Bernardo Faria, one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most respected figures, recently took time to reflect on the four key life lessons he’s learned through decades of training and competing at the highest level.
Like many lifelong martial artists, Faria believes the lessons from Jiu-Jitsu apply directly to everyday life.
His first takeaway is one that every serious practitioner quickly learns:
The importance of preparation: Jiu-Jitsu taught me to always have a never-ending desire to get better at anything I do.
His second lesson speaks to the value of stepping up and taking action, whether in competition or in life:
The importance of execution: Jiu-Jitsu taught me that if you want to be the best, you have to sign up for the tournament.
In life, we have to face challenges and chase our goals.
Faria’s third insight focuses on the often-overlooked concept of positioning — a principle that governs not only grappling but also life decisions:
The importance of positioning: Jiu-Jitsu taught me that being in the right place matters more than we realize.
Training at the right place makes a difference.
In life, living in the right city or working with the right people matters a lot.
Finally, Faria acknowledged a simple but powerful truth about success – being present when opportunity arises:
The importance of luck: everyone has lucky days, but we have to show up every day to be present for those moments.
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