Does Your Business Have Tokui-Waza? / by Alexander Lyadov

A young athlete and an entrepreneur I know asked me almost simultaneously: "My head is spinning. What should be my focus as an athlete (CEO)?". I gave them both similar advice. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, there are thousands of techniques that can make an opponent submit under threat of suffocation, fracture, or pain. A novice athlete is struggling with a dilemma: "Should I try to learn all techniques a little bit, or focus on one thing?"

Fortunately, there is a simple solution that no one talks about. Firstly, you need to learn various techniques, but only to the extent that you can recognize and neutralize them when your opponent tries to use them. You don't need to be able to set up all possible traps - it is enough to notice and avoid them in time. Secondly, the athlete needs to actively invest in the development of the so-called "tokui waza." This is a judo term that means the crown technique. It is the one that you can perform particularly easily and almost always leads to a successful outcome.

Why this technique is right for you doesn't matter. Most likely, you are predisposed to it due to the unique anatomy of your body or your specifics of mind. The key thing is that in a scramble, you can't help but try to apply this technique. More precisely, it will manifest itself at the right moment. You will enjoy practicing during training. And your crown technique will attract your attention like a magnet, inspiring you to study every possible nuance.

How do you know which technique will become your "tokui waza"? You need to observe yourself closely during scrambles. Sooner or later, you will notice that one of the techniques has come out of you almost by itself. That's it, now it is the zone of your attention and effort investment. Collect information about this technique and experiment with it.

Very soon all your training partners will know that you are no joke. Meanwhile, you should continue to diligently water what grows on its own. Typically, one crown technique leads to a second and a third. As a result, a whole bush of them grows, allowing a beginner athlete to win more often at competitions. This approach helped me to win two gold medals at the European Championships in 2018 and 2019, just three years after starting to practice Jiu-Jitsu.

Business and Jiu-Jitsu are similar. Your customers have certain hygienic factors that must be met, without which your company will not be allowed to play. As client requirements and market conditions change, you must constantly check and update this hygienic checklist. But for your company to win the "gold medal" against the competition, it must have its own "tokui waza". CEOs should see their companies like a coach sees a promising athlete — carefully studying their characteristics to determine what the athlete does best. And having discovered this organic advantage, they should strive to strengthen and develop it to the fullest extent.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander


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