BJJ Meditations

In this episode, Joe reflects on the theme of conviction and its importance in achieving success. He shares a personal experience of a near car accident and how it reminded him of the value of life. Joe discusses the importance of believing in oneself and the quality of training rather than comparing oneself to others. He also explores the concept of conviction as a leap of faith and the liberatio...

In this episode, Joe reflects on his recent trip to Central America and about the challenge of winning Masters, which has prompted Joe to question his belief in his ability to win. He discusses the logistical aspects of training and competing in Masters, as well as the need for conviction and comfort with losing. Joe explores the underlying assumptions and doubts that contribute to his lack of con...

In this rough-and-ready, episode of BJJ Meditations, host Joe Hannan broadcasts from a remote jungle location in Central America. Amidst the sounds of nature, Joe shares his reflections on essentialism, the importance of embracing the present moment, and the valuable lessons learned through Jiu Jitsu. Key Takeaways: -- The impact of the jungle environment on personal reflection and meditation. --...

In this episode, Joe discusses the theme of 'Seeing More Clearly' and its connection to his new hobby of photography and videography. He reflects on the importance of curiosity, self-awareness, and thematic learning in both jiu jitsu and life. The episode explores the idea of finding fresh angles and insights, both externally and internally, and how this pursuit relates to personal growth and perf...

This week, Joe dives deep into the world of training and the nuanced differences between simply "doing" and truly "training" in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Drawing from his personal experiences and recent coaching sessions with two dedicated clients, Joe explores how focused training can lead to extraordinary growth on and off the mat. In this episode, you'll hear anecdotes about the social dynamics of t...

This episode first appeared on The Highest Levels, a BJJ Mental Models Premium show hosted by Emily Kwok and Joe Hannan. The Highest Levels is all about dissecting the tactics and psychology of optimal human performance -- work that Emily and Joe do daily with some of the world's leading performers in finance, science, and professional athletics. In addition to being Joe's Jiu Jitsu coach and coll...

In this episode, Joe discusses the topic of leadership and shares his experiences as a leader in his jiu jitsu school. He explores the polarities and challenges of leadership, including consensus building vs. representation, athlete vs. shepherd, cultural steward vs. toilet scrubber, and entrepreneur vs. community builder. Joe emphasizes the importance of balancing these polarities and being a con...

This episode of BJJ Meditations explores rank and hierarchy on and off the mats. Hierarchy is an unavoidable aspect of human society, including in the context of Jiu Jitsu schools, where it is a reflection of competence and serves as a proxy for skill level.  Hierarchy is relative and not all black belts, brown belts, purple belts, etc. are the same. Anyone who trains seriously knows this well. Re...

In this episode, Joe discusses the concepts of certainty and uncertainty in the contexts of jiu jitsu and life. He explores the idea that certainty can be boring and that the pursuit of certainty often leads to fear, anxiety, and doubt. He also touches on the role of coaches and the value of asking the right questions. The host draws inspiration from a book called The Captain Class and shares insi...

In this episode, Joe reflects on his current state of mind and training in between competitions. He discusses his tendency to not drive things to completion in his jiu jitsu game and his efforts to improve in this area. He also explores his aversion to finishing things and the emotional import of feeling stupid and fucking up. Joe shares his experiences of training without an edge and investing in...

Reflections from my experiences at the New York Open and the lessons learned from competing, including the importance of finding your own approach to competition and the value of looking stupid. Other areas of exploration include: The journey of psychological preparation The challenges of anxiety and stress Methods for balancing intensity and relaxation for improved performance in performance and...

Josh Lu of 1-800-BJJ-HELP is back. This time, we're going deep on all things mindfulness and meditation. Josh is a white belt based in San Diego, CA. He's been meditating for 12 years and has spent a total of 45 days (spread out over the years) on silent retreat. He's currently pursuing a mindfulness meditation teacher certification. In this conversation, we discuss the psychological challenges of...

