In my ninth year of practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I return to the basics - studying standing throws in Japanese Judo. The section on “Sute mi waza,” or “sacrifice techniques,” intrigues me.
“Sute” (捨て) means “to throw away,” and “Mi” (身) means “body” or “self.”
For instance, to execute Tomoe Nage, I must sacrifice my stable stance and, falling backward, draw my opponent along with me. The more sincerely I fall, the more inevitable his tumbling becomes.
And suddenly, I realize I’m getting in my own way.
The thing is, we usually learn to control every step of a technique. Like climbing stairs, we methodically ascend.
Here, however, the opposite is required—to release control temporarily. It’s like a parachute jump, taking psychedelics, or trusting in love. Total vulnerability is a gateway to another world.
One cannot step into a gaping hole halfway. One must accept the small, yet real, possibility of tragedy. For someone accustomed to controlling every aspect of their life, this leap of faith is unbearable.
Interestingly, the “chaotic fall” during the throw grants us Control 2.0, or a meta-level of control. Yes, we are both unstable, but creating this chaos is our choice, while the opponent remains passive.
In exchange for sacrifice, we gain a decisive advantage. One must throw oneself away to rediscover oneself.
One inevitably wonders: “What would my life be like if I trusted more in a force beyond my control, yet so kind to me?”
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
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