Rules for main forums
- Be nice
- No advertisement
- No events
- No fundraisers
- No topics asking for votes
- Only posts related to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
What does Jiu Jitsu teach us about death? Thoughts?
3 year(s) ago • 8283 views • 22 replies
JMBlue beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Ive heard countless parallels made between jiu jitsu and life, but what does it teach us about death?
I lost a mentor apart of my circle. Going to class has always been my way of stepping away from the stress of life and working through my emotions, but now I feel like for the first time death/loss has followed me onto the mat.
I’m curious what everyone’s thoughts and experiences are on the topic.
In memory of Professor Octavio “Ratinho” Couto 🙏🏼
I lost a mentor apart of my circle. Going to class has always been my way of stepping away from the stress of life and working through my emotions, but now I feel like for the first time death/loss has followed me onto the mat.
I’m curious what everyone’s thoughts and experiences are on the topic.
In memory of Professor Octavio “Ratinho” Couto 🙏🏼
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
A close school friend's sister recently took her own life. A former client passed away recently too. Just earlier in July another friend passed away. BJJ didn't really teach me anything about death. It taught me how to value life and live.
EKBlue beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Hey guys, so here's just my humble opinion.
I don't know that much of Jiu-jitsu (just a white belt). But I guess I understood a few things about life. The usual "what Jiu-jitsu taught me about life" speech I will skip on for now. I guess all if you have your own experience about that.
What Jiu-jitsu taught me about death?
That's definetly a very interesting and perhaps philosophic question.
I would say it comes all down to acceptance!
For me as a beginner this is very common: being in bad position and can't do that much about it. So I learned to accept it and How to keep going from there and work my way out of it. When you experience death in your life there's pretty much nothing else you can do about it than just accept it and keep going. Of course it's absolutely OK to moan about that and express your feelings and emotions. But in the end you need to keep going and learn to find your way through it. As it is with bad position in Jiu-jitsu.
On the other hand there's always someone and you'll never be alone. That's one of the major things I appreciate about this sport: the community! I've never felt that kind of connection between completely different persons throughout the globe than in Jiu-jitsu!
This is something I actually experience a lot in my life lately, feeling lonely and left alone with my problems. But there's always someone to talk, train or sharing life experiences with. You just need to keep your eyes open to see those people and possibilities in life.
With that I whish you all the best and the strength, power and wisdom you need in those times. 🙏
I don't know that much of Jiu-jitsu (just a white belt). But I guess I understood a few things about life. The usual "what Jiu-jitsu taught me about life" speech I will skip on for now. I guess all if you have your own experience about that.
What Jiu-jitsu taught me about death?
That's definetly a very interesting and perhaps philosophic question.
I would say it comes all down to acceptance!
For me as a beginner this is very common: being in bad position and can't do that much about it. So I learned to accept it and How to keep going from there and work my way out of it. When you experience death in your life there's pretty much nothing else you can do about it than just accept it and keep going. Of course it's absolutely OK to moan about that and express your feelings and emotions. But in the end you need to keep going and learn to find your way through it. As it is with bad position in Jiu-jitsu.
On the other hand there's always someone and you'll never be alone. That's one of the major things I appreciate about this sport: the community! I've never felt that kind of connection between completely different persons throughout the globe than in Jiu-jitsu!
This is something I actually experience a lot in my life lately, feeling lonely and left alone with my problems. But there's always someone to talk, train or sharing life experiences with. You just need to keep your eyes open to see those people and possibilities in life.
With that I whish you all the best and the strength, power and wisdom you need in those times. 🙏
VBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Ive heard countless parallels made between jiu jitsu and life, but what does it teach us about death? I lost a mentor apart of my circle. Going to class has always been my way of stepping away from the stress of life and working through my emotions, but now I feel like for the first time death/loss has followed me onto the mat. I’m curious what everyone’s thoughts and experiences are on the topic. In memory of Professor Octavio “Ratinho” Couto 🙏🏼
In my life I've seen tragic death of people close to me. Jiu-jitsu has always centered me, and gave me a way to deal with grief in a positive way. It always gave me a time to concentrate on training instead of the stress associated with the tragic loss. It also gave me a way to honor the person by giving 100 percent to training. In this case the best way to honor Octavio would show up and train all the jiu-jitsu principles he bestowed on to you and your fellow training partners.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Many Tokugawa-era samurai philosophers (all practitioners of old-school jujutsu) talk about how being mindfully aware of death can enhance life (e.g., Daidoji Yuzan’s book Budoshoshinshu, or Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s book Hagakure). There’s an old Japanese concept called “mono no aware,” which can be loosely translated as “the tragic beauty of impermanence.” Cherry blossoms only bloom for a few days before they are scattered by the wind, but this transience makes them more beautiful because we know we must appreciate them fully in each moment before they are gone. Human lives are much the same: we never know when the people we value the most will pass away, so we must fully appreciate every moment with them while they are here.
RBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I believe that whatever your passionate pursuit is in life can teach you principles that apply to other areas of life (including death.) Jiu-Jitsu is no exception, and actually serves as a prime example. Rener Gracie, regardless of what your personal opinions are of him, just published a book that discusses this idea and Chris Matakas has authored several others about the same.
In jiu-jitsu, we learn to overcome struggles and not quit at the first sign of hardship or failure. We develop confidence and humility - a dichotomy that is crucial to balance in life. We learn teamwork while also learning individuality and being proud of our unique characteristics and application of techniques and ideas. Through strengthening our bodies we also fortify our minds. Death is an inevitable part (or end) of life - and thus we must learn to accept it and strive for happiness and endeavor in our passionate pursuits for as long as we are gifted with the fortune of life and ability to do so.
The untimely passing of training partners and mentors can be devastating and saddening, but jiu-jitsu teaches us that moments are fleeting and the time we share with our training partners should be something we relish and don't take for granted.
That's just my $.02.
In jiu-jitsu, we learn to overcome struggles and not quit at the first sign of hardship or failure. We develop confidence and humility - a dichotomy that is crucial to balance in life. We learn teamwork while also learning individuality and being proud of our unique characteristics and application of techniques and ideas. Through strengthening our bodies we also fortify our minds. Death is an inevitable part (or end) of life - and thus we must learn to accept it and strive for happiness and endeavor in our passionate pursuits for as long as we are gifted with the fortune of life and ability to do so.
The untimely passing of training partners and mentors can be devastating and saddening, but jiu-jitsu teaches us that moments are fleeting and the time we share with our training partners should be something we relish and don't take for granted.
That's just my $.02.
BSBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Personally, I’ve never really entertained the idea of Jiu-Jitsu as a philosophy (of life, death, or anything else). It’s just a physical activity that I enjoy. That said, Jiu-Jitsu, like many physical activities, grounds me in the moment, which is a needed respite from the constant thoughts bouncing around my skull. In that sense, I do use BJJ as a therapy of sorts.
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Each day you live brings you closer to death. Doing jiu-jitsu might grant you a longer and healthy life, but there's always a chance of lethal injury during training.
So basically it's a high stakes game of touch-butt.
Yeah, that's it.
So basically it's a high stakes game of touch-butt.
Yeah, that's it.
HABlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I learned that it is easy to kill in Jiu-Jitsu... just don't let go of the choke. It is also easy to die in Jiu-Jitsu... just don't tap :)
DBlack beltVerified
JABlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Each day you live brings you closer to death. Doing jiu-jitsu might grant you a longer and healthy life, but there's always a chance of lethal injury during training. So basically it's a high stakes game of touch-butt. Yeah, that's it.
memento touch-butt mori
JPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Some say that a choke is better than a lock because if you don't tap to the choke you lose anyway, but nature has a technique that nobody escapes; it's called death.
GSBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Bardo….
BCPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Many of us have been choked out, or will be choked out at some point.
It’s only happened to me once, but the experience was so surreal, and I’m pretty sure that’s what death will “feel like”, even though it felt like complete nothingness.
It made me realize I have nothing to fear from the process of dying, and that even in death our brains are wired to protect us.
It’s only happened to me once, but the experience was so surreal, and I’m pretty sure that’s what death will “feel like”, even though it felt like complete nothingness.
It made me realize I have nothing to fear from the process of dying, and that even in death our brains are wired to protect us.
BCPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Many of us have been choked out, or will be choked out at some point.
It’s only happened to me once, but the experience was so surreal, and I’m pretty sure that’s what death will “feel like”, even though it felt like complete nothingness.
It made me realize I have nothing to fear from the process of dying, and that even in death our brains are wired to protect us.
It’s only happened to me once, but the experience was so surreal, and I’m pretty sure that’s what death will “feel like”, even though it felt like complete nothingness.
It made me realize I have nothing to fear from the process of dying, and that even in death our brains are wired to protect us.
JBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Sadness and loss are a way of life. Losing a mentor is especially painful. Condolences on your loss, Justin.
This is what I know.
BJJ makes us admit that we are vulnerable. That should translate into not only recognition on the mats but off them as well. Appreciate that the threads of our lives are momentarily wrapped with others walking the same path toward being better versions of ourselves. Eventually, those threads fray and reach an end. All we can hope for is that when our time is up, our thread will be surrounded by those who care enough to train with us.