BJJ Meditations sits at the intersection of Jiu Jitsu and the examined life. Part of living an examined life is tending to health and well-being. Skin health presents one of the most complex and pressing challenges in the life of a grappler. What are the best practices and protocols we can use to protect ourselves and our training partner? Dr. Clayton Green is a board-certified dermatologist and a...

Jiu Jitsu is a thematic exploration of structure (and structurelessness, of course). We dynamically organize our bodies to accomplish certain goals that lead us toward our ultimate objective within the game. Playing in this space of structure-no structure demands a certain amount of discipline. The same skills with which we navigate this structure-no structure continuum on the mat also serve us we...

Jiu Jitsu attracts people who live at the dynamic edge of experience. I think it's because the art strips away all affectation and leaves behind people in their most potent form. This is yet another example of how Jiu Jitsu is a revelation. It shows us something about ourselves. But what we do with that something is up to us. We can use it to be about the work of being a real motherf*cker, or we c...

BJJ is a door to an examined life. It reveals who we are, stripping away our personas and posturing. It's up to us to decide what we do with what's revealed. We can avoid it, or we can use it to build new levels of self-awareness and fuel growth. Either way, we have choice: Choose to do the work of being, or walk away. Some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's BJJ M...

This episode is a collaboration with Josh Lu and Jake Luigi, the duo behind the fantastic 1-800 -BJJ-Help podcast. You also may recognize Jake from Less Impressed More Involved BJJ.  It was a real pleasure to sit down and talk with both of these guys, and I'm hoping it's the beginning of many more conversations! As always, some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's B...

I've said that Jiu Jitsu is a vehicle for self-improvement. But now, I'm not so sure. I can see that people who train Jiu Jitsu have qualitatively better experiences because of the art. But are they themselves improving? Or are they simply becoming who they really are? This is an important distinction. Here's why. Some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's BJJ Medita...

Rascals make no buts about who they are. They may be bastards, but they're bastards living examined lives. They see the light as well as the shadow. How does BJJ bring our inner rascal to the surface? And what can we learn from this crafty creature? Some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's BJJ Meditations. Find all links and show notes here:  https://linkin.bio/bjj...

I'm back from the Miami Open and covering how it went and, more importantly, what I learned. Contained here is a framework that you can use to goal-set for competitions of your own. Or, better yet, use it to create a framework of your own! Ultimately, much of what happens on the competition mats it is outside of our control. But, how we relate to and learn from the experience, is something within...

What are we fighting against that's fighting right back? What are we trying to silence that only gets louder with the effort? Jiu Jitsu teaches us to work with whatever life, or our opponents, throw at us. But the practical application does little to change the thoughts and feelings that arise during the struggle. What, then, do we do? Perhaps we learn and practice the art of letting go. Artwork b...

At one point in our lives, we all sang. And then we stopped. Why? Did someone make you feel self-conscious? Criticize you? Humiliate you? Singing is a basic and ancient form of expression. So is dance. BJJ is certainly dance-like. But where is our voice when we need it? And what might the discomfort of singing teach us? Just like the discomfort of Jiu Jitsu teaches us. Some weird thoughts and refl...

Can we study Jiu Jitsu? Or is it a way of life, or a way of being -- perhaps only experienced in its totality via full participation? And is there any distinction between the martial path and the path of everyday life? Some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's BJJ Meditations. Find all links and show notes here:  https://linkin.bio/bjj_meditations #bjj #jiujitsu #st...

Something is amiss. For the first time in my life, I have no idea what a new year will bring. Perhaps you feel the same. I know this: Meeting this year with poise requires newfound levels of presence. Good thing Jiu Jitsu can help. Some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's BJJ Meditations. Find all links and show notes here: https://linkin.bio/bjj_meditations #bjj #...

We are here because we have chosen the path of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We pursue it often with a singularity of focus. With such a narrow field of view, what are we missing inside and outside of the game? Some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's BJJ Meditations. Find all links and show notes here:  https://linkin.bio/bjj_meditations Artwork by Elizabeth Bass: https://...