"Survive first, win later" was one of the very first pieces of advice I ever received in jiu-jitsu. This lesson was driven home when I watched the early MMA and NHB events including Rickson Gracie vs Zulu and Royce Gracie vs Dan Severn. To defeat bigger, stronger opponents like that takes time, and before Rickson and Royce could win they first had to not lose. This advice resonated with me … [Read more...]
Quote
“If I don’t know, I will not allow.”
“If I don’t know, I will not allow.” That's a quote and a guiding principle from Roberto Leitao, a high ranking Luta Livre and Judo practitioner, that was shared with me by my friend Ed Beneville who trained with him. Regardless of whether it's a grip, a setup, a guard position, or an angle, if you don't fully understand what's going on then do everything you can to prevent it. Once you … [Read more...]
Napoleon and How To Be Ready for Anything in BJJ
Napoleon Bonaparte may have been a megalomaniac who left millions dead in his wake, but if you read about his battles and military campaigns there is no doubt that he was a strategic and tactical genius. (Well, maybe he wasn't a genius when he invaded Russia in 1812, but before that he was damn near unstoppable...) He fought over sixty battles in his lifetime, during which he was … [Read more...]
My Favourite Muhammad Ali Quote
Muhammad Ali passed away 2 days ago at age 74 after putting quite a dent into the universe. He was a great boxer. The greatest of all time according to some (especially himself). And his conscientious objector status to the Vietnam War made him hugely unpopular at the time, and then an icon to an entire generation. When we remember Ali we often end up thinking about his quips, quotes, … [Read more...]
47 Favourite Martial Arts Quotes for Inspiration
I love pithy quotes: in just a few short words they can encapsulate an entire strategy, philosophy, or approach to life. That's why more than 10 years ago I published a short article with some of my favourite martial arts quotes. Well, I've come across a lot more great quotes in the last decade! I typically share the new quotations I discover on my Twitter and/or Instagram accounts, but for … [Read more...]
Favorite Grappling Quotes
Here are some of my favorite grappling quotes with some relevance to the sport and science of grappling “No plan of action survives contact with the enemy” – Military Proverb "I am a shark, the ground is my ocean, and most people can't even swim." - Rickson Gracie "A good plan executed violently today is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite point in the future." - George … [Read more...]