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#32 - Five Months on the Mats: How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Changed Me
38 Plays2 months ago
Five months ago, I walked onto the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mats feeling uncertain, vulnerable, and completely out of my element. But in that discomfort, I discovered something powerful. This episode pulls back the curtain on my first 5-month journey in BJJ—a humbling experience of ego-checking, self-discovery, and personal growth. I’ll share stories of getting tapped out, facing fears head-on, and learning to embrace vulnerability as strength. Whether you train or not, these lessons will resonate deeply, reminding you that true growth happens far outside your comfort zone.
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Transcript
Introduction and Personal Journey
00:00:21
Speaker
What's up, everybody? Welcome back to Mindset Mutiny. Today is a pretty fucking awesome episode, to be honest with you. I'm pretty jacked up about it.
Overcoming Initial Fears and Doubts
00:00:31
Speaker
And the reason being is that we are going to talk a little bit about my jujitsu journey. No script, no fucking plan.
00:00:39
Speaker
Just going to rip it from memory because it's been a pretty special journey. It really has. And we're not far in, you know. So I think we should start with why I avoided it for such a long part of my life.
00:00:56
Speaker
um I wanted to do it. you know We always have these things that we wanna do in life and we're like, yeah, I really wanna do it, I really wanna do it. But there was like this burning inside of me that was like, I really wanna do it and I know I have to do it and I'll get into why I have to do it and in a little bit.
00:01:13
Speaker
So why I avoided it was i was unsure myself, scared, to be honest with you. It was a real fear of mine that, you know, obviously walking in there with a bunch of killers, getting your ass fucking handed to you it's a lot for some people to digest, you know, that there's going to be another human being that's going to put their hands on you.
00:01:36
Speaker
and try to tap you out, try to choke you against your will. um You know, that can be scary sitting here now, like, no, it's the best fucking thing on the planet. But when I first, you know, was thinking about doing it, that was terrifying, um you know, and,
00:01:52
Speaker
Your white belt is the hardest belt you'll ever get. you know That's what I've heard. That's what I've been told. That's some documentation out there. And it's because it's the hardest one to get because you hold yourself back from it, right?
00:02:04
Speaker
By making excuses as to why you can't do it, why you're afraid of it. So for me, I have always moved through my life in the last five years confronting my doubts, fears, and insecurities. That is something that is super, super important ah in any client that I work with.
00:02:19
Speaker
That's the first things that we talk about. Doubt, fear, insecurity. Okay? Because you cannot achieve anything. until you address those. And I don't mean surface level fucking shit, okay? You get real deep, dark, doubt, fear, insecurity, okay? When I started doing that and addressing it and fixing it, writing it down, taking the power away from it, my entire life started changing. And it started changing at a rate that I've never seen it happen
Motivation and Inspiration from Jocko Willink
00:02:42
Speaker
before.
00:02:42
Speaker
So one of the biggest insecurities that I had that drove this wanting to start jujitsu was I was afraid that If I ever really had to defend myself, I wouldn't be able to, right?
00:03:00
Speaker
What's really funny is as men, we all think we're real fucking tough guys and we all think we can fight and all this fucking bullshit, right? 99.9% of people out there can't fight.
00:03:12
Speaker
They think they can. They can't even run a mile, so I don't know how they think they're going to be able to fight, right? So there's a big cardiovascular requirement here to begin with, right? So I kind of like find that enjoyable when I, you know, see people posturing up, talking real fucking tough. And it's like, listen, if you're not training to fight, you know, a certain number of days a week, then you you're probably going to be pretty fucked.
00:03:32
Speaker
um You know, so I realized that I realized that, you know, I'm going to be sleeping in my bed one night and somebody's going to come through my fucking front door and i'm not going to be able to get to my gun. And then it's going to be, you know, one on one. Here I am with somebody. I better be able to stop this person because my wife's sleeping next to me. and I don't want any harm to come to her.
00:03:49
Speaker
So that's a big insecurity to walk around with. And I got to tell you, I think most of you listening to this podcast right now have that same insecurity. And if you don't, i don't know what the fuck is wrong with you. Because as a man, you need to be able to protect other people around You need to be dangerous. All right. That's important.
