Dojo Discernments

Hi all! Here is this week's edition of Dojo Discernments where I share nuggets of thought earned on the mats!

Seasons 

Training comes in seasons. Take them one at a time. You may not be able to train as much as you dream right now, but if you stay consistent in this season, you’ll keep moving forward. A decade of steady progress makes you exceptional.

Concistency

Recently, New Wave lost a controversial decision at CJI 2. They were even offered a separate million-dollar prize, only to have it rescinded, leaving them with nothing.

What stood out most wasn’t the drama, but Danaher. A few days later, he posted on Instagram. No mention of the event, no reaction just another thoughtful post, business as usual.

Enjoy the routine. Fall in love with the process. When you do, outcomes good or bad won’t shake you.

K.I.S.S. Keep It Stupid Simple

When coaching or designing systems, simplicity is the sharpest sword. The most valuable thing you can give a student is something easy to remember, follow, and duplicate.

Our youth team proved this at a recent tournament. Using a straightforward mount system

Americana → Gift Wrap → Arm Triangle → Armbar → Triangle → Back

they won nearly every match. Even when the opposing coaches knew exactly what was coming, they couldn’t stop it. Simplicity wins.

Quote I'm Pondering

Hagakure

"Devotion to the study of one’s path—first acquiring the fundamentals, and then continuing to refine your knowledge and skills—is a lifelong pursuit with no end"

There is no end to studying the way.

Coming Soon

This week we’re diving into North-South offense, a critical tool for keeping scrambling opponents down. Guards are harder than ever to pass, but North-South is often a weak point in people’s systems.

The more comfortable you are with the destination, the more often you’ll arrive.

I’d love to hear what resonated with you from this week’s edition.
Prayers for stability and unity.

— Isaac