Dojo Discernments
Hi all, Happy 4th of July celebration of freedom. Here is this week's edition of Dojo Discernments where I share nuggets of thought gleaned on the mats.
Mental Reps
Lately, I’ve been sitting with this idea:
“The untrained mind can bear no weight. The trained mind lets burden slip from his shoulders, as an arrowhead glides easy through the air.”
When discomfort or hardship hits, the areas of the mind that lack discipline are the first to give way, tossed around by fear, fatigue, pressure and emotion.
But the honed mind doesn’t panic, doesn't flinch.
It creates calm by being prepared to carry and cut through it well.
Beyond the Bread
I often say, “You are not your mind.”
But this week, I was reminded: you are not your stomach either.
One evening I was craving bread — intensely. Instead of giving in, I gave it 15 minutes. The craving passed. And what remained wasn’t a need for carbs, but a clear hunger for protein. Something useful. Something aligned.
It was a small moment, but it stuck with me.
You are not your thoughts.
You are not your cravings.
You are not your stomach.
You are the one who decides.
You are in command.
Moment of Reflection
I was working out this week, and all cylinders were firing.
Then, at the very end of the session, I dropped the medicine ball behind me as I finished a set of ripping it around and on its way down it touched my heel.
My stomach dropped.
In that moment, it was as if God was whispering:
Stay humble.
A gentle, almost imperceptible reminder that everything: my health, my strength, the life I live could be taken in an instant.
Through something as simple as self-elevation.
It reminded me:
Humility isn’t just posture, it’s protection.
The more grounded our spirit, the less exposed we are to the rips and tears that pride invites.
Results We Want
This week while coaching, a simple concept helped tighten everything:
To produce the result you want, focus on a clear endpoint.
The endpoint could be a tap from an armbar, a reguard position, or the moment a counter opens up. When students fixed their attention on the terminal point, the steps between got sharper. Cleaner.
Sometimes, the result came almost instantly.
The same principle applies off the mat.
What goal are you chasing? Something that might take days, months, or years.
What if the delay isn’t about time, but clarity?
Try naming the end.
Make it specific.
Let it guide your actions.
Sometimes by naming the end, you may arrive there.
Channel I'm Following
If you’re looking to sharpen your takedowns, there’s a treasure trove of judo and no-gi techniques over on Max Schneider’s (@onejudokas) Instagram channel.
Hopefully you find more nuggets of wisdom there.
Thank you for joining me for another edition of Discernments. Looking forward to bringing you all some more content that provides you value soon! Enjoy the 4th safely! All glory to God. Adios ✌️
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