As many of you know, I train and teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) for a Royler Gracie affiliate. All of the lessons I have learned in BJJ mirror my real life. Jiu Jitsu is like a small sample of life’s lessons right on the mat. It is why I always learn a little something about myself almost every class I attend.
At each BJJ class, after warm-ups, a certain move, or series of moves are taught to the class by the Instructor. We call these ‘The Move of the Day.’ The Instructor will breakdown the move(s), showing us the nuances of the technique, and then the students will work with a partner at perfecting it.
“There’s a war going on outside no man is safe from. You can run but you can’t hide forever.” -Mobb Deep
Nothing like a little hip hop to get the morning started. Today I am pumped up. Not sure why, but I hope to get all of you hyped as well so LOOK OUT!
Yin vs Yang is all about the inner battles we each have. Today, I wanted to touch on another type of inner battle every animal has experienced: Fight or flight.
If you are not a fan of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), or the UFC, then you probably have never heard of Lyoto ‘the Dragon’ Machida. However, you do not have to be a fan to appreciate his story. He is a wonderful example of the unlimited power of the mind, and I learned a lot about the human spirit from the story of his life. Here is a brief synopsis of his background from Wikipedia…
Lyoto Carvalho Machida (born May 30, 1978) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial arts fighter. Son of a Japanese-Brazilian Shotokan Karate master Yoshizo Machida, Lyoto is a rising star in MMA. He is currently ranked as the #3 light heavyweight fighter in the world by Sherdog.
This may not be the normal inspirational video, but it is if you follow this blog. I started this blog right at the crux of a huge change in my life and this video is a major stepping stone in the right direction. Below is the commercial I have been working on for the last month. It is for my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school, and good friend, Brian Katz.
It may only be a start, but it is a pure example of what happens when you ignore everything else and focus your mind on a goal. Do what you love, and love what you do. Money, time, stress, etc. are all just obstacles in the way of living the life you dream. But if you never try, you will never get there.
One of the greatest actors, martial artists, and human beings ever to live, Bruce Lee redefined the world of martial arts. He was the inspiration for the UFC, as he was the one who believed in no styles, but a mix of them (mixed martial arts = MMA).
Enjoy the weekend, and enjoy this inspirational video for Friday.
