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Lesson Learned While Sweeping

Philip Sturm

One of the benefits of Jiu Jitsu is that some of its lessons can be applied broadly to life. I have heard this before, but up until this week I have not had any epiphanic moments that fit this description. The BJJ class was sparsely attended which allowed the instructor to approach things on a philosophical level rather than simply teaching a technique. The instructor made a passing comment which hit me like a truck. Here is the first life lesson that came to me by way of Jiu Jitsu.


We were learning a sweep, which is where the individual on the bottom reverses the position to place themselves on top of their opponent. The instructor demonstrated how that normally in a grappling situation someone wants to maintain a good base. This means that one should keep their weight centered over their body and widen their posture to avoid being easily moved from their position. In addition to keeping a stable base a good Jiu Jitsu practitioner would use their arms and legs to keep their opponent from closing the distance. This allows them time to react and space to adjust to the various tactics that the opponent may use to get past their guard. This is an excellent metaphor for how I like to live my life. I would like to think of myself as emotionally, financially, psychologically, and vocationally stable. This stability allows someone to keep the chaos of life at a safe distance to allow them time and space to react to unexpected situations. I do not like to be in positions of vulnerability where I can be easily moved by forces that are not under my control. Stability is a good characteristic to have in one’s life and, more often than not, stability will allow someone to weather the various storms of life.


However, just like in Jiu Jitsu, in life, it is not possible to remain in the same position forever. The circumstances surrounding us are in a state of constant change and being stuck in your ways has never been a positive attribute. In Jiu Jitsu if you are facing a skilled opponent, eventually one of their repeated attempts to get past your guard will be successful. If you do not attempt to improve your position, you will, eventually, get placed in a worse position.


Imagine someone who graduates college and is able to get an entry-level job at a stable company. If they wanted to, they could stay exactly where they are for the next 30 years until retirement. This person decides to do exactly that and for the next 30 years they show up to work every day and perform their job faithfully. They are the perfect example of a stable, dependable person, but they make no attempt to improve their position. As time passes by their decision looks less and less desirable to an outside observer.


In our Jiu Jitsu class, the instructor explained that if we want to begin an attempt to sweep our opponent one of the first steps is rather counter-intuitive. After getting the hand position that we want we should close the distance with our opponent and collapse our base by sitting on one hip. This means that for a brief moment in time we are right where our opponent wants us to be. We have undermined our base and have also placed ourselves as close to their body as we can get. These movements place us in the exact position that we have been trying to avoid, one of maximum vulnerability. If our opponent is paying attention, they can use this moment to easily flatten us out or collapse our guard entirely.

This position of vulnerability is necessary for us to improve our position in the grapple. By repositioning ourselves to one side we have opened space to the other side in which we can throw our opponent. We have also positioned our center of gravity on the side of their body where they will be unable to match our leverage. By scooting closer to them we have enabled ourselves to get under their center of gravity from where we will be able to lift them easily. This position of maximum vulnerability is also a position of maximum potential.


The instructor stopped the class and ensured that we all understood the larger principle at play in this simple sweep. A light bulb turned on in my head and I realized that this principle could be applied to life as well. There are moments in life that contain enormous potential for someone to improve their position, but these moments also contain enormous vulnerability.


This could be related to something as simple as approaching your boss with a new idea at work. There is a high level of potential in a moment like this but there is also vulnerability. What if they don’t like your idea, or if they say that you have wasted time coming up with your proposal? Another example is an instance in which you decide to quit your current job and decide to make a living doing something else.


The critic in my mind is speaking up while I am typing this. “It took you this long to figure out that without risk there is no reward? You had to type for this long just to explain a concept that can be summarized in four words?” I think that there is more to this principle than simply no risk, no reward. These moments in life can be defined as being truly 50-50. At these exact moments the decision can go either way, and while you cannot win without risking anything, there are additional principles that apply.


First, in order to succeed in moments like this you must first recognize these moments for what they are. You cannot hope to succeed in a critical moment if you are unaware of its existence. Rather than intentionally repositioning yourself to take advantage of a situation, you will be a victim to movements performed by others which will result in failure.


Secondly, you need to be proficient enough in the fundamentals to get you to that critical moment. The battle can be lost before you ever step foot on the battlefield. A failure to prepare yourself physically, mentally, and technically will result in you never having the opportunity to create a critical moment in which you can succeed.


Third, you need to have a plan in place that you can execute to help you attain the goal you seek. If you do not have a goal, then you are helplessly drifting through whatever circumstances life brings your way. If you don’t have a plan that will allow you to attain your goal, then you are unable to accomplish that goal.


In the Jiu Jitsu metaphor, the short-term goal would be to improve my position against my opponent. Rather than struggling to retain my guard against my opponent for an indefinite amount of time, I want to sweep him and reverse our position. The specific sweep that I elect to use would be an example of a plan to accomplish my goal. This requires that I have prior knowledge of the sweep as well as the various techniques which would enable it to be used effectively. I should also probably have a plan for what I should do in each case should the sweep attempt succeed or fail.


I feel as if I have rambled a bit, so I would like to summarize my thoughts as succinctly as possible. Life contains critical moments that must be taken advantage of in order to move forward. These moments must be recognized for what they are, and it is crucial that I realize the potential and vulnerability in these moments. These results of these moments are up for grabs and will be decided in favor of the individual who can recognize them, has prepared for them, and has a plan of action for them. They will either be moments of great improvement or great failure depending on if they are utilized properly.

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