Tag Archives: jiu-jitsu philosophy

Is Jiu Jitsu Only a Fighting Art?

Posted on by
3

iStock_000000450441_ExtraSmallThroughout history the majority of martial arts have operated within a culture of honor. Warrior classes from Vikings to Medieval knights to modern military personnel have shared this tendency as well.  The ideal has always been to combine martial skills with ethical codes of behavior.

In Japan this ethical code of conduct was called Bushido (“Way of the Warrior) or Budo (Way of the Spirit.)  Bushido was intended to permeate the life of the samurai.  Specifically, it developed these seven character traits: right action, courage, benevolence, respect, truthfulness, honor, and loyalty.  Many modern day Jiu Jitsu practitioners still find the concept of “Bushido” to be an important component of their practice.

Why have codes of moral virtue been combined with martial skill?

Charles Darwin suggested an answer – he was puzzled by a phenomenon that seemed to contradict the most basic premise of his Theory of Evolution, that natural selection should favor the ruthless.

People who are kind and generous should therefore die before passing on their genes to the next generation.  Yet this is clearly not true, and all societies value kindness and generosity among their members.

Evolutionary biologists say that this seeming contradiction arises from the fact that we pass on our genes as individuals, but we survive as members of groups – and groups can exist only when individuals act not solely for their own advantage but for the sake of the group as a whole.

Neuroscientists say this dynamic has resulted in two patterns of reaction in our brains, a “Fast Track” and a “Slow Track.”

The Fast Track focuses on the individual.

  • The Fast Track focuses on potential danger to us as individuals.
  • It is characterized by the immediate, instinctive and emotional.

The Slow Track focuses on the group.

  • The Slow Track enables us to take a more considered view of the consequences of our actions for us and others.
  • It is characterized by the reflective, rational and altruistic.

The fast track helps us survive, but it can also lead us to acts that are impulsive and destructive.  The slow track leads us to more considered behavior – it brings moments of moral beauty into what might otherwise be harsh and lonely lives.  The Fast Track helps us survive, but it is the Slow Track that enables us to thrive.

The Importance of Bushido.

This puts us in a position to understand why bushido was an important component of martial arts in the past — and why we still need it in the future. By encouraging ethical behavior, Bushido strengthens and speeds up the Slow Track.  It reconfigures our neural pathways, turning moral behavior into instinct.

Bushido is the antidote to reckless behavior.  It replaces emotional outbursts with moral choices.  By metaphorically carving bushido into their hearts, the ideal samurai aimed to make “right action” automatic.  This guided them towards the appropriate use of violence.  Those who fell short of the ideal were more inclined to misuse their power and compromise their honor.

A strengthening of the slow track will highlight the honor in restraint.  Unmitigated violence without the balance of a moral code is self destructive to the individual and the community they reside in.

The idea that Jiu Jitsu can now do without some form of ethical code of behavior, or Bushido, not only flies in the face of history, it contradicts evolutionary biology.

Conclusion. 

The emotional strength and psychological fitness that is associated with the Slow Track will likely have a greater impact on our life than martial arts skill or physical strength.  This makes strengthening the Slow Track of our brains a supremely practical endeavor.

Philosophies such as Bushido are not a useless thing from the past.  In fact, when combined with martial skill, they provide a more well rounded knowledge that is the way of the future.

What do you think?  Do these moral codes still have a place in modern day Jiu Jitsu?  Can they still be effective in helping us balance physical capabilities with a strong moral character?

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

 

5 Reasons Why Jiu Jitsu is The Gentle Art.

Posted on by
6

Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength. – St. Francis de Sales

Jiu Jitsu is a Japanese phrase that is commonly translated as “the gentle art.”

At first glance this might seem misleading.  After all, the goal of Jiu Jitsu is to control and submit a resisting person. Limb attacks are designed to damage soft tissue and dislocate or break bones.  Chokes can render an opponent unconscious, and have the potential to kill.

It can seem there is nothing “gentle” about Jiu Jitsu.

At the same time, the Japanese were known for coming up with very descriptive names.  So lets take a look at 5 reasons why Jiu Jitsu is the Gentle Art.

Jiu Jitsu is based on using skill over strength.  Jiu Jitsu is the gentle art because it does not meet force with force.  When engaged in a close struggle, Jiu Jitsu maximizes the role of skill and science over strength and aggression.  The best practitioners operate with a relaxed ease, and are adept at using their opponents force against them.

