To the uninitiated, jiu-jitsu may seem like just another martial art that takes place on the ground similar to wrestling.

But to those who have experienced their first training session or have dabbled in other grappling art forms, it's clear that jiu-jitsu is something more to it than meets the eye…

It's a transformative journey that challenges not only the physical body but also the abstract mind, warrior spirit and character embodiment.

Jiu-jitsu is renowned to be one of the most polarizing physical activities a human being can experience in life.

Stepping onto the mats for the first time is an experience that shatters egos and exposes vulnerabilities.

In fact, many may find themselves come up with a list of never-ending excuses to avoid even trying it at least once, fearing the confronting reality that awaits them after the experience.

It is not easy to endure the uncomfortable emotions and thoughts knowing you are in fact the most vulnerable person in a room full of trained killers.

No matter your size or strength, you'll quickly find yourself humbled by the skilled practitioners who effortlessly manipulate you like a toy… even if one happens to be smaller and weaker than you.

But it's through the ability to persevere through discomfort and vulnerability that the true power of jiu-jitsu begins to reveal itself.

And yet, it’s not merely about understanding how to leverage your own body with technique over applying brute strength.

There’s a deeper layer of self-discovery waiting to be revealed beneath the surface.

THE PRIMAL INSTINCTS OF JIU-JITSU

Human beings are actors and actresses by nature.

Due to our evolutionary drives to be accepted amongst the community:

Life and death was determined by one’s ability to fit in to gain protection and access to resources that increased the chances of survival in the harsh living conditions.

Being excelled from the tribe meant you would be forced to fend for yourself without any help… while dangerous predators are hunting for their next meal.

Isolation came with lack of knowledge that aided survival, hunting for food alone [without any additional support] reduced the likelihood of finding a meal, sleeping without a lookout during a time predators were hunting for survival meant death, etc.

Survival of the fittest in harsh living conditions while deadly larger, stronger, faster predators roam freely alongside human beings.

These primal instincts still linger within us today, manifesting themselves in situations that evoke anxiety and uncertainty.

Stepping into a jiu-jitsu training session for the first time, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and seasoned practitioners, can trigger these instincts in full force.

Under these modern conditions it is normal to put on a mask that is not the normal self you are use to feeling.

*We often do not reveal who we truly are due to the fear of rejection and not being accepted.

You want to be accepted amongst the tribe in the training room because your Primal Instincts feels that your survival is determined by your ability to make allies in an unfamiliar territory.

In the quest for allies - in a potentially hostile environment - friendliness often becomes our default mode of interaction.

It's a subtle yet powerful strategy, rooted in our primal instincts for survival amidst the unknown.

However, as time passes, this very specific facade [for acceptance amongst the tribe] starts to fade the longer one continues training on the mats…

With each session, as the challenges are faced and overcome, and the bonds with fellow practitioners deepen, the need for pretense diminishes.

Who you truly are begins to emerge, unbothered by the need for approval or validation x knowing you can protect yourself with jiu-jitsu, revealing the raw authenticity that lies beneath the surface when combined with the power of jiu-jitsu holds.

It's in this process of self-discovery that the true power of jiu-jitsu reveals itself [not just as a martial art] but as a vehicle for personal growth and transformation.

Approximately 3-4 million active jiu-jitsu practitioners today - 10% of practitioners reach the first colored belt - a mere 13% of those reach the second colored belt… 1-2% of all jiu-jitsu practitioners [white, blue, purple, brown] will become a black belt.

As you can see the initial filtering process is not for the faint of heart.

Especially the first three to four months of training jiu-jitsu [with at least 3x sessions per week] is absolutely the most grueling:

Every session you must accept the mere fact that you are incompetent.

As much as you try, you cannot protect yourself nor do you have the capability of being a threat to others on the mats.

And if this was a real life scenario… you would die.

Naturally frustrations starts kicking in as your ego has run out of excuses and other backward rationalizations to comfort the ego bruise.

The one and only way to get better?

Show up the next session, be ready to learn and do it all over again as you are left wondering when will you ever get any better.

With persistence something remarkable happens during this initial phase of the journey:

You discovery who you truly are.

The longer you train, the more this becomes true.

And the moment we step off the mats, this very sensation is heighten, as we re-enter the world alongside society.

With gained martial art experience comes an increase in competence with improved confidence as the byproduct.

Anyone that goes from being in a room full of trained killers to a room of untrained civilians will know this very sensation.

It feels as if weight has been lifted off your shoulders [as if you can freely express your self without any restraints] as you know nobody in the vicinity, on an unarmed one on one situation, is not a threat to you or your safety.

*Funny how this is counter intuitive to what your Primal Instincts have been wired to do isn’t it?

You do not feel that lingering need to please everyone as you did stepping foot on the mats for the first time.

You express your self the way you want without fear of being exiled from the tribe.

Instead you have transformed yourself into the tribe leader of your life seeking valuable alliances [who are both complementary and compatible to your individuality] and willing to contribute to your overall life experiences.

This is the byproduct of authenticity that naturally comes with who you truly are.

For the first time, you are experiencing the sense of empowerment that martial arts was invented for.

The responsible use of great power needed to make the world a better place.

Throughout my life experience - studying human behavior across varies social settings in different countries and diverse cultural mixtures - this statement could not be anymore closer to the truth.

For centuries the pursuit of money and politics have been used to climb the ranks of power.

Perceived status is a new self-help trend that is widely popularized now to achieve power.

