Andre Galvao rcently shared his reflections on how the sport is perceived by different audiences, during a conversation with Jocko Willink.

And, well, he believes that there is quite a gap between the “outsiders” and those who train:

Jiu-Jitsu is the ugliest sport for those who doesn’t know Jiu-Jitsu.
But it’s the most beautiful sport for those who know.

Galvao admitted that he didn’t immediately grasp the appeal of BJJ when he first encountered it, either:

I remember when I saw Jiu-Jitsu (for the) first time…
I was like, (thinking) this is weird.

(But) then when I started training it, it started opening my “third eye”.
And I started getting the feel for the sport, for the mechanics, learning every day…

And then you get addicted.
And I think that happens to everyone.

What makes BJJ so unique, according to Galvao, is its balance between safety and realism…
Even though, again, it might not seem that way to the outsiders:

You can smile and then you don’t get concussion.

It doesn’t look real when you look from the outside or people who doesn’t know what is happening.
Once you understand, it’s like the most beautiful thing.

You know, it’s incredible.

 

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