12 Teachings of Carlos Gracie Sr.

1. Be so strong that nothing can disturb the peace of your mind.
2. Talk to all people about happiness, health, and prosperity.
3. Give to all your friends the feeling of being valued.
4. Look at things by the enlightened point of view and update your optimism on reality.
5. Think only about the best, work only for the best, and always expect the best.
6. Be as just and enthusiastic about others' victories as you are with yours.
7. Forget about past mistakes and focus your energy on the victories of tomorrow.
8. Always make those around you happy and keep a smile to all people who talk to you.
9. Apply the largest amount of your time on self-improvement and no time in criticizing others.
10. Be big enough so you can feel unsatisfied, be noble enough so you can feel anger, be strong enough so you can feel fear, and be happy enough so you can feel frustrations.
11. Hold a good opinion about yourself and communicate that to the world, but not through dissonant words but through good works.
12. Believe strongly that the world is on your side, as long as you stay loyal to the best of yourself.

Elections

Don't forget to get out and vote on Tuesday, November 4th. This is an important day in our nation's history so don't screw it up!

Fight like hell.....

You don't have to go too far to see that the world around us is changing fast and for most, the change has been a negative one. Perhaps you have lost your job or are facing the possibility of being laid off. Your hours have been cut at work and your income does not satisfy your daily necessities. You are now finding yourself depressed, demotivated, weak and on the verge of giving up and surrendering - succumbing to the situation. In Jiu-Jitsu, we are often faced with challenges and obstacles on the mat. We face adversaries who are strong, big, crafty, flexible, tough, technical etc... We often get put in situations where we are forced to tap or make a move to escape. Sometimes the move we make is not sufficient enough to break the submission hold and we are forced to fight like hell - like a wild animal - to make the escape. Life is not different than the mat. In fact, it is quite parallel and one reflects the other clearly. If you are patient, you will realize what you must do to change your situation and improve your position....but you MUST move. You cannot wait for your opponent to go away simply because you want him to let go. He wants to choke you...He HAS to choke you. I must improve MY position and by improving my position, I can now begin to launch my own attack. There is no sweeter breath than the one you breathe immediately after escaping a chokehold. In the same regard, there is no better feeling than the one you get when you have kicked the world's ass and escaped the struggle of finances, failed relationships, unhappy thoughts etc..... If you have to fight like hell to get ahead, then do it....No excuses, no hesitations! This is where we find out who we truly are.
Train Jiu-Jitsu, have a happy heart, think good thoughts, love everyone!

Helio Gracie Wisdom

Gui Valente (A Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt) recently spent some time with Helio Gracie on his farm in Brazil. Worried with the world financial crisis, Valente asked Helio about what should be done to cope with such difficult times. The Grandmaster said: “In moments of crisis the most important investment one can make is in himself, in a healthy diet, in the elevation of thoughts, in physical exercise and especially in Jiu-Jitsu, which brings us tranquility and increases our confidence."

Food for thought....

Jiu-Jitsu Life

I often think about my reasons for being a Jiu-Jitsu person. I've never felt comfortable attaching myself to any group - simply because I enjoy my individuality and the freedom to express thoughts and practices the way I want, the way that my own beliefs lead me to. I fear that I will be associated with members of a group who I have nothing in common with or even disagree with on fundamental levels. For me Jiu-Jitsu is different. Jiu-Jitsu is very personal and very unique to each individual. It looks different to each person and each one's expression of the art is his or her interpretation of the many concepts that make up the Jiu-Jitsu. So I feel comfortable saying that I am a Jiu-Jitsu guy because my Jiu-Jitsu is just that - mine. The experience is my own and the journey belongs to me.
I was talking with a friend of mine the other night. My friend is an avid surfer. Let me rephrase this - My friend is a surfer. If you are not avid, then you are not one....We were talking about our passions and he began to speak about "the search". Surfers live in search of that perfect wave - the perfect ride. They are just as excited about the waves they will surf later than the one they are riding right now. These guys will drive up and down the coast endlessly just to find the right spot to get in the water. This is why I train Jiu-Jitsu.....It's a journey to find the perect "roll" - the perfect session - the mental challenge, the dynamic movement, the physical exertion, the submission, the camarederie, the smiles. Each time I roll, my Jiu-Jitsu gets better - My training partners get better - the sessions get better. The journey is what makes it great. The search makes it worthwhile. Even though I find it every single day, I still keep searching. This is my Jiu-Jitsu.....my journey....my life. Put on the gi and search on!