The finality of the unknown is sobering. Live well, and let death come as it will.
There is an old saying that I shared with those who followed me into harm's way. "The way of the warrior is the resolute acceptance of death. To pick up the long sword, and the short sword, and die. " Accepting death is the only way to achieve freedom from it, and live fully.
This is what I know.
BJJ makes us admit that we are vulnerable. That should translate into not only recognition on the mats but off them as well. Appreciate that the threads of our lives are momentarily wrapped with others walking the same path toward being better versions of ourselves. Eventually, those threads fray and reach an end. All we can hope for is that when our time is up, our thread will be surrounded by those who care enough to train with us.
The finality of the unknown is sobering. Live well, and let death come as it will.
There is an old saying that I shared with those who followed me into harm's way. "The way of the warrior is the resolute acceptance of death. To pick up the long sword, and the short sword, and die. " Accepting death is the only way to achieve freedom from it, and live fully.
GSBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
As a practical way of living our life I have applied the teachings of Bardo Thodal to Pugilistic Submission Fighting…. It helped me become a double gold medal winning IBJJF Champion. I wrote a book on it:
Bardos of Jujizu: A Journey of a Black Walker
Bardos of Jujizu: A Journey of a Black Walker
RBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
When I was starting out in BJJ (about a year into it) I was rolling with a friend named Kerby. While he was fighting off an armbar, I felt him drop and go limp. We called the ambulance but he died on the way to the hospital in Fredericksburg VA. I was brought to the police station several times in the middle of the night for questioning. It took 2.5 weeks for the toxicology report to come in and show that he had died of an aneurysm. This was around 1994/95 and BJJ was new to most people and the police thought I did something to Kerby that caused his death. It was a crappy thing to have to go through.
BCPurple beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
When I was starting out in BJJ (about a year into it) I was rolling with a friend named Kerby. While he was fighting off an armbar, I felt him drop and go limp. We called the ambulance but he died on the way to the hospital in Fredericksburg VA. I was brought to the police station several times in the middle of the night for questioning. It took 2.5 weeks for the toxicology report to come in and show that he had died of an aneurysm. This was around 1994/95 and BJJ was new to most people and the police thought I did something to Kerby that caused his death. It was a crappy thing to have to go through.
Ron that’s an incredible story. I’ve never heard of anything like that. I’m sorry you had to go through that.
As law enforcement, I’m curious what they were even asking you! Were there any witnesses to what happened?
I’d love to hear more details of that story if you’re willing to share.
As law enforcement, I’m curious what they were even asking you! Were there any witnesses to what happened?
I’d love to hear more details of that story if you’re willing to share.
RBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Ron that’s an incredible story. I’ve never heard of anything like that. I’m sorry you had to go through that. As law enforcement, I’m curious what they were even asking you! Were there any witnesses to what happened? I’d love to hear more details of that story if you’re willing to share.
The orderly at the hospital told Kerby’s wife that he had a red mark on his face and that it looked like I kicked his nose and rammed the cartilage into his brain ( you’d think an orderly would know better). So when I arrived at the hospital to see how Kerby was doing ( I didn’t know that he had died at this point), his wife see’s me and starts screaming and cursing at me about killing her husband, it was a mess.
The cops kept asking me if I choked him or if I did something that could have killed him. Back then all this BJJ stuff was new to the cops and they had no idea.
The cops kept asking me if I choked him or if I did something that could have killed him. Back then all this BJJ stuff was new to the cops and they had no idea.
ANBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Nothing. Get back on the mats and keep training. There is no escape any one here can teach you for death
BTPurple beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
Ah, well Jiu-jitsu does get dragged into philosophy, yes? Rightly so! I do my best dreaming thinking about how to improve (in the form of visualization). I fantasize about the last time, the next time, the "one time".
Resilience. It did not teach me resilience, but it sharpened me a bit. Definitely resilience and sharpening of perseverance. Someone said "acceptance". That's a very good one, and very true.
What do those have to do with death and loss? I think there is plenty of evidence on the training mat and with training partners. Like many here who practice, I/we fight literally, and metaphorically to show up.
Resilience. It did not teach me resilience, but it sharpened me a bit. Definitely resilience and sharpening of perseverance. Someone said "acceptance". That's a very good one, and very true.
What do those have to do with death and loss? I think there is plenty of evidence on the training mat and with training partners. Like many here who practice, I/we fight literally, and metaphorically to show up.
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Nothing. Get back on the mats and keep training. There is no escape any one here can teach you for death
In the 10th planet system there is a "ghost" escape though...
