How did we arrive at this moment in our sport? What foundational principles were strong enough to give rise to Jiu Jitsu as a sophisticated art form?
To answer these questions, we can look for the one that houses the many. Let’s look at the shrimp. It’s present in the mount escape. It’s present in open guard retention. It’s present in recumbent guard retention. It’s present in the inversion. We can begin to learn to use our hips by learning to shrimp.
But few enjoy practicing the shrimp. Few enjoy traditional warmups. Few enjoy the revelation of colossal gaps in their games at purple and brown belt.
We can’t build this beautiful art without a sound foundation. But, is foundation-building a teaching problem, or a learning problem? Or is it a little bit of both?
We strive to balance the dynamic evolution of jiu jitsu with the maintenance of its static foundation. We can bear in mind that the art—and the world—are littered with Chesteron’s fences. Some are useless, others are critical, though we can no longer see their importance.Â
Tear down the fence, or tend to it?Â
Think, and think again.
Category: Inner Work
Tag: Making Choices
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