Reflections on Jiu Jitsu, Training, and Life
When most people first begin jiu jitsu, they usually think about the body in simple terms.
Long before most people understand jiu jitsu physically, they feel it mentally.
When people first begin jiu jitsu, they usually notice the physical side of the art immediately.
One of the most important parts of my training happens before I ever begin rolling.
When most people begin jiu jitsu, they assume success belongs to the fastest, strongest, most athletic person in the room.
Modern life trains us to be distracted. Ironically, jiu jitsu is one of the few places where presence becomes unavoidable.
There has always been something meaningful to me about putting on the gi before training.
Walk into most jiu jitsu academies and you’ll hear the familiar sound of a timer running the room. Five-minute rounds. One-minute breaks. The bell rings and everyone resets.
There is nothing inherently wrong with large jiu jitsu academies. But smaller academies often create something different.
One of the simplest concepts that dramatically improved my jiu jitsu was learning to be stubborn with my grips.
I try to breathe through my nose and keep my mouth closed while training whenever possible.
Modern life gives us endless ways to curate appearances.
One of the easiest traps in jiu jitsu is confusing training with competition.
One of the most fascinating things about jiu jitsu is that no technique exists in isolation.
Most people think jiu jitsu training is shaped primarily by: instruction, technique, and training partners.
In January of 2018, I received my black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Even now, years later, it still feels surreal to say that out loud.
I’m Peter Hulce, a 2nd-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu.
One of the beautiful things about jiu jitsu is that the art changes as you change.
When most people think about jiu jitsu, they think about techniques, submissions, conditioning, and competition.
Some of my favorite rounds in jiu jitsu involve laughter.
There is a version of martial arts culture that quietly glorifies imbalance.
Almost everyone who starts jiu jitsu believes they will continue.
