What Brazilian jiu-jitsu and your career have in common

You wouldn’t think it, but there are many parallels between your career and a sport where people are trying to strangle you unconscious. (Or perhaps you would think it if you’ve had particularly awful jobs).

However, many of the following factors of jiu-jitsu can not only be taken into your career, but life in general. Founder of the martial art Helio Gracie said himself ‘Jiu-Jitsu is like a philosophy. It helps me learn how to face life.’

I’m about to show you just some of the many ways you can take the learnings of Brazilian jiu-jitsu into your career. And no, learning how to strangle your colleagues isn’t one of them.

Understanding beats perspiration

When you first step onto the mat, you will first try to use your strength or willpower to overcome your opponent. That’s if you have any strength or willpower to begin with — you could also consider curling up into a ball instead.

However, consider the first-ever UFC event in 1993. Winner Royce Gracie (and subsequent winner of 2 out of 3 of the following UFC tournaments) was smaller, physically weaker, and weighed less than his opponents. But the UFC was created by the Gracie family to prove one thing — that jiu-jitsu could beat every other combat sport.