Jiu-Jitsu Lessons applied to Business
Of all the lessons I've learned on the mats, this one is perhaps the most valuable. It hints at the wisdom shared so flawlessly by Marcus Aurelius so long ago: "Today, I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it because it was within me, in my perceptions – not outside." Perhaps all roads to ultimate mastery begin with this simple lesson.
Prof. Matt is a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, GB competitor, family man, and hardworking business owner. In this blog, he shares with us a personal and powerful tale of how a lesson learned on the mat translated to a deeper understanding of himself, Jiu-Jitsu, and business. "There is such a thin line between what is useful on the mats and what is useful in business..."
This is not a tale about the gold medals from a tournament, but the gold medals earned in life that can be accomplished through lessons from Jiu-Jitsu.
When Matt was just a Purple Belt, he had to face a stressful business situation.
"I didn't feel like I had the energy to train at noon like usual. I was sick with nerves, but I thought the endorphins might do me good ahead of the call. Diogo Ferreira was the instructor at the time. He'd had his way with me in training, and on my way, I told myself today would be the day he wouldn't beat me. As class neared its end, and with only one sparring match remaining, I was paired with Diogo.
Somehow, within seconds he had my back, which had never happened before. Frustrated and surprised, I tried to remove his hooks which only allowed his choking hand to find its way under my chin. I was so angry: to get caught, to let myself down despite my ambition, to be at the mercy of a nasty competitor. I summoned every bit of strength I could and pulled at the choking arm. Diogo met my resistance with greater force. I could feel the choke deepening.
As the choke got tighter, I lost sight, sound, and the only feeling, the only existence in all of the world, was his choking hand and my resistance to it. Usually, I'd have tapped well before this point, but something about my position in life prevented me from giving up. I needed to resist the powers that opposed me, to convince myself I was enough to overcome the threat. Darkness crept in deeper. To my surprise, the darker it got, the more peaceful it became. It was so clear. I could still plot the course. It was possible to win a fight for fractions of millimeters, to find the tiniest gasp of air, and I did. After what felt like about a minute, the choke let up.
Slowly my hearing, vision, and awareness returned. I could hear the beep of the alarm going off—I was stuck in that choke for 4 minutes. I caught my eyes with Diogo, and he was smiling ear to ear with his uniquely infectious grin. His English wasn't great, but he didn't need any words. He grabbed my hand and slapped a huge high five, then nodded as if to say, "That was tight. I don't know how you didn't tap."
It was a transformative experience. I felt so capable, strong, and self-assured. As I drove back up the hill, still buzzing with positivity, my mind shifted to my coming call. My joy melted into anxiety, but I was able to observe the transition.
I thought to myself, how was it possible to have experienced such a state of calm while being in physical danger at the hands of a highly competent black belt, only to fall victim to stress and anxiety, at the perception of risk on the other end of a phone call. It was laughable. I had given my adversaries superpowers they hadn't earned and handed control of my life to the whims of circumstance. But never again. It was all so clear now.
Of all the lessons I've learned on the mats, this one is perhaps the most valuable. It hints at the wisdom shared so flawlessly by Marcus Aurelius so long ago:
"Today, I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it because it was within me, in my perceptions – not outside."
Perhaps all roads to ultimate mastery begin with this simple lesson."
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Blog Written by Mark Mullen - Gracie Barra Black Belt