00:04:04
Speaker
So part of my you know journey towards beating those doubts, fears, and insecurities was that I needed to learn how to defend myself. you know And it wasn't going to be some you know some bullshit self-defense class because ah that doesn't really mean fucking shit.
00:04:17
Speaker
um I had to get into something that was extremely uncomfortable and something that was designed that when the fight goes to the ground, you're going to come out on top. And there's something pretty powerful about that. so What's really wild is the way that it happened.
00:04:32
Speaker
um So, you know, ever since I've been following Jocko Willink, I've always kind of been interested in Jiu Jitsu. I've always heard him talk about it and how much it changes your life and how it does all these things for you. And like, you know, you're kind of like doubtful about it at first when you hear about it.
00:04:45
Speaker
um But like, as I kind of progressed, you know, through my journey, I started to be like, wow, maybe there is a secret here because, you know, I started running and and everybody always said there was a secret to running and there was like this,
00:04:57
Speaker
this experience you would get out of it that would change your life. And I did all that. Right. But, you know, for me, running is not like it's easy, but it's a very basic way of getting better. And, um you know, I understand it. I love it. And I continue to want to accomplish things in running, but it's not necessarily a big passion like it used to be.
00:05:16
Speaker
um And it's the same with lifting weights, right? The more that I get into jujitsu, the less I really find like that therapy and in lifting weights. I do it now so that I can perform better in jujitsu, I think is really the purpose of that now.
00:05:29
Speaker
um But not to get too far along here, I would say at the beginning of January, which was like, you know, when I was in the middle of my big move, you know, moving my entire life to another place.
The Decision to Commit to Jujitsu
00:05:41
Speaker
A lot going on, you know, just starting the podcast. And that was kind I was having a hard time staying consistent there, which, Having a hard time doesn't really mean anything because I was actually still staying consistent. It was just a struggle to stay consistent, but still am.
00:05:56
Speaker
So anyway, I was at a meeting with a customer um in my, you know, in my, I'll say my main career, but, um, in my career as a director of operations, right? not as um Not as the founder of Mindset Mutiny, right?
00:06:15
Speaker
um So i I was there meeting with this customer and I've met with him before and I knew a little bit about his background. You know, he had some, well, he fought in the UFC professionally and won, think it was six fights or five fights by knockout only.
00:06:34
Speaker
um So dude throws a heavy hammer, right? um Anyway, so we go, to we go up to, was like up in New Hampshire, I'm meeting with him and we're talking a little business. And then we talk more and more about, you know, self-growth development, some supplements that were taken. And then all of a sudden the conversation turns to jujitsu.
00:06:52
Speaker
And you know, this guy I'm sitting across from, um you know, let's let's call him Joey. All right. Sitting across from from Joey and he's just a calm, confident, fucking cool, badass individual, right?
00:07:08
Speaker
It's a certain level of just swagger, but it's like, it's a real humble swagger, right? Which is special. And if you ever get to meet somebody like that, it's it's very fucking cool.
00:07:21
Speaker
So we're talking and I tell him, you know, at this point in time, I'm done lying to myself with people. So, you know, straight up tell him, i was like, man, like Joey, I'd love to do jujitsu. I've just been scared of it for, you know, for so long. And he just kind of looks at me and like, well, not like a chuckle because he, you know, very supportive individual um was just like, well, then you should do it.
00:07:43
Speaker
And now I was like, fuck shit. You know, I'm like this fucking guy. I can't get away now. I'm to be able to show my face to this guy ever again. If I don't go fucking sign up, you know, and the guy that I was that day, you know, which I had built over some time, the old Mike Ivanov would have ran for the fucking Hills would have told me, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then not a fucking done it.
00:08:05
Speaker
Um, so I can just remember, you know, having some more great conversation. I walk out there, I get my car and make it fucking probably, you know, a couple hundred yards up the street. I pull over and fucking sign up for jujitsu.
00:08:16
Speaker
Um, That was a life-changing moment. I didn't look at the schedule. I didn't see if I could handle it. In fact, there was a million pieces of evidence that said that I couldn't, which is definitely true, but I stacked more weight like I've been preaching to all of you. So I said, know what? Fuck this. I'm signing up for jujitsu it's gonna change my life.
00:08:36
Speaker
And I've told Joey that, you know I told him you know couple days ago actually, i was like, hey man, like thank you for the push. You don't understand what this has done for my journey.
