative mindset, we can assess our current approach and ask a few questions: How can my techniques be made more effective? Can I be more imaginative?  What am I missing and where have I become complacent?  What can I do that might be different from what I’ve previously seen or done?  Innovative, creative and effective grappling techniques are always in vogue.

The popularity of these videos indicates the delight we find in innovation.  It is also an interesting phenomenon that “how” a person wins is often more important than “who” won.

What do you think…?  Is it necessary to constantly upgrade your Jiu Jitsu technology?   Do you try to explore every disruptive innovation that comes along, or is better to just stick to the basics?

“Technical skills can be learned by almost anyone who has the determination to pursue it, but innovative ideas and the ability to express them come from some place beyond the material world.” – Carole Ann Borges

The Purpose of Jiu Jitsu.

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What Is The Purpose Of Jiu Jitsu? 

Whether we practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for self-defense, sport, or some other reason – we all share the intention of becoming more skilled.  However, greater technical proficiency is not the ultimate purpose of Jiu Jitsu – the techniques are the means of achieving something greater.

What the Masters Say:

“My father was a naturalist and a very spiritual person, who had a great desire to pass on his knowledge to others, so that they could receive the benefits of Jiu Jitsu as well. Growing up in this environment, I learned the art of Jiu Jitsu is actually a method through which one strives for self-perfection.” – Carlos Gracie Jr.

Strengthening Our Fundamental Capacities.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a unique activity because of the high demands it places on many of our fundamental human capacities.  Character, logic, creativity, adaptability, problem solving, self control, strength, endurance, persistence, flexibility, dexterity, fitness and more are tested, stretched and strengthened by long term Jiu Jitsu practice.

When we make use of these capacities they naturally become stronger.  Conversely, these same fundamental capacities will break down from a lack of use.

By making use of the full range of human ability, and giving us a clear assessment of our strengths and weaknesses, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu provides an excellent platform from which to improve one’s self.

What Are The Results?

So what specifically are the results or benefits that are traditionally associated with Jiu Jitsu practice?  Regardless of why else we might train, we all have an innate desire to improve ourselves.  What does it look like to improve one’s self by practicing Jiu Jitsu?

  1. Increased Mental and Moral Power.
  2. Increased Strength and Fitness.
  3. Improved Lifestyle and Habits.  

Increased Mental and Moral Power. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can affect our mental process, how we see life, our confidence in our selves, and our ability to implement positive change.  It develops moral virtues such as courage, respect and honor – while decreasing our stress, worry and insecurities.  It enables us to understand ourselves better, and increase our level of self-awareness.  It teaches us to be adaptable and relax under pressure.  It enhances our ability to focus and increases our presence of mind.

Increased Strength and Fitness.  Jiu Jitsu equips us with powerful techniques that enable us to defend ourselves in a manner that can be violent or non-violent.  Jiu Jitsu improves us physically by increasing strength, flexibility, dexterity, endurance, coordination, and overall command of our body.  Plus it is a lot of fun to be able to move with accuracy, fluidity and purpose.  Jiu Jitsu turns self-defense into a method of self-perfection.

Improved Lifestyle and Habits.  Jiu Jitsu is a “study in living.”  It can guide us along a path to a healthier lifestyle, and more efficient use of our energy in all realms of our life.  See Jiu Jitsu is a High Leverage Habit.

Jiu Jitsu is More Than Techniques.

Jiu Jitsu goes well beyond the techniques that comprise it.  Time on the mat can serve as a template or microcosm for real life.  The benefits of training translate exceptionally well to our lives off of the mat – it can positively impact how we think, sense, feel and act.

Confusing The Means With The End.

Focusing exclusively on the sporting or fighting aspects of Jiu Jitsu may cause us to lose sight of its bigger purpose.  In other words, we are at risk of confusing the end result (striving for self perfection) with the means of achieving it (the practice of Jiu Jitsu.)  When we confuse the means with the end, we put a lid on the potential benefits we can receive.

