Dojo Discernments

Hi all, here is this week's iteration of Dojo Discernments where I share nuggets of thought earned on the mats this week. 

Coming Back From Competition

I was out in Orlando last week competing at ADCC East Coast Trials. I had a subpar result, exiting the tournament in the second round. It was a decision loss. No points scored against. Actually, it's been 4 years since I've had a point scored against me in the ruleset. 

The thing is, I knew this was the result I was going to get going in. My game wasn't 100% due to a couple of lingering injuries over the past couple of months. 

I had to work to override my mind going into the tournament. To practice stepping my best foot forward. To show up and persevere. You see, in tournaments like these, the precedent of who and what is the best in jiu-jitsu changes. So I had to be there, to see, to be in, to feel what the current best in the world is, so that when the stars align I'll be ready to take Gold. 

Sometimes you get onto a mountain not to summit, but to see what the conditions and winds are, so as not to lose touch. So that when a weather window opens, you're ready to summit. 

So as to be primed when it matters. 

Misses

Here are the top 10 leaders in missed field goals in NBA history

1. LeBron James
2. Kobe Bryant
3. John Havlicek
4. Elvin Hayes
5. Karl Malone
6. Michael Jordan
7. Russell Westbrook
8. Vince Carter
9. Ray Allen
10. Dirk Nowitzki

Goes to show, if you're going to dare to be great you have to be comfortable with failure. 

What it Takes

To make a champion, there are two pieces to the puzzle. One the athlete, two the system. Success is more dependent on the athlete than the system. Hard working, intelligent athletes will inevitably find success no matter where they are. The system being the coach, the regimen and the environment are the framework that the athlete climbs to achieve competition wins. 

To find the way.

Checks and Balances

The athlete weighs more heavily in the factor of competition "success." That is the healthy way, the onus is on the athlete for their personal success. Understanding this also helps programs never lean too far in the direction of a single athlete. The focus of a program should be to develop a healthy community and individuals that also consistently produces top tier athletes. 

To provide the way. 

Humility

An act of humility that stood out to me this week was found within The Sean Ryan Show Podcast with Tyler Grey, former army Delta operator. 

The man reached the pinnacle of operating level and had his arm blown off by a fellow operator.

The humility and class with which he handled the topic, the acceptance, the responsibility, the total absence of victimhood with which he handled the questions of who/where the blast came from blew me away.

Perhaps the most impressive observance this week. 

May this find you well. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Saludos!
-Isaac