First Class Experience and Beginner's Mindset
00:08:45
Speaker
So it's just funny how these things happen to you, you know but you have to be open to the universe to present those opportunities to you.
00:08:51
Speaker
And then you have to bet on yourself and say, yes, I'm going fucking do it Because I could have just had that conversation like most of you would have said, oh, yeah, yeah, I'll think about it. And then, you know, go about your day, never fucking sign up and continue to want to do it.
00:09:03
Speaker
Right. And that wasn't even the hardest part. The signing up part was fucking easy, I think. You know, I signed up online for like a trial class, which was like, OK, cool. So still really no like commitment in writing. Right. Like I'm going to show up to this trial class and we're going see how it goes.
00:09:20
Speaker
So all of you kind of know, if you listen the podcast, if you listen to the podcast that Kyle and I did previously, you know there's a cool story how Kyle and I got involved with doing Jiu Jitsu together and you can go back and listen to that. I won't i won't ruin that for all of you if you haven't heard it.
00:09:37
Speaker
um But so the day of going to Jiu Jitsu for the first time, you know the work days kind of end in and I can feel like I've got like a stomach ache and I haven't had stomach ache in a long time.
00:09:48
Speaker
And I could feel like the nerves working up and I'm like, oh, fuck, you know? So I'm like driving over there and I'm throwing some, some music to like really get myself jacked the fuck up. Cause I'm like, dude, you know what? I got to get ready for this. This is like, this is, I'm a beginner again.
00:10:01
Speaker
I'm way outside my comfort zone. Like this is, this is going to be scary. And you know what, Mike, you better be ready to get your fucking ass beat because that's, what's going to happen. And it's not going to happen from some fucking big guy. It's going to happen from some guy that weighs 125 pounds. It's going to twist your fucking arm off and then, you know, giggle about it. Right.
00:10:19
Speaker
So I'm preparing my ego for that because, you know, I've been in plenty of hockey fights in my day and shit like that. And, you know, I can handle myself in that way. But but like, you know, deep down that if you're going to go against someone that's been training to fucking kick your ass, you're going get your ass kicked.
00:10:33
Speaker
So, yeah, so I was preparing for that. So get there, you know, out of my comfort zone. Right. Like, I don't like, you know, I don't know what to wear, how to tie my belt, any of that shit. And so I just say, you know what? Fuck it, man. I'm a beginner. Let's embrace it. Let's get to meet people. Let's shake hands, find out people's names.
00:10:50
Speaker
Let them know I'm here to grow. Let them know that this is part of my journey, that I'm really excited to take this next step. And so that's what I do. I don't go high in the corner and you know and and wait for all this stuff to happen. I'm out in front talking to people, get to know the coaches, um you know learn all the things that I need to learn just before I even step on the mat. right like There's a whole different process to how you step on the mat, you know all these different things. you don Wear your fucking shoes in there and shit like that.
00:11:16
Speaker
you know So I'm like being really cautious of that, that I don't upset any of the tradition and whatnot. So we hit the mats, warm up a little bit. And like, literally the first thing that we do is like practice falling, right? Practice falling backwards.
00:11:28
Speaker
And like, I don't even know how to do that. You know, you may think, oh, everybody knows how to fall backwards. But like, there's like a technique that you use to be able to absorb the fall, you know, into your arms and so not into your hips and into your back, right? So when you fall, you kind of throw yourself backwards and make ah make contact with your arms first. And that shit stings, you know?
00:11:45
Speaker
So anyway, I'm like, oh fuck, dude. Like, this is wild. First thing that's supposed to be second nature, I can't even do. So like, okay, dude, I'm in the right fucking place. Like, this is great. So we go through the class, you know, get my ass kicked, kick a little ass, you know, here and there, only because I think i what they call it is like strength jujitsu, where like, I have no technique. I don't know any of the fucking moves, but I'm just trying to like muscle through it, which is which is trash, okay? that's That's not the proper way.
00:12:14
Speaker
That's just gonna, it's just making up for all sorts of like deficiencies that you have. So I was able to like, not get totally fucked up the first time, but you know, some dude took my back, choked me out from behind and right as he jumps on my back, you know, he gave me, he was like, don't ever give you back, you know? And I went home that night, wrote that in my journal. That was, that was a step number one in jujitsu. Don't ever give your back.