The human mind has a tendency to confuse the desired result with the means of achieving it.  When we mistake the means for the endpoint, we are at risk of losing sight of the original desired result.  We may settle for a result other than the one that is truly important to us.

Beginning With the End in Mind.

What is the ultimate goal that can be achieved from our training?  This is a critical question because the answer will inform why we train – and will clarify the results we hope to achieve.

The second habit in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits Of Highly Successful People is “Begin With The End In Mind.”

If we have the endpoint in mind, we are much less likely to confuse the end result with the means of achieving it.  The end goal we set up will define the direction and scope of our training. In other words, our expectations will directly influence our results.

Jiu Jitsu has existed in many places, and meant many things to many people.  It is important to know what it means to you.  The answer will directly impact the actions we take, and the results we will receive.

If we do not really know why we train, or we are training for the wrong reasons, we will probably not be training for a lifetime.  On the other hand, when we have a clear destination, our journey becomes easier and more rewarding.

Frustrated with your practice?  The process of learning Jiu Jitsu, pushing thru limits, and strengthening the mind and the body can be very challenging.  Remind yourself to step back and look at the big picture – the end goal.  Ask yourself, “what am I trying to achieve and why?”  If you have a big enough reason, it is easy to find the motivation to continue.  The big picture, or your “why?” can keep you motivated during times of difficulty or frustration.  Always remember that there’s a deeper reason why we choose to train Jiu Jitsu.  What is that “why?” for you?

Conclusion.

There is more to Jiu Jitsu than chokes, joint locks, pins and takedowns.  In fact, the greatest benefits of Jiu Jitsu occur off of the mat.  Jiu Jitsu improves our lives.  It can make us fitter, smarter and happier.

Jiu Jitsu builds up the many facets of our being, without diminishing us in any way.  It simultaneously equips us with the skill to defend our self or another.  This makes Jiu Jitsu a supremely practical endeavor.

The greatest benefits of Jiu Jitsu result from utilizing the art as a means to self-knowledge and “a method through which one strives for self-perfection.”

“The purpose of the study of judo is to perfect yourself and to contribute to society. “ – Jigoro Kano

 

The Jiu Jitsu Practitioner Should Be Humble.

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“Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But never enter like a lion and leave like a kitten. Always be humble.”  – Carlson Gracie

What is Humility?  Humility is a character trait associated with modesty and respect.  It is defined as the quality or condition of being humble.  The English word “humble” originates from the Latin word humus meaning “grounded” or “from the earth.”

Since ancient times, humility has been widely extolled as an important human virtue.  Conversely, a lack of humility is considered detrimental – and is associated with arrogance or an out-of-control ego.

Is Humility Important for Jiu-Jitsu?  Over the years, many have stressed that the Jiu Jitsu practitioner should be humble.  As a white belt, my Professor memorably stated, “the better you get at Jiu-Jitsu, the nicer and more humble you have to become.” As a Black Belt, a different Professor noted, “it is folly for a Jiu Jitsu practitioner not to be humble.”

Lets take a look at some of the ways in which humility can impact our training.

1. Humility keeps us learning and improving.  A major benefit of humility is that it increases our ability or willingness to learn.  By acknowledging that we do not know everything, we open our selves up to new ideas and increase our opportunities to learn and improve.  If we have the attitude that we already know it all, or that only “smarter” people have something to teach, we dramatically decrease our learning experiences.  By being humble, we put ourselves in a position to learn from everybody.  A complete beginner may have an interesting idea, or inspire us to have one.

Successful Jiu Jitsu practitioners have an unwavering drive to improve.  This mindset requires a level of humility: it is better to recognize deficiencies and improve them, rather than being swallowed up by ego and complacency.  Making improvement a habit, and constantly endeavoring to get better requires a level of humility.

