Apr 3, 2024
Josh Lu of 1-800-BJJ-HELP is back. This time, we're going deep on all things mindfulness and meditation.
Josh is a white belt based in San Diego, CA. He's been meditating for 12 years and has spent a total of 45 days (spread out over the years) on silent retreat. He's currently pursuing a mindfulness meditation teacher certification.
In this conversation, we discuss the psychological challenges of competing in Jiu Jitsu and the importance of authenticity in finding one's own style. We explore the paradox of change and the illusion of self-improvement, emphasizing the value of being present and accepting oneself. The conversation also touches on the connection between Jiu Jitsu and Boyd Varty's idea of tracking, as well as the application of Jiu Jitsu lessons to life. Josh provides guidance on getting started with mindfulness and the role of journaling in cultivating self-awareness. And the conversation concludes with a guided meditation practice.
Some weird thoughts and reflections on all of these things in this week's BJJ Meditations.
- 00:05:50 Reflection on the recent competition
- 00:09:01 Exploring shame and mindfulness
- 00:11:55 The feeling side of human experience
- 00:16:00 The practice of patience and discipline
- 00:19:04 The importance of an embodied practice
- 00:21:15 Using mindfulness in coaching
- 00:28:52 The journey into meditation
- 00:32:01 The interrelationship between meditation and jiu-jitsu
- 00:33:51 The value of mystery and the unknown
- 00:37:56 Navigating the plateau in jiu-jitsu
- 00:41:34 Optimizing for the long haul
- 00:42:29 The Psychological Challenges of Competing
- 00:44:09 The Paradox of Change
- 00:44:51 The Illusion of Self-Improvement
- 00:46:21 Being Authentic in Jiu-Jitsu
- 00:47:35 Finding Your Own Style
- 00:49:00 Discovering Your Passion
- 00:50:39 The Themes of Jiu-Jitsu in Life
- 00:53:38 Trusting Your Intuition
- 00:55:11 The Connection Between Jiu-Jitsu and Tracking
- 00:56:18 The Value of Being Authentic
- 00:57:36 Applying Jiu-Jitsu Lessons to Life
- 00:58:18 Getting Started with Mindfulness
- 01:00:31 The Role of Journaling in Mindfulness
- 01:02:28 Externalizing Internal Thoughts and Emotions
- 01:03:13 Using Humor to Disarm Negative Emotions
- 01:04:29 Avoiding Value Judgments in Language
- 01:08:23 Guided Meditation Practice
Work with me: https://www.bjjmeditations.com/schedule-a-coaching-session
Train at Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: https://www.princetonbjj.com/
Read more of my work on Substack: https://joehannan.substack.com/
Follow BJJ Meditations on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjj_meditations/
#bjj #jiujitsu #stoic #stoicism