00:12:37
Speaker
And I haven't since then, um which is cool. And that guy, i still, you know, see that guy and and love rolling with him. Just always giving me good tips and feedback. So, Anyway, class is over with,
Mindset Transformation and Personal Growth
00:12:50
Speaker
right? I had like the best fucking time on the planet, but I'm still scared and terrified, right? Because the second advanced class is coming in behind us and I'm looking at these fucking dudes and And they're all killers, absolute fucking killers, dude. You know, and they're all like, you know, there's some small guys, there's some big guys, there's some girls there that are absolute fucking killers. Like, I'm just like, holy shit, man. Like, wow, I'd love to, I'd love to be at that level, you know, in 10 years just to be, because it doesn't just, it changes who you are.
00:13:20
Speaker
You know, everybody's be like, that's great that you can like choke people and stuff. Like, nah, bro, it's not like that. It's not about that. Like it changes who you are. It teaches you a whole different level of ways to look at life.
00:13:31
Speaker
um And it changes how you walk through life, how you're received. um Because, you know, there' is there's no more of like being scared that you can handle yourself or any situation that could pop off. your You're like, whatever, no big deal. Like, I know that I can handle this or um I'm set up to be able to, you know, to control somebody if and stop them from inflicting pain on other people, right?
00:13:54
Speaker
And, you know, it's not about harming others. It's it's literally about, you know, getting in control of of somebody's posture and then and then putting them in a position that can subdue them, right? You don't have to choke everybody out, right? Like, that's not the whole point.
00:14:06
Speaker
Yeah, of course you want to tap people, but in real life, you know, it's something that you want to use to ah stop trouble from happening so that the proper, you know, authorities can show up and handle the situation, right? It's not about hurting people. And I think some people forget that in their journey. And guess what? If you start jujitsu with that attitude, someone will come fuck your shit up.
00:14:24
Speaker
That's the best part about it. You want to walk in there with that attitude? Someone's going to fuck your shit up and and you deserve it. So this has been so great for my ego. It's been so humbling. It's taught me so many things.
00:14:37
Speaker
It's helped me admit my fears. you know not just of injury, but of being a beginner, right? I think that's the biggest thing that I'm walking into somewhere where I know nothing. And I think that you guys listening need to ask yourself the last time you were a beginner. Because I know when we talked about raising raising our baselines, I said something about being the king of the fucking kiddie pool, right?
00:14:57
Speaker
like that Like that's a fucking joke. Like you need to go somewhere and be a beginner. You need to go find that because it's unbelievable what it does for the adult mind. Um, because none of us have been beginners in a long, long time.
00:15:09
Speaker
And you might say to yourself that you never were a beginner in anything to, if you think about it, uh, was talking to a young man the other day, were doing some coaching and, uh, he mentioned that he took on a certain sport because he was good at it.
00:15:21
Speaker
And I was like, well, is that what you wanted to do? He's like, no, I did it because I'm good at it. And I was like, all right, but what do you really want to do? you know and and you he said, what do you want to do? And I think that sometimes what blocks people from really doing what they want to do is the same thing that blocked me, which was fear, doubt, and insecurity. And you don't want to be a beginner again.
00:15:39
Speaker
um So don't do something that you're good at just because you're good at it if you don't want to do it. If you want to do something that you're you know you're not good at, go be a beginner at it, man. It's unbelievable. It can remove all these mental blocks from your life. It can and give you things that you never thought you'd have.
00:15:53
Speaker
um But don't worry about looking stupid. Don't worry about being weak. um Put that ego away. And that's what jujitsu focuses on. It kills the fucking ego. It it humbles you. Right. And, and, you know, you sit there and you get choked and you're like, alright let's do it again. Like, let's do it again. Let's do it again. Let's do it again. Let's do it again. And, you know, you just keep getting fucking choked and um you know, and then one day you don't.
00:16:14
Speaker
And that's, what's so amazing about it. um But the moment that I finally, you know, said fucking and went all in was pretty awesome. So just real quick touch on, you know, me signing up because I thought that this was pretty awesome.
00:16:26
Speaker
So I'm done my introductory class and you know you have a couple more to go, you know, before you have to make any level of commitment. But I went in there with a mindset, like this is what I'm doing. I don't care how scared I am, you know, like this is what I'm going to do.
