Guess, what is the main cause of injuries in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
I'll tell you right away, it's something different from:
age,
lack of sleep,
loss of focus,
malicious intent,
skipping warm-ups,
not knowing techniques,
a weak coach, and so on.
Hint: The reason is the same as in negotiations or trading stocks.
Moreover, it's a universal source of almost all human woes.
Intrigued? Let me share a typical situation in a grappling match.
Your opponent is strong, but you're no slouch either. You crave victory but fear losing even more. In a backyard cat brawl, the heat is lower than yours. That's how athletes fight for a medal in the Olympic final.
Luck is on your opponent's side, and he pulls off a dangerous move. Your ligaments stretch like a bowstring. Another second, and it would be too late. But you act like a madman: "Tap out? Never!"
Crack! Ouch! Operation, rehab, six months gone.
Now the absurdity of your behavior is clear. You could have "cut your losses" and started the game again. Perhaps you'd figure things out and make your opponent tap a couple of times.
Something hindered, tempted, and drove you crazy. What was it?
Pride. In modern terms, Ego.
Inflated Ego prevents us from accepting reality as it is. We're like the chick valuing the cracked shell more than freedom.
Watch a master at work. He makes mistakes like everyone else, maybe even more often. But the cost is reasonable because he pays ASAP. Reality doesn't charge a compound interest on debt.
Conclusion: our true opponent, Ego, isn't outside but inside.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
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