“Jiu means gentle or to give way, Jitsu, an art or practice, and Do, way or principle, so that Jiu-jitsu means an art or practice of gentleness or of giving way in order to ultimately gain the victory; while Judo means the way or principle of the same.” – Jigoro Kano

Jiu Jitsu is less violent than the striking arts.  Another reason why Jiu Jitsu is the gentle art is because it is substantially less violent and injurious than other forms of combat or martial arts. 

Effective martial arts for real world self-defense require a component of “live” sparring.  Sparring in Jiu Jitsu requires less violence and results in less serious injury than sparring with strikes.  With Jiu Jitsu there is an agreement to stop a technique short of permanent injury – which cannot be done with a punch or a kick.  This “gentler” approach to live training means sparring can be done on a daily basis – with much less risk of permanently damaging yourself or your training partner.

Jiu Jitsu promotes longevity.  The third reason why Jiu Jitsu is the “gentle art” is because it is more forgiving than many other athletic activities.  When done intelligently and at an appropriate intensity, it builds the body up without breaking it down.  So despite its capacity to inflict harm, Jiu Jitsu does not chew up the body like many western sports or other martial arts. Grandmasters Helio and Carlos Gracie embodied this principle, continuing their training into their 90’s.

Gentleman rules.  The fourth reason why Jiu Jitsu is the gentle art is because it abides by “gentleman rules.”  These rules are universally adopted in other forms of grappling as well.  They include no punching, slapping, kicking, biting, eye gouging, fishhooking, pinching, hair grabbing or individual finger locks.

Jiu Jitsu decreases stress and anger.  The fifth reason is that Jiu Jitsu generally promotes an easy-going, laidback attitude.  That is because Jiu Jitsu is known to reduce stress, anger and insecurities.

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

Conclusion.  

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu emphasizes the use of science over strength and aggression.  This results in greater control, and allows the intensity to be varied to a level appropriate to the situation.  But this is not the only reason why Jiu Jitsu is the “gentle art.”

Although reality-based martial arts that include sparring will never be completely “gentle,” much of the appeal of Jiu Jitsu is centered around it being substantially less violent and injurious than other forms of combat or martial arts.

The techniques of Jiu Jitsu are geared towards incapacitating another person in the most effective and efficient way possible, yet Jiu Jitsu can still be a very pleasurable activity, and “gentle” enough to train on a regular basis for the rest of one’s life.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. - Lao Tzu

An Ancient Take On Gi Vs Nogi.

Posted on by
11

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?

4 Keys to Jiu Jitsu Success.

Posted on by
3

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.

Posted on by
2

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…

Posted on by
4

…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.

Posted on by
Reply
  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.

Why Marcelo Garcia Wins.

Posted on by
Reply

The legendary grappler says it has to do with love.

“Why do I beat a lot of people? Because I love it so much, that’s why.  Everything about Jiu Jitsu, I love it – the school, the mat, the ring.  I always believe that.  Maybe I am not better than my opponent, but I know for sure I love my training more.” –Marcelo Garcia

Love has a warming effect that heightens our senses, and increases our aliveness.  It enables us to act and move with greater strength. With it we can increase our chances of winning, be more creative, and most importantly, we can help others.

When we love something we find it pleasing; it imparts a sense of joy and produces happiness from within.  This not only gets to the core of our Jiu Jitsu training, but to the real essence of our being.

When an activity has some sort of outside payoff – in Jiu Jitsu it is usually belts, medals, cash, etc — it’s known as an “extrinsic reward.” When there’s no payoff except for the joy or the love of it, it’s known as an “intrinsic reward.”

Experts are now seeing intrinsic reward as the silver bullet of motivation and a principal key to high performance.

This is because humans are motivated by happiness – and the love and joy that originates from inside us (intrinsic) will always bring greater happiness than the rewards that come from the outside (extrinsic).

It is normal to feel most effective when we are simply doing what we love.  Of course we can’t just be a seeker of joy. We need to work hard to perfect our craft, and we definitely need to be challenged.

However, in order to get the best from ourselves, we should feel that our craft is never actually work.

If we naturally feel this love of Jiu Jitsu, we are lucky. Like the communist-era Sambo players hand wringing their gi jackets – we need to wring as much joy out of our BJJ practice as possible.

Even if you feel the love is not in you, you might need to delude yourself that it is – because it is the people who love their craft the most that also work the hardest.

“I wasn’t a good student, and even now I never say that I am better than anybody, but I know I love Jiu Jitsu more than anybody.  I love the energy and that it gets deeper the more you study.” – Marcelo Garcia