00:16:40
Speaker
So walk over to the front desk and there's a nice lady there. And she starts telling me a little bit about like what they offer. So they have a couple different membership structures, you know, whatever, three, six a year. Um, and, if you sign up for a year, you know, you get a free gi, which is a great deal, you know, and, um,
00:16:57
Speaker
and you're locked in. So like, and I told her, like, I knew that I had to sign up for a year. I knew that if I didn't, I wouldn't fucking go back because I knew there'd be some point in time where when I got home that night, I wouldn't be able to fucking walk or get out of bed and I'd be like, fuck this, I'm not doing it, right?
00:17:11
Speaker
So I just signed up for a year and she's reading me through like the disclaimers. And she's like, you know, if you don't, if, if you quit, you have to pay in full and all this. And I'm sitting there, i'm like, fucking, that sounds awesome.
00:17:21
Speaker
Thank you. That's great. And I know she's sitting there like what the fuck is wrong with this guy I'm telling him if he quits, he has to pay all this money. Like, why is he so excited about it? Because when you do things like this, you can't give yourself an out, all right?
00:17:33
Speaker
You can't, you just can't. you know I saw a guy signing up like you know a month or two ago and he was like kinda on the fence of signing up for you know three months or you know or six months. i'm like I was talking, I'm like, dude, do a fucking year, bro. like Don't give yourself a way out. This is the best thing you could ever do for your life.
00:17:50
Speaker
And I will tell anybody that and I believe that. This is the best thing I've ever done for my life is jujitsu, period. End of story. Nothing else does this for you. And I've been exploring so many things. So if you if you want to save some time, all right, and and you don't want to explore all these things that I've explored and experienced it, and you want something that's a multiplier of who you are and and teaches you discipline and awakens the warrior inside of you, then go do fucking jiu-jitsu, man.
00:18:13
Speaker
Go get tapped out. Go get fucked up. that's what's That's what it's all about, man. And you become a weapon. And what really hardens is the mind. So anyway, I sign up for a year. i love all the disclaimers. I'm so fucking
Challenges and Growth through Jujitsu
00:18:25
Speaker
jacked up. I leave, I go home and the next morning I wake up and I can barely fucking move, dude.
00:18:30
Speaker
I have never experienced that level of fatigue, that level of soreness, all of that. My fucking woke up in the middle the night, my fucking hands were hurting.
00:18:41
Speaker
Like it was amazing. um It was fucking amazing. And I can tell you right now, like, When you're rolling jujitsu with somebody and they're climbing on you and they're about to sink a choke in, man, there's nothing better than that.
00:18:54
Speaker
Everything is so quiet. It's just so perfect. And this whole thing just lines up with mindset mutiny. Like it's raw, it's primal, it doesn't lie. There's no shortcuts, there's no pretending, there's no excuses, right?
00:19:08
Speaker
Every class is a war, right? It's a one-on-one war, but it's also a war against the other person. um And this can really provide a new level of discipline because it forces your presence.
00:19:21
Speaker
No phones, no distractions. You're absolutely in a primal battle. Human versus human, okay? Like all of you listening, when was the last time that you went human versus human with somebody?
00:19:35
Speaker
And tried to choke each other out, right? And i and listen, I'm not telling you to do that shit in the fucking living room. Like, that's not what I'm recommending. But what I'm saying is most of you have never had a grown man sitting on your fucking chest getting ready to choke your fucking head off, all right?
00:19:50
Speaker
You've never had somebody have your arm and they're ready to rip it off your body, okay? There's a feeling there that makes you feel alive. And when you're able to get out of that or you're able to stop that, there's a whole and nother level of power, how you walk around as a human being. Right.
00:20:05
Speaker
So there's no faking like toughness on the mats. Right. There's you see a lot of people that walk around, especially in the gym. You see a lot of guys walking around like they're toughest fucking thing on the planet. I just laugh to myself and smile because I tell you right now, I used to be like that. I walk around thinking I'm a tough guy because I can fucking because I got some muscles and whatnot.
00:20:22
Speaker
As soon as you get on the mat, you start rolling with a skinny guy, 120 pounds. He's fucking, you know, you got a, you got a foot of height on him and he fucking just wraps you up like a pretzel and you got to tap out because is your arm's about to fucking come off or you can't fucking breathe.
