Our only hope for overcoming our troubles is to turn toward them. One of the most valuable lessons we learn, as we practice jiu-jitsu, is that our troubles do not go away when we turn our backs on them. In fact, the more we train, the more we discover that, by turning away from our … Continue reading Turn Toward Trouble (A Jiu-Jitsu Lesson)
In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, we learn over time that overextending ourselves has very real, even painful, consequences. One of the greatest benefits of jiu-jitsu training is the near-immediate feedback we receive from rolling (grappling for submissions). When we make mistakes, if we are rolling with someone of equal or greater skill, there are consequences in the … Continue reading The Consequences Of Overextension (A Jiu-Jitsu Lesson)
We all need to fight for what we believe in, but what some of us believe in is not fighting. People are complex creatures full of inconsistencies and contradictions. Quite often, our actions do not align with what we claim to believe or value. Sometimes, our behaviors even directly contradict the very principles we espouse. … Continue reading To Fight For Peace
Sometimes the best input is silence and the best proximity is distance. There are more people than ever who want to tell us how to feel, what to believe, and how to act, but there are very few who are actually concerned with how we feel, what we believe, and what we want to do … Continue reading Managing Space (A Jiu-Jitsu Lesson)
It is difficult to worry about our day-to-day problems when someone is trying to choke us unconscious or punch us in the face. Aside from simply learning how to fight or defend ourselves, there are many psychological, physical, and emotional benefits to be found in sparring based martial arts, martial arts wherein practitioners regularly pressure … Continue reading The Martial-Mystical Experience (Rolling Into Transcendence)