However, the power that comes with jiu-jitsu [and any form of martial arts where life and death determines success and failure] is particularly fascinating factor to be considered as it is often left out of the equation and hits the most primal need of all time:

Survival

Regardless of one's wealth accumulation or the cultivation of perceived status, true power ultimately lies in the hands of those who control the outcome of one on one life-and-death scenarios.

THE PURSUIT OF POWER ON THE MATS

Apart from my own self-interests, one of my primary reasons I keep training is to examine the transformation my training partners go through.

I find it so fascinating to see the journey of a complete newbie become an avid practitioner that accesses a glimpse of this power.

What will it reveal?
Who are they really?
What does it do to their character?

The vast majority behave similar to how they presented themselves before [with respect, humility and kindness] while others the facade comes right off the moment they’ve tasted this power of jiu-jitsu.

From my observation it becomes most noticeable when one recently is promoted to the first colored belt.

For the first time after years of training: these individuals are no longer seen as a complete beginner.

Finally they are given recognition, a basic understanding of jiu-jitsu, after months trying to prove their competence level to their training partners and professor(s).

During the adjustment period to this new identity these individuals try to find their footing with reality - specifically referring to those that have the facade come off.

In their attempts to act confident with a new color belt wrapped around their waist. They tend to get lost somewhere between trying to appear confident but really arrogance takes over instead of just Being confident...

A challenging facet to bridge the gap in it’s own right.

Every seasoned color belt sees this from a mile away… and some go out of their way to humble this new blue belt to bring him back down to reality.

Only to be reminded how much more there is to learn, not how much you already know.

This new facade has been tested, does not last then you see a different side to the individual.

Like everything else in life:

You have a decision to make whenever you encounter a crossroads on how to respond.

This individual could quit. Be humble, ready to learn. Use the anger to train even harder. Maybe even try to hurt this person that gave them the ego bruise to show them a lesson.

*Yes, these people do exist in jiu-jitsu so for your own safety be careful who you train with.

There are many options to choose from.

No matter the decision it is important to remember that it is the response to the situation that truly reveals one’s character.

This is where it gets interesting.

What exactly happened to the nice guy act [and this new tough guy facade] changed immediately after being humbled by a more skilled opponent?

Let’s dive deeper.

Congruency is when your thoughts, words and actions are aligned.

True authenticity is when you remain consistent and congruent to who you are no matter the setting and situation.

The individual mentioned above struggles deeply trying to find who they really are.

The mere fact of how inconsistent of their behavior reveals its very nature.

This particular individual is trying to cope with a new identity and overcompensates in a strange uncalibrated way.

*I personally believe it is an evolutionary trait humans possess because if there was a member in your tribe that you did not trust and wronged you. The consequences could be disastrous to you and your tribe.

In many cases this particular archetype cares way too much how others think of them so they live their life in a way trying to micro manage people’s thoughts and opinions of them as their sense of self relies on it.

Their inner world is dictated by the external stimulus.

How does an authentic individual behave?

Their attitude doesn’t fluctuate as they know exactly who they are no matter the outcome.

Yes, they are open to feedback if it aids personal growth but it will be considered with a grain of salt in the moment.

An unshakable internal compass guides them, prioritizing their own beliefs and values above all else, indifferent to the fleeting judgments and opinions of others.

The external environment does not dictate their internal world as it is their internal world that dictates how they experience the external environment.

Understanding oneself sounds simple but is a very complicated process to grasp as it becomes a task which requires a journey of self-discovery that lasts a lifetime.

However, if you focus on the process [and metrics that are within your control] you will find it is one of the most enjoyable parts of your life experience.

REDEFINING WHO YOU ARE

How you respond to situations outside your control reveals who you truly are.

Prior to immersing myself in the physical world of jiu-jitsu, I am heavily immersed in the abstract realm of philosophy [seeking to exert control over my life despite facing less than ideal circumstances].

To this day every step off the mats, I find myself revisiting my life philosophy as its roots grow deeper with each passing session.

Interestingly, while I have honed my life philosophy through religiously reading, listening intently to speakers, daily reflection and constantly experimenting in the real world through a unique life experience.

Many others often, in the process of training on the mats, hone their life philosophy, carrying these newfound insights back to the world beyond the mats.

Both paths offer unique avenues for growth, and neither is inherently superior to the other.

In my humble opinion:

The lifespan of a human is far too short for an individual to attempt to figure out life’s secret to success alone [despite having access to timeless wisdom passed on from the greatest minds scattered throughout history].

If there was an actual shortcut to success it would be having a dedicated professor invested in you.

Specifically, learning directly from an individual that has the result you want and is willing to help you shorten your learning curve so you can achieve your most desired outcome in the most efficient route as possible.

With this tailored knowledge why would you go about trying to figure it out yourself?

Especially when you have greater opportunities all around you that will save yourself the time and make progress faster than if you were doing it on your own [the added benefit of more time to repeat this process].

Sounds like the answer is obvious… but for some it’s completely outside of their awareness to even consider it as an option.

And this is exactly what I see in jiu-jitsu practitioners that do not proactively adopt a reading habit to learn then apply the timeless wisdom on and off the mats.

Through proactive patience on the journey of self-improvement and the power of jiu-jitsu, which reveals who you truly are, you can transcend the limitations of your lifetime experience and reach your highest potential with the help of timeless wisdom.

See you on the mats,

POJ

P.S. if you want to learn about this subject be sure to read: “Philosophy x Jiu-jitsu: How Timeless Wisdom Creates Your Desired Life Experiences“

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