The unassuming youth seeking instruction with humility gains good fortune. –Joseph Addison

2.  Better deal with frustrations and losses.  In addition to the other benefits, humility is also a virtue for inner peace.  To put it mildly, Jiu Jitsu can be a frustrating endeavor.  Frustrations and losses don’t have the same impact if you don’t let your ego get too involved.  If you combine humility with motivation, you have the ability to drive towards success without letting so-called “failures” knock you off track.

“Walk a single path, become neither cocky with victory nor broken with defeat.” ~ Jigoro Kano

3.  Nothing to Prove.  A humble Jiu Jitsu practitioner will feel like they have nothing to prove.  They are more likely to let their actions speak rather than words.  Although fighting and self-defense are sometimes necessary, they can also result in unintended dire consequences.  Practitioners who are humble do not feel a continual need to prove themselves.

“A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.” -Thomas Jefferson

4. Confidence and Humility.  Cultivating a mindset of humility is not to say that we shouldn’t be confident in ourselves – self-confidence is another important virtue.  Real confidence is the result of skill.  Humility has nothing to do with our skill level. Confidence and humility may appear to be contradictory qualities, but they actually compliment each other very well.  Through live training Jiu Jitsu gives us both confidence and humility – once again demonstrating the elegant system that is Jiu Jitsu.

“Humility is a virtue; timidity is an illness.” – Jim Rohn

5. Gratitude and humility.  Humility is interrelated with other important virtues – one example is confidence, another is gratitude.  When we receive the gift of Jiu-Jitsu and experience the positive impact it can have on our life, we commonly feel a sense of gratitude. This attitude of gratitude can manifest itself towards the person who introduced us to the art, the Gracie Family, our teachers and training partners, etc.

One of the fundamental qualities invariably found in a grateful person is humility.  People who are humble express gratitude to those that help them.  On the other hand, an ungrateful person will tend to lack humility and be a complainer.

6. Teamwork.  Another important benefit of humility is that it can make us better teammates.  Arrogant people think much of themselves and little of others – this does not make for good teamwork.  Humble people are the opposite.  Humble people recognize that they do not achieve accomplishments on their own.

It is easier to get along with others if you are not cocky, are open to new ideas, and if you recognize and acknowledge others that help you.  Humility is important trait both on and off the mat – and can help foster teamwork.

7. Win a Victory Over Your Self.  Our most formidable opponent will always be the noisy, demanding tyrant of our ego.  Humility represents a victory over our own ego or arrogance.

“For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.” –Plato

If we accept that humility offers benefits, naturally we will want to increase it.  How do we increase humility?  Jiu Jitsu will naturally promote a sense of humility, especially if we train consistently over an extended period of time.  Is there any way to help us accelerate the process? One small step we can take is the act of bowing – which is an outward manifestation of humility, gratitude and respect.

  • Bowing is a non-verbal way of communicating gratitude and respect to our training partners, our teachers, our academy, and to the art itself.
  • The physical act of bowing is akin to “emptying a cup.”
  • By emptying our mind, we create space for new information.  The enemy of mastery is the mistaken notion that you already know it all.  Bowing can remind us to remove any thoughts that might hinder our progress.
  • Bowing is also a reminder to empty the cup of arrogance.
  • When we “pour” our arrogance out, we make room for humility to fill the space.

Conclusion.  Jiu Jitsu strengthens and empowers us by increasing our ability to control and submit another human being; and this could make us cocky or arrogant.  However, Jiu Jitsu is also humbling. Our physical and mental limitations are often brought to the foreground.  The time we spend on the mat can serve as a template for real life; nobody “wins” all the time.  An increasing awareness of humility has many benefits – and is sustainable because it is consistent with reality.  We should try to remain humble no matter what our skill level is – but, the better we become, the more humble we should be.  This is one of the great truths / paradoxes of Jiu Jitsu.

“Power is dangerous unless you have humility.” – Richard J. Daley

Are you humble enough to improve, or are you “fine with things the way they are”?  What do you think… Is humility is an important component of the Jiu Jitsu lifestyle?