00:20:35
Speaker
Right. That is what's up. That is jujitsu, man. And again, you some of you listening are probably scared shitless. And if you are, then go fucking do it. Just do it.
00:20:46
Speaker
Stop thinking about it, man. You'll be fine. You'll be all right. You'll learn. You'll get better. You'll be able to choke some people at some point in time, right? So that fear... you know, showed me I was in the right place.
00:20:58
Speaker
Uh, it's not about fighting. and It's just about reclaiming like that primal part of me that, that needs an outlet, you know, um, had a really cool kind of occurrence the other day, uh, when I was at jujitsu and I'll probably bounce around now a little bit here.
00:21:13
Speaker
Um, So i was finishing up, you know, in the locker room, getting changed. I just finished. And like I said, you know, the advanced class comes in after. So guy walks in the locker room, you know, I just started making some small talk, said, hey, how you doing? Right.
00:21:25
Speaker
And I kind of, you know, you know, I was how jacked up I was because I love this shit. I was like, man, what a way to end a Friday night. And he's like, you know what? He had like an accent and it was like ah he had a deep voice and he was like, um you know,
00:21:38
Speaker
He's smiling and he's like, yeah, everybody, you know, and the depot, everybody needs an outlet, you know? And I was like, this is, this is cool. Yeah, I agree. Like this amazing. And he just looks at me calmly and he goes without jujitsu, I'd be a criminal.
00:21:53
Speaker
And I fucking was like, holy shit. Like this guy, this guy's a fucking killer, dude. Then he takes his jacket off. He's got a fucking purple belt on. I'm like, holy fuck. Like this dude's a fucking badass, you know, but he's right.
00:22:08
Speaker
He's right. Everybody needs an outlet and it's the best fucking thing you can do. But it was pretty badass situation. You meet a lot of really cool people, people from all walks of life, all different income levels, all different, you know, backgrounds. It's just, it's just cool.
00:22:21
Speaker
It's cool because on the mat you're all fucking equal. It doesn't matter who the fuck you are, where you've been. um You know, you're going to get you're going to get some, you know. So, yeah, so it's just really great. I had an opportunity to this was actually quite humbling experience and quite terrifying, but.
00:22:38
Speaker
Roll with an upper belt. You know, a guy that's, guy's a fucking machine. Absolutely killer. Just like lives for this shit and been training a long, long, long time. But young guy, you know, and and you know not not as muscular as I am.
00:22:53
Speaker
And so, you know, the fear that I felt when this guy climbs up me And how calm he is when he's doing it and how hard I'm trying to keep him off of me.
00:23:06
Speaker
And he's just so methodically cool, climbing up me, fucking around me a little bit. You know, you can tell he's playing with me, right? Because he's giving me half a chance, right? So he's just fucking kind of like a cat playing with a ball yarn. He's kind of just...
00:23:21
Speaker
grabbing a couple, you know grabbing an arm here and kind of moving across me. And then all of a sudden, before you fucking know what I'm in fucking midair, you know, I'm fucking getting rolled over and, and he's like giggling and laughing while we're fucking rolling. You know, in fact, I think he was like making like a, when we kind of rolled, he was like, woo, know, like just totally fucking with me. And I loved it, you know, cause that like, I'm like, man, this is, this is what it feels like to really be fucking around someone that knows what they're doing.
00:23:47
Speaker
You know, and then, uh, and then he fucking locks in his submission. I got to tap, you know, and we do it again and again, a couple of times more. And, uh, what's so great about it, you know, is after you're done, you know, like I'm, I'm all smiles, giving them a hug, you know, that is the best fucking thing ever. People probably think I got something wrong with me. Right. Which, which is accurate. I do have something wrong.
00:24:05
Speaker
Um, so anyway, you know, we rolling around, then he gives me advice. after he's like okay, you know, you got to do this. You got to just try to control my hip here. And you got kind of do that. And, um, and the same guy, you know, whenever I'm rolling with other people, he's walking around, you know, giving me tips on my game and helping me out. So it was just really eyeopening to roll with somebody that knows what the fuck they're doing.
00:24:25
Speaker
And it really makes you realize like, yeah, you're terrified for good reason because this human being is absolutely proficient at killing you. Um, and it's awesome.
