Rener and ryron gracie talk a lot about philosophy, in fact is one of the big parts of their teaching metodology. everyone can learn a great deal of stuff for life through jiu jitsu. that is right: for life through jiu jitsu. rener is a great example of what jiu jitsu can make of a person. he is definitely very self confident. he´s smooth, very funny and creative, natural lider, and very serius when it comes to compite or to prove the efectiveness of gracie jiu jitsu. Ryron is not that kind of a character, but he is also very calm, very relax, keeping it playfull, smart, focusing on defense most part of the time.
what to they understand about philosophy? i guess that the main thing for them is the "mindset". That is interesting. they don´t waste a sec talking about the great figures of western philosophy. No. they use their minds to analyze every detail about jiu jitsu engaged with life. the phIlosophicall approach of their game comes when they talk about teaching. they know that the techniques of jiu jitsu are diseminated around the world. a lot of great teachers out there, black belts from the gracie academy, from Carlson Gracie, from Renzo Gracie, etc. So, instead of closing around four walls, they decided to engaged the movement outdoors. they created de Gracie University, classes real time, teachers telling you what to do on line, new partners in your area, foros, etc. great idea, they also wanted to open the teaching of the art of the family, which was very smart, cause at this point that is also the better way to keep making the dollars come in.
in jiu jitsu everything is about the balance. eat, sleep, jiu jitsu, repeat - they say. you need to have some solid points to support your movements. not just on the matt but in your real life, problems and situations with your boss, your girlfriend, your neighborhood, your family, whatever. and you need to know how to keep yourself in balance, flowing, taking what life gives you, fighting to not make mistakes, to be smarter, to take advantage of the oportunities that will come. is a all different game when it comes to jiu jitsu, cause you are now trained, not to win, but first to not lose. first thing, the brothers say this a lot, is the survival mindset. don´t go to far, don´t lose your balance in a foolish movement, make sure you are in a good possition, chek out the posibilities of revertions, and take a good look of the points of support that your adversary is holding on.
i´ve learn in this last year training more jiu jitsu that the best thing in life is to keep love active in your acts. that is what keep things flowing, what puts you on control of the situation, because normaly people wait you to act in a previsible way, with angry, with fear, or low desires. But when you cultivate your mind, your soul and your body with gracie jiu jitsu and philosophy, there is not much to be worry about. you take care of the situation, whatever it is, whit efficiency. that is the beauty. of course some times you do things wrong, you missread the situation, is possible, but that is part of the on going evolution of your game. people that doesn´t train jiu jitsu have a lot to learn about the smooth art of jiu jitsu. I hope a can offer you very soon a book of philosophy, taking these principles and gracie brothers stuff to the next level.
joya.