5 Universal Life Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu
Three months ago, after years of not understanding what the hype was about, I turned up at my first Brazilian jiu-jitsu class. I quickly became hooked. I’m not alone in my experience — people who train jiu-jitsu often become fanatics about it. Many end up training for years, decades even, — a feat that’s nearly unheard of in our fast-paced, instant results society.
So what is it about jiu-jitsu that makes it hold such appeal for so many people? There are several things I’ve observed so far.
First, a jiu-jitsu mat is one of the only places many people go to focus entirely on their growth. People who train the martial art want to become better — better athletes, better teammates, better human beings. Jiu-jitsu brings out our natural inclination toward learning and mastery.
Then there’s the community aspect, something that’s lacking in our individualist society. So many of us work from home now and are behind screens all day. The mat brings people together in ways we are severely lacking.
And finally, there are the life lessons.
Each time I step onto the mat, I learn something new. Most of these lessons have nothing to do with the more technical skills of jiu-jitsu, like how to get past my opponent’s guard or execute a new submission. Instead, they have to do with how we live…
