BJJ: Mind, Body & Spirit Connection

BJJ: Mind, Body & Spirit Connection

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not only a highly effective martial art, but a discipline meant to build character and physical fitness. Here are some very important lessons to help you achieve success in your life and on the mats:

1. Failure is a matter of perspective. In BJJ, “Getting the tap” is often the goal of submission holds. Everyone taps out.  It shouldn’t be embarrassing, and it certainly does not mean you suck — don’t let your ego get in the way of safely training.  Tapping out means you are preserving your joints and are willing to continue progressing. Often, valuable insights come only after a failure. Accepting and learning from those insights is key to succeeding in life. 

2. Skills and knowledge are earned. Not given. Mastery is a combination of theory and application. Make a mental note of who has the best guard, takedowns, passing, pins, or escapes and train with them. If you’re smart and contemplative, you’ll watch, learn and do. The only way to succeed is with the help of your training partners. If someone has done or is doing something you would like to do, let it inspire you to achieve great things. 

3. Self-discipline goes a long way.  Practice makes perfect, and practice is synonymous with consistency. The best way to advance quickly in BJJ, as with any skill, is to train frequently.  And, when your time is limited, try and get as much as you can out of every class. Be strong, committed and dedicate yourself.

4. Physical prowess is inevitable. BJJ is more rigorous than other martial arts and it gives you an amazing full-body workout.  The warm up, the drills and the rolling (sparring) will literally leave you crawling off the mats at the end of class.  It will build strength and endurance, improve balance, as well as increase flexibility. This will benefit you in all aspects of your life.

5. Mindfulness is a powerful state. Quite frankly, when you have an opponent sitting on top of you and trying to choke you into unconsciousness, it is psychologically impossible to devote mental resources to worrying about the rent, school or work. BJJ can often get worries and frustrations off of your mind. Also, when you learn to remain mindful in a very difficult situation like being choked, you can remain mindful in a less difficult situation, like a busy day in the office. It’s the carryover effect.

BJJ offers a never-ending cycle of self-improvement, where you can measure your daily accomplishments, both against yourself, and others.

“Your inner strength is your outer foundation.”  — Allan Rufus

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