The New Era: Daoism, Nietzsche and Conor McGregor

Both due to its young age and hybrid nature, MMA has allowed us to inquire not only into which kind of technical approach to combat might be the best, but also into which mental attitude could be the most beneficial for accomplishing the task at hand. Further, an attitude which is helpful in facing a trained killer in the octagon will probably also be helpful in the comparatively mild circumstances of everyday life. Yet the immense complexity and multitude of variables involved in determining the outcome of such hand-to-hand combat situations seemingly repel the possibility of a one-size-fits-all solution.

'Comfortable Conformity' with Rickson Gracie

This to me is an all too familiar issue. Actually, it might only become an issue once you become aware of it, that is, it may only piss you off once you have discovered it as is the case so often. However, once you are aware of it, there may also be a possibility of enhancing the situation. Recently, the great Jiu-Jitsu masters Rickson Gracie and Eddie Bravo joined the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience) for an awesome podcast. Towards the end, Rickson mentioned a very interesting observation on society. He stated that in the past he considered cowardice to be the opposite of courage. Today however, he considers conformity to be the opposite. He went on to say that people are too afraid to change certain things, even though they do not like their current situation, like staying at a job you despise because you are afraid you won't find a new one, or staying in a shitty relationship because you are too afraid of possible consequences.

You Better Work Hard, or Else..!

First, I should mention that I ask myself all the following questions as well and that I do not claim to have found any answers. This is to be understood as a conglomeration of thoughts I have come accross and have come up with myself in order to explore possible answers. As always it is exploring, not dogmatizing.

Work is something you do regularly because you have to. It is something so abominable and boring that you need to get paid for doing it. Further, you have to work because you need money.

Stillness creates Movement: Jiu Jitsu and Alan Watts

This idea or metaphor is mainly inspired by a quote (or a tweet rather) by Gracie Jiu Jitsu master Ryron Gracie (@RyronGracie) which provided me with a great image that I will use in order to explain a philosophical approach that I have recently been thinking about. This is the quote:

"My stillness creates movement." - Ryron Gracie