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Just three months ago, after a long time of not knowing what the hype was about, I attended my first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. I soon became enthralled. I'm not the only one. In my experience, those who train in Jiu-Jitsu are often obsessed with it. Many of them teach for decades, even years, an accomplishment that's almost impossible in our fast-paced and instant-results society.
So, what is it about jiu-Jitsu that gives it the interest of millions of people? There are many things that I've noticed to date.
First, a jiu Jitsu mat is among the few places where people can concentrate on their development. Anyone who trains in the art of fighting seeks to improve -better athletes, more effective teammates, and better people. Jiu-Jitsu helps us realize our inherent desire to learn and master.
There's also the aspect of community that is missing in our society of individualism. We work from home today and sit in front of screens all day. Mats bring people together in ways that we are not able to do.
Finally, you will learn life lessons.
Every time I step on the mat, I learn something new. Most of these lessons are not related to the technical aspects of jiu-Jitsu, such as the techniques I use to get past my opponent's guards or perform an innovative technique. They relate to the way you live your life.
How can we develop our human potential and become the perfect version of ourselves that we can be in the world?
Jiu-Jitsu is a method to achieve this. It's not the only option to learn the same lessons by running, playing music, or even pursuing an art career. However, due to the unique blend of physical effort, self-mastery and teamwork, Jiu-Jitsu can be a means of bringing out the best within us.
If Jiu-Jitsu isn't your sport, there are plenty of aspects you'll learn about it. Here are five lessons learned from Jiu-Jitsu that can be applied to our daily lives:
Repetition is the only way TO GO.
Jiu-Jitsu shares a lot of similarities to the game of chess. It's a slower, more deliberate art than striking martial arts with hundreds, perhaps thousands of strategies and submissions.
But, even black belts aren't aware of how to master all these methods. The best focus is on becoming proficient in some of them to create their style. They'll begin by establishing an enduring foundation before slowly developing new skills in their repertoire as time goes on.
When we are taught about something brand new, we begin with a lot of thought about the actions we're taking. It's not until we practice it repeatedly that we can make it automatic.
I've been able to recognize this quickly during my jiu-Jitsu training. There are many things I'm not aware of; however, instead of trying to master every technique, I'm more focused on getting specific techniques and then re-doing them until they're embedded in my brain.
We can apply the same quality method over quantity to every aspect of our daily lives.
RELY ON HELP AND EFFICIENCY
Contrary to striking martial arts, which can make it almost impossible to beat an opponent who is stronger and bigger, Jiu-Jitsu gives those who are weaker a chance. How do we take on someone twice as heavy as we are? How do we stop an individual who is three times stronger?
There is no better answer than leverage. By relying on the timing and effectiveness of our actions, we can increase our perceived strengths and minimize the weaknesses of our opponents.
The idea of leverage in our daily lives in various ways.
Working more efficiently, not more complicated, and focusing on skills, techniques, efficiency, and technique over the strength of brute force.
Concentrating our efforts on high-leverage tasks -by focusing our energy on high-leverage activities - I.e., the ones that have the strongest impression on us
Don't force things into your life. If something doesn't work, try a different approach.
A PERFECT PRACTICE CAN MAKE PERFECT
"People tend to believe that practicing is the key to perfection. But that's not the case. The best practice is the most perfect," my trainer says to us following a sweaty training session one night.
Many believe that just a few hours of practice will bring about improvement. However, practicing in the wrong way isn't going to help you achieve the level of mastery. To improve, you need to engage in what psychotherapist Anders Ericsson called deliberate practice, which is "effortful in nature, with the primary objective of improving personal performance, not enjoyment."
Also, we must be able to be perfect practitioners.
In Jiu-Jitsu, this is repeating the same move with intent. It is about making mistakes, identifying the areas we made a mistake, and then rectifying the error. This is a method of perfect practice in every aspect of our daily lives.
MISTAKES Are the ways we learn
A few days ago I was playing jiu-jitsu's term for sparring and was caught in a kimura situation that leads to an armlock that is painful for both joints that is hard to break out of. I hit the universal signal to submit in Jiu-Jitsu.
"Good," my training partner said to me. "Now you'll know when to look for Kimuras."
It was true; before the point of a slap, I safeguarded my arms, mainly to stop armbars. Another form of submission can cause pain and, eventually, break your arm should you not tap quickly enough. After having made this mistake, I'm better.
If we make mistakes, we are opening the doorway to neuroplasticity. This is our brain's capacity to adapt and change due to experiences. When we are children, and around twenty-five, our brains are naturally plastic and learn quickly without ever having to think.
When we hit the mid-twenties, many of the brain's patterns have been in place; however, it doesn't mean we can't keep learning until the end of our lives. We have to work to be more successful in doing so.
Based on Stanford neuroscience researcher Andrew Huberman, continuing to explore a subject to the point of exhaustion and retaining that procedure for more time -- is the most important aspect of adult learning.
It's the same as learning jiu-Jitsu as learning any other life art.
Failures can be a learning opportunity.
"I believe a few of you were irritated this morning," my instructor told us one day after class. We worked hard, most of us working for over 30 minutes straight following an hour of exercise.
"But keep this in mind. There is no way to lose in Jiu-Jitsu. You either win or you'll learn."
This is the one lesson I learned the most when I began my journey into jiu-Jitsu. I'm aware that I'll often fall before I'm successful. I'm sure I won't be able to win every single match when I begin playing. I'm sure I'll experience disappointment and plateaus along the process.
I've achieved enough success in other areas of my life to understand that failure is integral to the learning process. I had to fail over and over before I could complete my first pull-up. I was thrown around hundreds of times before I could hold the handstand, and I have repeatedly slapped in the face over and over again until I learned to slip a punch while boxing correctly.
In all of these endeavors, I did not let my failures discourage me from trying again. I continued to try and tweak my methods until, finally, I could achieve rather than fail.
Failure before success is inevitable. This holds regardless of whether your goal is to learn Jiu-Jitsu, learn an instrument for the first time, or pursue a career idea.
Refuse to fail, but adjust, and eventually, you will succeed. So long as you see the failures as learning opportunities, you will gain knowledge and improve from them.
As a lifelong student and the author of Mastery, George Leonard wrote, "To learn is to evolve. The only way to change is to learn and continue to learn until you live."
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