Ex-Navy SEAL and BJJ black belt Jocko Willink criticizes arrogant BJJ instructors, emphasizing that the martial art should promote humility. He explains that arrogance stems from insecurity and a lack of intelligence, leading some instructors to misuse their power.
Willink advises avoiding schools with arrogant instructors and seeking environments that foster humility and respect. He highlights that true Jiu-Jitsu practice involves continuous learning and openness, which enhances respect for instructors who embody these qualities.
They say that martial arts makes you more humble and ego-less. This is how it is ideally but is not always the case.
You will sometimes start training at a BJJ academy and are faced with and arrogant instructor, which is the opposite of what a humble and ego-less BJJ instructor should be.
Ex-navy Seal commander and BJJ Black Belt Jocko Willink his co-host, Echo Charles, talk about arrogant instructors in BJJ and how to avoid it.
Echo: Why do some Jiu-Jitsu instructors and practitioners act arrogantly?
Jocko: Despite Jiu-Jitsu promoting humility, some people act arrogantly due to insecurity and a lack of intelligence. They misuse their power, thinking their skills make them superior. Jiu-Jitsu should not be a cult, and instructors should be humble. True Jiu-Jitsu practice fosters humility and learning. If you encounter arrogance, find a different school. Respect comes from instructors who are humble, evolving, and open-minded.
Echo: Yeah, arrogance is strong, but small ways of not being humble are common in the Jiu-Jitsu community.
Jocko: Yes, but competitiveness and ego can coexist with humility and learning.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.