00:24:38
Speaker
There's just something about it And you know, you won't understand it until you do it. And you could ask my buddy, Kyle, he'll tell you the same fucking thing. And i want to steal his thunder because we'll talk about this at some point, but I just got a message from him.
00:24:50
Speaker
Like I think it was last night um of him in Japan on the fucking mats, you know, with the locals rolling jujitsu in Japan. He's a white belt. They're all black, brown, fucking, didn't even see any purple belts. They're all top belts and he's in there fucking rolling, having a great time. He sends me messages like these are amazing people.
00:25:08
Speaker
this is the best fucking thing ever. Like once in a lifetime opportunity, you know, i'm proud of him for getting in the arena over there and fucking and getting some experience. And what was so cool, and I'm sure he'll elaborate on this, but I know he sent an email.
00:25:19
Speaker
to to them before he got there. And he's like, Hey, you know, I want to get involved in whatever you just don't want to, you know, roll a couple nights, whatever. And he, I think he mentioned he was a white belt and they were like, Hey, you know, Kyle, this, there's no white belts here, but just come, we'll have fun, you know, right, ah right along those, like those lines. Right. And, and he's just a dude that's like the same way. He's going to run right into his fears. He's a student of the game.
00:25:44
Speaker
You know, very, very high performer, a special guy, you know, a special connection with him. And he's pushed me. to achieve in my life. And I like to think I push him to achieve in his. so um So anyway, you know, we're going through this jujitsu journey together and absolutely smashing each other. a you know, a couple the coaches pulled us aside the other day and we're like, dude, we love watching you guys smash each other because Kyle and i kind of go at a whole and nother level. And you know what?
00:26:10
Speaker
It's funny, like absolutely beating the shit out of somebody that you really like and like then trying to literally choke them and sometimes being successful at it. And then just like, I don't know, it's a whole nother level for a relationship with somebody, right? Like ah a level of connection. So Kyle and I run a half marathon together.
00:26:29
Speaker
We never have really hung out before that. We've seen each other at a few events. Then we start doing jujitsu together and we start choking each other and having the best fucking time ever. And it just, you know, brings us closer, man. And that's kind of how you kind of align a circle, man, with with high performers, people that are going to push you. So It's just, it's just kind of funny to think about, like, so i want you to picture, you know, somebody that you know, and and a friend of yours and then picture fucking trying to choke them and, you know, making them bleed and whatever else, you know, like we're bleeding when we're done, man, like straight up, you uh,
00:27:02
Speaker
So I just love, i just love it. I love the battle. I love watching other people, you know, battle it out and just the community in there, like after everybody's done and while you're beating the crap out of each other, just like the most powerful thing on the planet.
00:27:15
Speaker
Uh, there's nowhere to hide. There's no, you know, little bubble. There's nobody protecting you. um You're going to get choked, you're going get smashed, and you're going to humbled, and you're going to have to keep coming back. Because every time you get tapped, every roll, it just makes a more dangerous version of you, and and it's powerful.
Problem-Solving and Life Skills from Jujitsu
00:27:31
Speaker
um I'll kind of end this with like one situation where I was... I'm getting choked. Okay. So this guy's underneath me, you know, we were practicing chokes from the back.
00:27:42
Speaker
So he takes my back, you know, and obviously he's got lined up to get a nice choke in. So we ended up falling, kind of rolling over on our backs. So I'm on, so picture I'm on top of this full grown man.
00:27:53
Speaker
My chest is facing the ceiling. I'm looking up at the fucking, you know, the fluorescent lights and everything's starting to get real dark real fast, you know? So you have to force yourself to buy a little like a second, you know, so you got to start making some openings so you can start to breathe, you get his, you know, get his his forearm off your jugular. Right.
00:28:13
Speaker
So you can start to get a little more oxygen back to the brain and you can start to think a little bit better. So you have to start to kind of get used to running on a little less oxygen because, you know, you're getting choked out. But you can get out of it if you're calm and you're methodical about what you do. There's ways to get out it. Listen, sometimes you won't, okay? You'll run out of time or you'll panic and then you'll be fucked.
00:28:33
Speaker
So anyway, I can just remember he's choking me and and my vision is starting to get a little foggy. And, you know, the coach is standing over the top of us watching this fucking go down. And he's, you know, just like giving a little words of encouragement, like, hey, you know, make a little space or whatever.
