Photo of Undisputed Fitness and Training Center, Scott Miller
“Some sports, it’s about your physical acumen, you know how fast you are, how strong you are, and just the athletic ability, where jiu-jitsu wasn’t like that. Jiu-jitsu is not just about being fast and strong, it’s understanding what positions you’re in. It’s as much an intellectual sport as it is a physical sport.”
-Scott Miller, Undisputed Video (Oct.1, 2015)
I remember Paul filming the above video in 2015, and I helped him edit it. I remember hearing Scott say jiu-jitsu was an “intellectual sport.” I also remember not fully understanding it. I had limited experience on the jiu-jitsu mat, and most of my knowledge was from watching and observing. I started learning about martial arts, combat and BJJ around 2006 when we owned a martial arts school. I had a background in religious studies, primarily with comparative mysticism. When I saw martial arts for the first time up-close, I connected it with my studies, seeing it as a potential religious path, a physical and meditative path of enlightenment.
Fast-forward to 2019 (during the pandemic), and I was facing one of the most extreme and dangerous experiences of my life. Spiritually I was solid, but mentally I was not holding up well. I had the spiritual fortitude to handle my circumstances, but I did not have the mental strength and stamina to deal with my reality, and I did not know how to maneuver. I did not know how to win and conquer what I was facing. By chance, I came across quotes and writings by martial arts (combat) masters, which led me to writing about them for over 2 years. I took my time, worked through the words, examined my work with religious studies, and then started putting the two together. I found medicine and it saved my mental life.
There are many details to this story, but I will keep it brief. I owe the “intellectual” and “spiritual” aspect of jiu-jitsu (and martial arts in general) credit for saving me in my situation. There are other variables at play, but I had some kind of kinship with jiu-jitsu and I recognized what Scott is talking about, through videos and the words and writings of the masters. In my situation, I could not always see my opponent and jiu-jitsu gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to see and know with the body and perceive beyond the 5 senses, and use that information to guide my movement and decisions.
“it’s understanding what positions you’re in” -Scott Miller
Photo of Undisputed Fitness and Training Center
So many things have happened since we started covering Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in 2013, and I do not even see it in the same way. I’m not sure what would happen now, if I ever stepped on the mat again. But in 2019, the words of masters combined with religious/ spiritual writings, really helped me overcome and dominate what I was going through. And it introduced me to the person whom I connected with the most, when it came to applying jiu-jitsu to everyday life, even the spiritual life. That was Rickson Gracie.
I would say, 2019-2021 was a tremendously powerful time and it has not eased up. I started a self-creation process (by combining world spiritual concepts and the strategies and philosophies of martial arts) and it really changed me and its not finished. I purposely did not share anything about what happened with anyone until recently. I finally started writing it out and sharing it with family and the writing helped me to see more clearly and master what is going on.
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Photo of Undisputed Fitness and Training Center and Undisputed South