00:28:48
Speaker
So I kind of get a baseball grip around his wrist. and I start buying myself a little bit of time. he switches up and he starts choking me with my own collar. So now I got to triage that situation.
00:29:01
Speaker
So I grab my collar with both hands and i yank on it, create a little space. So what I do is I roll over to a certain side, right? So when when he's when he's trying to choke you, you have to roll over to a certain side, which puts him at a disadvantage and then will possibly allow you to to turn your body towards him to get out of that choke.
00:29:20
Speaker
um So things are getting blurry and all I'm doing is focusing on breathing you know, deep breaths, being very calm was something very calming about being choked from the back.
00:29:31
Speaker
Okay. I don't know what it is, but like, maybe it's the lack of oxygen, but it's very calming. All right. If you look at it and and see it for what it is and you say, okay, all right, there is nothing that will be harder than this in my life. And I think that's what I love about jujitsu is sitting there getting my lights choked out.
00:29:48
Speaker
I'm just sitting there like, Hey, It's the hardest thing I'm going have to deal with. If I could deal with this, I could fucking do anything. And I think that's like the secret, um, you know, behind jujitsu is that problem solving under pressure. There is no bigger problem that you're going to face. Okay. In your day and your month and your year than getting your fucking throat choked out.
00:30:08
Speaker
Okay. There's, There is no other problem that's gonna be scarier, okay? So i ended up rolling over, i ended up getting out of it, okay? And that taught me a lot at that point in time, right? Where I could have panicked and tapped out right away, right? and And nobody would have judged me for that because that's what happens.
00:30:25
Speaker
um but I wanted to see if I could hang on a little bit. And I'm not going to have a big enough ego, right? Where I'm going to let my lights go out unless, you know, listen, I'm not sure you get close enough and you probably get a little disoriented and you forget to tap because I've seen that happen.
00:30:40
Speaker
um But you wake up after, you know, maybe a little confused. But anyway, um ah taught me a lot sitting there, getting choked and and time slows down to like,
00:30:54
Speaker
I don't know, I almost stand still. Because I had the time to like, and it's kind of funny, I'm sitting there and I'm getting choked and I'm looking at the fluorescent light and I'm like, I gotta to get out of this because I gotta talk about this fucking shit on the podcast.
00:31:06
Speaker
I'm sitting there thinking about that, like as I'm getting choked, I'm really learning right now. This is the coolest fucking thing. um and I'm sure it was only happening for a couple seconds, but these are all the thoughts going through my head and I'm just calming myself down.
00:31:18
Speaker
I'm just breathing. And I'm like, all right, yeah, I remember how to get out of this. And, you know, we're going to we're going to give it a shot. So let's make those moves. Let's think about what we got to do. Guy behind me squeezing like hell, dude, wants to fucking put my lights out.
00:31:29
Speaker
um And that time he wasn't lucky enough to do so. And that's taught me a lot, just a lot about life and a lot about who I am. And I want, you know, you guys to maybe experience that too, if you can, if you have the courage to get on the mats and, um and start your kind of your, your fighting journey, I encourage you to do it.
Conclusion: The Transformative Power of Jujitsu
00:31:51
Speaker
But for me, ah got jujitsu tonight. So fucking pumped. be with a great group of high performers, people that just show up as they are.
00:32:03
Speaker
um You won't meet a group of people anywhere on earth like people that you will meet at Jiu-Jitsu. And you're all there for the same reason, to grow and to become better and to become dangerous.
00:32:18
Speaker
As men, we need to be able to protect the weak and we need to be able to protect the people that we love and care about. But we also have to learn to problem solve under pressure.
00:32:29
Speaker
And that's all part of it. There is no problem at work. There is no problem in your personal life that you can't navigate if you can navigate getting out of being choked. All right.
00:32:40
Speaker
Let's just leave it at that. You all need to fucking get out there and roll some fucking jujitsu. All right. Love you all. Hope you have a great night. I really enjoyed this episode.
00:32:51
Speaker
And I hope you got something out of it too, man. I fucking love jujitsu. It's changed my entire fucking life. And it's the best thing I have ever done as a human being. I'll leave you with that.
00:33:03
Speaker
Later.